Will there be a three-peat?

WILL we see all of the terrific trio – (super) Ted, (clever) Kate and (tenacious) Steve – back next year? Martin Compston said recently “it’ll be heartbreaking, but one of us is likely to go at some point”, so maybe they’re all in on the biggest shock of all, the brutal despatch of an AC-12 boss? With Kate’s undercover role rumbled – again – might she succumb to a surprise attack? Happily it wasn’t the stairway to heaven for Steve, but can he get back on his feet – and find some snazzy new waistcoats?

And will Ted successfully negotiate the rotten police power play to deliver another: “Now listen, fella!”

Die-hard fans refusef to believe the diligent PC has sold her soul to Hilton.

Maybe she was fed-up standing in line for the crumbs after all of her brilliant breakthroughs. Or perhaps Sherlock will have one final flourish! AS AC-12 knows only too well, the best person to get away with a crime is a copper who knows all the tricks.

Could bearded detective Joe Nash from Roz’s team be the killer?

Or maybe there’s something shady about “Jodie the toady”.

No matter how shonky Roz seems, Jodie has been her right-hand woman – although actually it’s a left Roz now needs.

There could be more to her dogged devotion.

OK, so we stretchedttch the truth with the eight burning questions... hundreds remain.

Like, will there be more burning questions after tonight? Will Steve’s armchair remain upright? Will Kate manage to persuade Ted women can drink pints?

And how did they ever make a series this good? What’s it about? Two years after the last series, the doctor is involved in a messy divorce.

Suranne Jones, . late summer

It was the top drama of 2015 but TV bosses had to wait for new episodes as Suranne was having a baby.