Line of Duty is a British police procedural and serial drama television series created and written by Jed Mercurio for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). [1] [2] Mercurio originally pitched the programme to BBC One, but was turned down and directed towards BBC Two, [3] which commissioned the series nine months later. [4] It premiered on 26 June 2012 with a five-episode first series which concluded on 24 July. [5] [6] The programme performed well and quickly earned a commission for a second series. [7] The six-episode second series aired from 2 February to 19 March 2014. [8] Although viewing figures were slightly lower than the first, [9] BBC Two commissioned a third and fourth series of the programme. [10] The third began broadcasting on 24 March 2016 and finished six weeks later on 28 April. [11] Series three surpassed viewership of the first series and was the most viewed series on BBC Two in over ten years, [12] leading to the commissioning of a fifth series. [13]
Around this time, a restructuring of BBC television networks occurred causing BBC One and BBC Two to now be controlled by the same person. [14] The decision was made to promote Line of Duty to BBC One for the fourth series onwards. [15] Series four aired from 26 March to 30 April 2017 [16] [17] followed by the fifth from 31 March to 5 May 2019. [18] [19] Following the fourth, the programme was also commissioned for series six. [20] A special mini-episode written by the Dawson Brothers aired on 13 March 2020 in support of Sport Relief. [21] [22] An additional episode was produced for the sixth and final series of the show; [23] the series began airing on 21 March 2021 with its finale being broadcast on 2 May. [24] [25] Viewing figures increased significantly over the course of the series, [26] leading to record breaking broadcasts [27] and causing Line of Duty to become the highest-rated drama since modern records began in 2002. [28] The series has been nominated for several awards, [29] also gaining a cult following [30] and becoming the subject of critical acclaim. [31] [32] [33] [34]
The series primarily follows the actions of Anti-Corruption Unit 12 (AC-12), a task force located within the fictional Central Police Constabulary. [35] AC-12 is led by Superintendent Ted Hastings, portrayed by Adrian Dunbar. [36] Martin Compston and Vicky McClure also starred in all six series as AC-12 officers Steve Arnott and Kate Fleming. [37] Each series features an additional actor who portrays a police officer that is being investigated by AC-12. [38] These roles were performed by Lennie James, [39] Keely Hawes, [40] Daniel Mays, [41] Thandie Newton, [42] Stephen Graham, [43] and Kelly Macdonald. [44] Other starring cast members include Craig Parkinson, [45] Jessica Raine, [46] Jason Watkins, [47] and Anna Maxwell Martin. [48] Over the course of the programme, an overarching storyline develops that connects numerous characters to an organised crime group which is found to be in a large conspiracy with high-ranking officers of the police department. [49] Produced by World Productions, [50] the series was primarily filmed in Belfast although filming for the first series took place in Birmingham. [51] It was distributed internationally by Content Media Group, which was eventually purchased by Kew Media Distribution, [52] and ultimately ITV Studios following Kew Media's collapse. [53]
During the course of the programme, 36 episodes of Line of Duty aired over six series, between 26 June 2012 and 2 May 2021. [54]
Series | Episodes | Originally aired | Average viewership (in millions) [55] | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
First aired | Last aired | Network | ||||
1 | 5 | 26 June 2012 | 24 July 2012 | BBC Two | 3.80 | |
2 | 6 | 12 February 2014 | 19 March 2014 | 3.43 | ||
3 | 6 | 24 March 2016 | 28 April 2016 | 4.81 | ||
4 | 6 | 26 March 2017 | 30 April 2017 | BBC One | 8.24 | |
5 | 6 | 31 March 2019 | 5 May 2019 | 11.10 | ||
Sport Relief special | 13 March 2020 | — | ||||
6 | 7 | 21 March 2021 | 2 May 2021 | 13.67 |
No. overall |
No. in series | Title [56] | Directed by | Original air date | UK viewers (millions) [57] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | "Episode 1" "A Disastrous Affair" | David Caffrey | 26 June 2012 | 3.76 |
2 | 2 | "Episode 2" "The Assault" | David Caffrey | 3 July 2012 | 3.84 |
3 | 3 | "Episode 3" "In the Trap" | David Caffrey | 10 July 2012 | 3.80 |
4 | 4 | "Episode 4" "Terror" | Douglas Mackinnon | 17 July 2012 | 3.87 |
5 | 5 | "Episode 5" "The Probation" | Douglas Mackinnon | 24 July 2012 | 3.72 |
No. overall |
No. in series | Title [58] | Directed by | Original air date | UK viewers (millions) [59] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 | 1 | "Episode 1" "The Ambush" | Douglas Mackinnon | 12 February 2014 | 2.74 |
7 | 2 | "Episode 2" "Carly" | Douglas Mackinnon | 19 February 2014 | 3.21 |
8 | 3 | "Episode 3" "Behind Bars" | Douglas Mackinnon | 26 February 2014 | 3.34 |
9 | 4 | "Episode 4" "Blood Money" | Daniel Nettheim | 5 March 2014 | 3.46 |
10 | 5 | "Episode 5" "Last Words" | Daniel Nettheim | 12 March 2014 | 3.73 |
11 | 6 | "Episode 6" "The Caddy" | Daniel Nettheim | 19 March 2014 | 4.12 |
No. overall |
No. in series | Title [60] | Directed by | Original air date | UK viewers (millions) [61] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
12 | 1 | "Episode 1" "Monsters" | Michael Keillor | 24 March 2016 | 3.31 |
13 | 2 | "Episode 2" "The Process" | Michael Keillor | 31 March 2016 | 5.11 |
14 | 3 | "Episode 3" "Snake Pit" | Michael Keillor | 7 April 2016 | 4.97 |
15 | 4 | "Episode 4" "Negative Pressure" | John Strickland | 14 April 2016 | 4.82 |
16 | 5 | "Episode 5" "The List" | John Strickland | 21 April 2016 | 5.09 |
17 | 6 | "Episode 6" "Breach" | John Strickland | 28 April 2016 | 5.58 |
No. overall |
No. in series | Title [62] | Directed by | Original air date | UK viewers (millions) [63] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
18 | 1 | "Episode 1" "In the Shadow of Truth" | Jed Mercurio | 26 March 2017 | 7.40 |
19 | 2 | "Episode 2" "Who Sows the Wind" | Jed Mercurio | 2 April 2017 | 7.26 |
20 | 3 | "Episode 3" "In the Trap" | John Strickland | 9 April 2017 | 7.37 |
21 | 4 | "Episode 4" "Moral Superiority" | John Strickland | 16 April 2017 | 8.48 |
22 | 5 | "Episode 5" "Lying Nest" | John Strickland | 23 April 2017 | 9.03 |
23 | 6 | "Episode 6" "Royal Hunting Ground" | John Strickland | 30 April 2017 | 9.92 |
No. overall |
No. in series | Title [64] [65] | Directed by | Original air date | UK viewers (millions) [66] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
24 | 1 | "Episode 1" "Operation Pear Tree" | John Strickland | 31 March 2019 | 11.37 |
25 | 2 | "Episode 2" "The Head of Medusa" | John Strickland | 7 April 2019 | 10.30 |
26 | 3 | "Episode 3" "Code Zero" | John Strickland | 14 April 2019 | 10.34 |
27 | 4 | "Episode 4" "The Betrayal" | John Strickland | 21 April 2019 | 10.46 |
28 | 5 | "Episode 5" "On Your Own" | Sue Tully | 28 April 2019 | 11.42 |
29 | 6 | "Episode 6" "The Intrigue" | Sue Tully | 5 May 2019 | 12.69 |
No. | Title | Written by | Original air date |
---|---|---|---|
1 | "Line of Duty Sport Relief Special" [67] | Dawson Brothers [22] | 13 March 2020 |
No. overall |
No. in series | Title | Directed by | Original air date | UK viewers (millions) [68] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
30 | 1 | "Episode 1" | Daniel Nettheim | 21 March 2021 | 13.49 |
31 | 2 | "Episode 2" | Daniel Nettheim | 28 March 2021 | 12.45 |
32 | 3 | "Episode 3" | Gareth Bryn | 4 April 2021 | 12.58 |
33 | 4 | "Episode 4" | Gareth Bryn | 11 April 2021 | 12.77 |
34 | 5 | "Episode 5" | Jennie Darnell | 18 April 2021 | 13.72 |
35 | 6 | "Episode 6" | Jennie Darnell | 25 April 2021 | 14.89 |
36 | 7 | "Episode 7" | Jennie Darnell | 2 May 2021 | 15.79 |
![]() | Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on
Phabricator and on
MediaWiki.org. |
Series | Episode number | Average | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | |||
1 | 3.76 | 3.84 | 3.80 | 3.87 | 3.72 | – | 3.80 | ||
2 | 2.74 | 3.21 | 3.34 | 3.46 | 3.73 | 4.12 | – | 3.43 | |
3 | 3.31 | 5.11 | 4.97 | 4.82 | 5.09 | 5.58 | – | 4.81 | |
4 | 7.40 | 7.26 | 7.37 | 8.48 | 9.03 | 9.92 | – | 8.24 | |
5 | 11.37 | 10.30 | 10.34 | 10.46 | 11.42 | 12.69 | – | 11.10 | |
6 | 13.49 | 12.45 | 12.58 | 12.77 | 13.72 | 14.89 | 15.79 | 13.67 |
Line of Duty is a British police procedural and serial drama television series created and written by Jed Mercurio for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). [1] [2] Mercurio originally pitched the programme to BBC One, but was turned down and directed towards BBC Two, [3] which commissioned the series nine months later. [4] It premiered on 26 June 2012 with a five-episode first series which concluded on 24 July. [5] [6] The programme performed well and quickly earned a commission for a second series. [7] The six-episode second series aired from 2 February to 19 March 2014. [8] Although viewing figures were slightly lower than the first, [9] BBC Two commissioned a third and fourth series of the programme. [10] The third began broadcasting on 24 March 2016 and finished six weeks later on 28 April. [11] Series three surpassed viewership of the first series and was the most viewed series on BBC Two in over ten years, [12] leading to the commissioning of a fifth series. [13]
Around this time, a restructuring of BBC television networks occurred causing BBC One and BBC Two to now be controlled by the same person. [14] The decision was made to promote Line of Duty to BBC One for the fourth series onwards. [15] Series four aired from 26 March to 30 April 2017 [16] [17] followed by the fifth from 31 March to 5 May 2019. [18] [19] Following the fourth, the programme was also commissioned for series six. [20] A special mini-episode written by the Dawson Brothers aired on 13 March 2020 in support of Sport Relief. [21] [22] An additional episode was produced for the sixth and final series of the show; [23] the series began airing on 21 March 2021 with its finale being broadcast on 2 May. [24] [25] Viewing figures increased significantly over the course of the series, [26] leading to record breaking broadcasts [27] and causing Line of Duty to become the highest-rated drama since modern records began in 2002. [28] The series has been nominated for several awards, [29] also gaining a cult following [30] and becoming the subject of critical acclaim. [31] [32] [33] [34]
The series primarily follows the actions of Anti-Corruption Unit 12 (AC-12), a task force located within the fictional Central Police Constabulary. [35] AC-12 is led by Superintendent Ted Hastings, portrayed by Adrian Dunbar. [36] Martin Compston and Vicky McClure also starred in all six series as AC-12 officers Steve Arnott and Kate Fleming. [37] Each series features an additional actor who portrays a police officer that is being investigated by AC-12. [38] These roles were performed by Lennie James, [39] Keely Hawes, [40] Daniel Mays, [41] Thandie Newton, [42] Stephen Graham, [43] and Kelly Macdonald. [44] Other starring cast members include Craig Parkinson, [45] Jessica Raine, [46] Jason Watkins, [47] and Anna Maxwell Martin. [48] Over the course of the programme, an overarching storyline develops that connects numerous characters to an organised crime group which is found to be in a large conspiracy with high-ranking officers of the police department. [49] Produced by World Productions, [50] the series was primarily filmed in Belfast although filming for the first series took place in Birmingham. [51] It was distributed internationally by Content Media Group, which was eventually purchased by Kew Media Distribution, [52] and ultimately ITV Studios following Kew Media's collapse. [53]
During the course of the programme, 36 episodes of Line of Duty aired over six series, between 26 June 2012 and 2 May 2021. [54]
Series | Episodes | Originally aired | Average viewership (in millions) [55] | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
First aired | Last aired | Network | ||||
1 | 5 | 26 June 2012 | 24 July 2012 | BBC Two | 3.80 | |
2 | 6 | 12 February 2014 | 19 March 2014 | 3.43 | ||
3 | 6 | 24 March 2016 | 28 April 2016 | 4.81 | ||
4 | 6 | 26 March 2017 | 30 April 2017 | BBC One | 8.24 | |
5 | 6 | 31 March 2019 | 5 May 2019 | 11.10 | ||
Sport Relief special | 13 March 2020 | — | ||||
6 | 7 | 21 March 2021 | 2 May 2021 | 13.67 |
No. overall |
No. in series | Title [56] | Directed by | Original air date | UK viewers (millions) [57] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | "Episode 1" "A Disastrous Affair" | David Caffrey | 26 June 2012 | 3.76 |
2 | 2 | "Episode 2" "The Assault" | David Caffrey | 3 July 2012 | 3.84 |
3 | 3 | "Episode 3" "In the Trap" | David Caffrey | 10 July 2012 | 3.80 |
4 | 4 | "Episode 4" "Terror" | Douglas Mackinnon | 17 July 2012 | 3.87 |
5 | 5 | "Episode 5" "The Probation" | Douglas Mackinnon | 24 July 2012 | 3.72 |
No. overall |
No. in series | Title [58] | Directed by | Original air date | UK viewers (millions) [59] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 | 1 | "Episode 1" "The Ambush" | Douglas Mackinnon | 12 February 2014 | 2.74 |
7 | 2 | "Episode 2" "Carly" | Douglas Mackinnon | 19 February 2014 | 3.21 |
8 | 3 | "Episode 3" "Behind Bars" | Douglas Mackinnon | 26 February 2014 | 3.34 |
9 | 4 | "Episode 4" "Blood Money" | Daniel Nettheim | 5 March 2014 | 3.46 |
10 | 5 | "Episode 5" "Last Words" | Daniel Nettheim | 12 March 2014 | 3.73 |
11 | 6 | "Episode 6" "The Caddy" | Daniel Nettheim | 19 March 2014 | 4.12 |
No. overall |
No. in series | Title [60] | Directed by | Original air date | UK viewers (millions) [61] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
12 | 1 | "Episode 1" "Monsters" | Michael Keillor | 24 March 2016 | 3.31 |
13 | 2 | "Episode 2" "The Process" | Michael Keillor | 31 March 2016 | 5.11 |
14 | 3 | "Episode 3" "Snake Pit" | Michael Keillor | 7 April 2016 | 4.97 |
15 | 4 | "Episode 4" "Negative Pressure" | John Strickland | 14 April 2016 | 4.82 |
16 | 5 | "Episode 5" "The List" | John Strickland | 21 April 2016 | 5.09 |
17 | 6 | "Episode 6" "Breach" | John Strickland | 28 April 2016 | 5.58 |
No. overall |
No. in series | Title [62] | Directed by | Original air date | UK viewers (millions) [63] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
18 | 1 | "Episode 1" "In the Shadow of Truth" | Jed Mercurio | 26 March 2017 | 7.40 |
19 | 2 | "Episode 2" "Who Sows the Wind" | Jed Mercurio | 2 April 2017 | 7.26 |
20 | 3 | "Episode 3" "In the Trap" | John Strickland | 9 April 2017 | 7.37 |
21 | 4 | "Episode 4" "Moral Superiority" | John Strickland | 16 April 2017 | 8.48 |
22 | 5 | "Episode 5" "Lying Nest" | John Strickland | 23 April 2017 | 9.03 |
23 | 6 | "Episode 6" "Royal Hunting Ground" | John Strickland | 30 April 2017 | 9.92 |
No. overall |
No. in series | Title [64] [65] | Directed by | Original air date | UK viewers (millions) [66] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
24 | 1 | "Episode 1" "Operation Pear Tree" | John Strickland | 31 March 2019 | 11.37 |
25 | 2 | "Episode 2" "The Head of Medusa" | John Strickland | 7 April 2019 | 10.30 |
26 | 3 | "Episode 3" "Code Zero" | John Strickland | 14 April 2019 | 10.34 |
27 | 4 | "Episode 4" "The Betrayal" | John Strickland | 21 April 2019 | 10.46 |
28 | 5 | "Episode 5" "On Your Own" | Sue Tully | 28 April 2019 | 11.42 |
29 | 6 | "Episode 6" "The Intrigue" | Sue Tully | 5 May 2019 | 12.69 |
No. | Title | Written by | Original air date |
---|---|---|---|
1 | "Line of Duty Sport Relief Special" [67] | Dawson Brothers [22] | 13 March 2020 |
No. overall |
No. in series | Title | Directed by | Original air date | UK viewers (millions) [68] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
30 | 1 | "Episode 1" | Daniel Nettheim | 21 March 2021 | 13.49 |
31 | 2 | "Episode 2" | Daniel Nettheim | 28 March 2021 | 12.45 |
32 | 3 | "Episode 3" | Gareth Bryn | 4 April 2021 | 12.58 |
33 | 4 | "Episode 4" | Gareth Bryn | 11 April 2021 | 12.77 |
34 | 5 | "Episode 5" | Jennie Darnell | 18 April 2021 | 13.72 |
35 | 6 | "Episode 6" | Jennie Darnell | 25 April 2021 | 14.89 |
36 | 7 | "Episode 7" | Jennie Darnell | 2 May 2021 | 15.79 |
![]() | Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on
Phabricator and on
MediaWiki.org. |
Series | Episode number | Average | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | |||
1 | 3.76 | 3.84 | 3.80 | 3.87 | 3.72 | – | 3.80 | ||
2 | 2.74 | 3.21 | 3.34 | 3.46 | 3.73 | 4.12 | – | 3.43 | |
3 | 3.31 | 5.11 | 4.97 | 4.82 | 5.09 | 5.58 | – | 4.81 | |
4 | 7.40 | 7.26 | 7.37 | 8.48 | 9.03 | 9.92 | – | 8.24 | |
5 | 11.37 | 10.30 | 10.34 | 10.46 | 11.42 | 12.69 | – | 11.10 | |
6 | 13.49 | 12.45 | 12.58 | 12.77 | 13.72 | 14.89 | 15.79 | 13.67 |