Line Of Duty

Series four of the hit drama, written and created by Jed Mercurio, begins with DCI Roz Huntley and her team in the thick of a career-defining case, Operation Trapdoor.

Under intense pressure to catch the culprit and prove herself to her superiors, and facing conflict with her colleague, Forensic Coordinator Tim Ifield, it’s not long before AC-12 decide to probe her handling of the investigation. A mother of two and wife to husband Nick (Lee Ingleby), Roz will do anything to stop her life unravelling. Anything.

Determined to uncover the truth, Detective Sergeant Steve Arnott (Martin Compston), Detective Sergeant Kate Fleming (Vicky McClure) and Superintendent Ted Hastings (Adrian Dunbar) must work together to tackle their most devious opponent yet. They are aided by PC Maneet Bindra (Maya Sondhi) and newcomer Detective Constable Jamie Desford (Royce Pierreson).

Creator, writer and Executive Producer Jed Mercurio says: “Thanks so much to the fans who've made Line of Duty such a success. Thanks to the BBC for all their support in making the series. It's incredibly flattering we've been able to attract such amazing talent as Thandie Newton, Jason Watkins and Lee Ingleby to join our brilliant regular cast of Martin Compston, Vicky McClure and Adrian Dunbar. We're all looking forward to tormenting the nation with ever more diabolical plot twists!”

The award-winning series moved to BBC One after its huge success since launching on BBC Two in 2012. This third series was the highest-rating BBC Two drama series ever since current measuring system began in 2002, with a series consolidated average of 5.1 million. The exhilarating 90-minute finale consolidated at 5.6 million.

Produced by Cait Collins, the executive producers are Jed Mercurio and Simon Heath for World Productions, and Stephen Wright for BBC Northern Ireland. With support from Northern Ireland Screen.

CK

Series three reviews

“This was true watercooler TV; an hour and a half of primetime TV thriller that kept you on the edge of your seat.” – Keith Watson, Metro

“Extraordinary, intense television” – Sam Wollaston, The Guardian

“It’s not just the best British TV drama of the year, it's the best TV show of the decade” – Adam Postans, The People

“A clean sweep of a series which has, with a couple of very honourable exceptions like The Sopranos and The Wire, thrilled and absorbed me like no other, in 15 professional TV-watching years” – Ally Ross, The Sun

“You are unlikely to experience a more thrilling 90 minutes of TV drama this year” – Gerard O’Donovan, Daily Telegraph

“The superbly convincing performances, claustrophobic photography, and complex web of sub-plots made Jed Mercurio’s drama the most brilliantly bleak, raw, realistic, British cop show since The Sweeney.” – Jim Shelley, Daily Mail

Series averages

• Series one (2012) - 4.1m, 15.7% share
• Series two (2014) - 3.4m, 12.3% share
• Series three (2016) - 5.1m, 19.3% share

(All consolidated data)

Related Web Links

• World Productions