The Line Of Duty cast
FANS WAITED TWO YEARS FOR LINE OF DUTY TO RETURN TO THEIR SCREENS, AND NOW THEY ARE ABOUT TO GET THEIR REWARD…
As soon as series five of Line Of Duty ended in May 2019, fans were clamouring for the next dose. It’s taken almost two years to return, but as series six hits the crucial midway mark, the cast are proud it’s been back at the top of its game.
How do you think this series has compared to the others?
Martin Compston (DS Steve
Arnott): For all of us, series three was probably our favourite, because it felt like a culmination of those first three series, as it built to this climax. Now, we’re back at that point – where series four and five have been building to this one – and there’s going to be a lot of big questions answered. The show has also gone back to what made it so good in the first place – a lot of the drama takes place in alleys, and there are double-crosses and big interview scenes. There are a couple of big set pieces, which were fun to do. I really feel like we’re back to the essence of what made the show great. Adrian Dunbar (Superintendent Ted Hastings): W henever we get the scripts, we always want to see if [showrunner Jed Mercurio] has kept the standard up. And, of course, he has. I think everybody recognises that he’s managed to up the ante in some way [every series], and provide something more exciting than the last. And this time, again, he did something that got the audience sitting up, thinking, “We didn’t think that was gonna happen!”
The episodes air weekly, so viewers can’t binge or spoiler…
Martin: That’s how it all started for us, and that’s how prime-time shows on the BBC should be. It’s about that shared viewing. People come up with theories and anticipation builds, which is a huge part of the show. We also hit a sweet spot when the show first came out. We had a loyal core of fans who stayed with us, then – through word of mouth – the show got bigger. Streaming has been great, too, as people have been able to go back and catch up – we get new fans every year. So, the weekly thing is an integral part of the show.
Do people want spoilers? Vicky Mcclure (DI Kate Fleming):
I don’t think they do. I think people enjoy the fact we don’t drop all the episodes at once. It’s quite oldfashioned now, but it gives people the chance to build suspense and work it out for themselves. That, and I think we just enjoy playing with people!
Kelly, you play the new guest lead. What was it like joining the show?
Kelly Macdonald (DCI Joanne
Davidson): I was extremely nervous. Everyone was so welcoming, but it’s nerve-wracking to become a part of a show that’s so well-loved, and the guest-lead status feels momentous.
It was like being the new James Bond! I did worry about the density of the police dialogue, but there’s a lot more to [the role] than just the “lines of duty” as Vicky calls them – my character has got an incredible story.
Shalom, you’re also a newbie. Were you nervous, too? Shalom Brune-franklin (DC Chloe Bishop):
[At the read-through], I remember having a breakdown in the toilets. I was saying to my friend, “I don’t think I can do this. They’re all in there – everyone!” My character Chloe is a new member of AC-12 – she’s very good at her job, she’s very diligent, and I’d like to think that she’s a key part of bringing about some justice this series.
How do you think your characters would have fared during lockdown? Vicky:
Kate ’s a workaholic and would have just carried on fighting crime. I think she would have been quite lonely – [her son] Josh would have been at his dad’s a lot more.
Martin: Steve would have probably been out looking for someone to arrest. He thrives on being out and about.
The job is really all he has. Steve is a joy to play, but he has no one.
Adrian: I know a lot of people who had a decent lockdown, and that’s because they got to spend more time with their families. But, of course, Ted is on his own. I think he would have really suffered, as his work is everything to him – going into work in the morning reminds him of who he is. It gives him a sense of self-worth, gives him dignity and all those things that work gives us back. He probably would have drunk a bit too much, slept in and not shaved!
Finally, how much are past events important this time round? Adrian:
The past is crucial – and with Kelly’s character, in particular. It’s to do with the earliest stuff from AC-12, and the past comes back to haunt us all, one way or another. For those people who have been sticking with the series right from the get-go – who are the kind of people who were in at the start, and followed it forensically – there’s going to be a lot of pay-offs for them this time.