Record TV ratings for Line of Duty finale
THE actor unveiled as Line Of Duty’s mysterious H has said he never suspected he was playing the corrupt police officer at the top of a criminal conspiracy, as the controversial final episode of the crime drama drew record ratings.
During Sunday night’s finale of the BBC One series, DSU Ian Buckells, played by Nigel Boyle, was unmasked as the mysterious figure.
The much-anticipated episode was watched by an average of 12.8 million people, with a 56.2% share in overnight viewing figures, making it the most watched episode of a drama in 20 years, the BBC has said.
The episode had a peak viewing figure of 13.1 million, according to the corporation.
Boyle, who grew up in Birmingham, said he was “buzzing with excitement” when he found out his character was the shadowy H.
He added: “I never suspected it because I know how Jed [Mercurio] leads people down the garden path with really good red herrings, so I
didn’t really pay too much attention to things like Buckells’ golf clubs etc, but clearly I should have done!
“I’d bought into the idea that Buckells was low on competence levels, but looking back it all makes sense!”
The finale of the sixth series also left the future of anti-corruption unit AC-12 hanging in the balance.
Speaking about finding out his character was “the fourth man” – an individual commanding a network of corrupt officers behind the murder of journalist Gail Vella – Boyle said the show’s creator, Mercurio, had revealed the news: “Jed called me and said, ‘The scripts for the next episodes are going to be sent out and so it’s time to tell you the secret I’ve been keeping – you’re going to be revealed as someone rather significant...’”