Line of Duty’s coming back, and the timing is PERFECT for more than one reason

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Get ready to shout “Hallelujah!” and quote Superintendent Ted Hastings – Line of Duty is officially returning! The BBC announced this week that the popular show about police corruption will be back, with all the original stars.

We’d argue that the timing couldn’t have been better, and for more than one reason.

The show’s focus on police corruption feels particularly relevant right now. Just this month, a London police officer was convicted of sexually harassing a coworker, and an internal review revealed that ongoing problems within the force are likely to cause repeated instances of racial bias.

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I was really shocked when the BBC reported in October that some police officers were caught on camera making awful comments. Apparently, they were downplaying rape allegations and even talking about harming immigrants – it was truly disturbing to hear about.

It really hits home when you remember cases like Wayne Couzens and how things went so wrong, ultimately leading to the tragic murder of Sarah Everard. It makes you think about all the failures that happened before it.

Although Line of Duty doesn’t focus on one particular city – it’s actually filmed in Belfast – the show clearly draws its storylines from issues within the Metropolitan Police, which is the largest police force in the UK.

The BBC announced the next installment of the series will center around a detective inspector who is accused of using his authority to sexually exploit others. This storyline is clearly connected to recent, highly publicized accusations.

Fixing problems with important institutions is a key goal for our country, but often it’s through stories – like the recent impact of the show Mr Bates vs the Post Office – that we’re truly motivated to take action. Popular fictional dramas, such as Line of Duty, have the power to highlight real-world issues and push for positive change.

There’s also a good reason this is happening now: most viewers have had time to move past the mystery of “H.” This storyline, which started in season two, revealed a network of corrupt officers, beginning with “Dot” Cotten and ultimately leading to four high-ranking police officials known only as “H.”

By the sixth season, even dedicated viewers had to admit the storyline was struggling. Most of the reasonable explanations had already been explored or dismissed. The reveal of the main villain – a relatively minor character named Ian Buckells – proved particularly divisive among fans.

If Line of Duty had come back quickly, there would have been a lot of expectation to continue the buzz it created. But now, after four years, people have largely moved on, which gives the new season a fresh start.

Jed Mercurio, the creator of Line of Duty, jokingly said he’d had to rely on his imagination to come up with storylines because the show was off the air – implying that real-life police corruption seemed to stop while the show wasn’t on. He revealed the new series will begin with AC-12 broken up and a new organization, the Inspectorate of Police Standards, taking its place.

We couldn’t be more thrilled at this reset.

Finally, there’s one more reason the timing is perfect: the BBC needs it.

The company is facing a tough time, dealing with past errors and criticism even from the US President. While The Celebrity Traitors helped improve its image, it needs several major, attention-grabbing successes across different TV channels to fully regain public trust.

So welcome back Ted, Steve and Kate, it’s not a moment to soon.

Line of Duty season seven begins filming in Belfast in spring 2026.

You can see Line of Duty seasons 1-6 on BBC iPlayer.

The latest issue of Living Legends is now available! You can purchase Ariana & Witches at newsagents or online for only £8.99.

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2025-11-19 15:20