Streaming giants line up to STEAL Line of Duty from BBC as long-awaited return set to leave door open for more series

THE long-awaited seventh Line of Duty series will leave the door open for more outings — but the BBC faces a fight to keep it. It will be back next year with lead stars Martin Compston, Vicky McClure and Adrian Dunbar. Line of Duty’s Martin Compston, Adrian Dunbar and Vicky McClure Credit: PA Line of Duty’s creator Jed Mercurio said in 2021, ‘There are people within the BBC who I avoid like the plague because they have been there a long time and they are fundamentally workshy’ Credit: Getty Images And the story of police corruption-busting AC-12 will be left so it can continue beyond 2027. However, streaming giants such as Netflix are likely to try to steal it from the BBC after the next series with the lure of bigger budgets and a global platform. Sign up for the TV newsletter Thank you! Producers are making good progress on its return — or are “sucking diesel” as Irish actor Dunbar’s character Supt Ted Hastings would say. But a TV insider said: “The Beeb currently hold the recommissioning rights to Line of Duty, yet ultimately it is the property of World Productions. Read more on Line of Duty “The streamers have particularly deep pockets as well as a desire to tap into tried-and-tested shows that are very British.” In 2021, Line of Duty’s creator Jed Mercurio said: “There are people within the BBC who I avoid like the plague because they have been there a long time and they are fundamentally workshy.” The seventh series, which we exclusively revealed was happening, is expected around Easter. The BBC was approached for comment. Most read in TV Comment now