Heading home!

Line of Duty actor Martin Compston explores the best of his native Scotland in a new travelogue

Martin Compston is best known as DI Steve Arnott in BBC1’S crime drama Line of Duty, but the actor is not the Southerner he portrays on screen and is, in fact, Scottish. This week, Martin teams up with his friend, PR guru Phil Machugh, to explore the people and places of Scotland in Martin Compston’s Scottish Fling.

‘After nine years of doing Line of Duty, it surprises me that people don’t know I’m Scottish,’ he says. ‘But I don’t mind!’

The pair’s travels begin in Martin’s hometown of Greenock, on Scotland’s west coast, where they catch up with Rupaul’s Drag Race UK winner Lawrence Chaney.

Later across the six-part series, Martin and Phil take in the Highlands, the East Coast including Aberdeen, and Phil’s turf, the Western Isles. It’s then on to Glasgow and Edinburgh before heading back to Greenock via the Borders and Galloway Forest, although Martin got a little tired of the driving…

On the road

‘Phil’s energy and positivity are his best qualities, but his worst is he can’t drive – I do it all,’ says Martin. ‘We went to several lovely restaurants where I could only drink tea. If we get a second series, it will be in my contract that Phil has to drive!’

Despite that, Martin had a great time filming the series.

‘I hope I’ve done a good job,’ says the actor, who divides his time between Scotland and Las Vegas. ‘I love Vegas, but Greenock will always be home.’