I think it’s RIP for a DI from AC-12
Ex-Line Of Duty cop says viewers in for a shock as key character ‘to die’
A KEY former Line Of Duty officer has a hunch that one of the series’ main characters is for the chop.
Craig Parkinson, who played corrupt cop Matthew “Dot” Cottan, reckons one of the big three stars from the AC-12 anti-corruption unit will be killed off at the end of the current run.
The names in his frame are DI Steve Arnott, played by Martin Compston, DI Kate Fleming (Vicky McClure) and Supt Ted Hastings (Adrian Dunbar).
And his money is on Steve Arnott, who was thrown down a flight of stairs and left for dead in season four, and is now hooked on painkillers.
Gambling addict Dot’s time in Jed Mercurio’s hit drama came to a violent end at the close of season three.
He was a fixer for an organised crime gang and was fatally shot after escaping custody. But his dying declaration may still hold vital clues...
Craig, 45, came up with his theory of an impending death as the tagline in trailers for this series was Lies Cost Lives. Hosting the BBC’s Obsessed With Line Of Duty podcast, he said: “I feel something tragic is going to happen to somebody we love.
“Somebody is going. I’m saying Steve. Imagine if it was Ted, the whole of the UK would be in mourning, there will be a national Ted Hastings Memorial
Adrian as Ted Hastings
Day.” Speaking this week, Vicky made it clear she doesn’t want to be the one who leaves the show.
She told Stylist magazine: “We’re all cautious that we’ve been going for a long time. We don’t want it to get to a point where people go: stop it already!
“We want to be able to get to a point where we’ll stop because it’s natural. I dread that day. I’m blessed with one of the best jobs in the business.
“I’m not tired of it. I don’t feel like I don’t want to be just known as Kate Fleming, because I also get to do other work.
“And then, God willing, we’ll get another series of Line Of Duty to get back to what we all know and love.”
So far this series, like Steve, Kate and Ted have been struggling. AC-12 is probing Kate’s new boss and stressed Ted is at odds with his superiors over his tactics for fighting corruption.
Writer Jed Mercurio has not confirmed there will be a seventh series but is thought to be keen to continue. Consolidated ratings for this season’s premiere have reached 13.8 million, the show’s highest ever. On April 16, Adrian will host Have I Got News For You, with comedian Katherine Ryan and journalist Tim Shipman joining regulars Ian Hislop and Paul Merton.
■ Line of Duty, BBC1, Sunday at 9pm.