Line of Duty Returns: BBC Confirms Series 7 for 2026 After Four-Year Wait
Historic Return for Britain’s Most-Watched Police Drama
After four years of uncertainty and speculation, the BBC has officially confirmed that Line of Duty will return for a seventh series. The BBC confirmed that Line of Duty will begin filming a new series in spring 2026, with show creator Jed Mercurio and lead stars Adrian Dunbar, Vicky McClure and Martin Compston all back on board. This announcement, made in November 2025, represents a significant moment for British television, as the anti-corruption police drama became one of the most successful shows in UK broadcasting history.
What We Know About Series 7
The new six part run will film in Belfast in Spring 2026 and will be made by World Productions for BBC iPlayer and BBC One in the UK. The plot will mark a significant change for AC-12. In series seven AC-12 has been disbanded and rebranded the Inspectorate of Police Standards, and Steve Arnott, Kate Fleming, and Ted Hastings are assigned their most sensitive case yet. This development promises to add fresh complexity to the beloved characters’ investigations whilst maintaining the show’s signature tension and intrigue.
The Show’s Remarkable Legacy
The sixth and most recent season aired in 2021 and reached more than 13 million viewers during its finale broadcast. The series, which follows Anti-Corruption Unit 12’s investigations into police corruption, set viewership records and became the highest-rated drama in the UK since 2002. The delay in returning was largely due to the immense success of the sixth series, with all three lead actors being quickly recruited for other high-profile projects following the show’s conclusion.
Why This Matters for Viewers
The return of Line of Duty represents more than just another television series—it signals the revival of appointment viewing television that dominated British cultural conversation during its original run. Creator Jed Mercurio’s witty observation that “Corruption in this country is supposed to have come to an end while Line of Duty was off air, so I’ve been forced to use my imagination” suggests the new series will maintain the show’s sharp political edge. For the millions of fans who have waited patiently since 2021, the confirmation offers the promise of closure to storylines and the return of characters who have become staples of contemporary British drama. With filming commencing in just months, viewers can expect the new series to air sometime in late 2026 or early 2027.