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Line of Duty
Genre	British police drama Crime Detective fiction Thriller
Created by	Jed Mercurio
Written by	Jed Mercurio
Directed by	David Caffrey Douglas Mackinnon Daniel Nettheim Michael Keillor John Strickland Jed Mercurio
Starring	Lennie James Martin Compston Vicky McClure Gina McKee Adrian Dunbar Craig Parkinson Kate Ashfield Paul Higgins Neil Morrissey Owen Teale Brian McCardie Keeley Hawes Jessica Raine Mark Bonnar Liz White Tony Pitts Daniel Mays Polly Walker Will Mellor Arsher Ali Leanne Best Shaun Parkes Aiysha Hart Jonas Armstrong Maya Sondhi George Costigan Thandie Newton Jason Watkins Lee Ingleby Gaite Jansen Patrick Baladi
Theme music composer	Carly Paradis
Ending theme	"Line Of Duty End Theme"
Composer	Carly Paradis
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language	English
No. of series	4
No. of episodes	22 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers	Stephen Wright (BBC) Simon Heath (World Productions) Jed Mercurio (Series 2–4)
Producers	Jed Mercurio (Series 1) Peter Norris (Series 2–3) Cait Collins (Series 4)
Production locations	Birmingham (Series 1) Belfast (Series 2–4)
Cinematography	Ruairi O'Brien(Series 1–2) Peter Robertson(Series 3) Anna Valdez Hanks(Series 4) Stephen Murphy(Series 4)
Running time	60 minutes
Production company	World Productions
Original release
Network	BBC Two (2012-16) BBC One (2017-)
Release	26 June 2012 (2012-06-26) – present

Line of Duty is a British police procedural television series created by Jed Mercurio that premiered on 26 June 2012. It is the most popular drama series broadcast on BBC Two in the multichannel era and is a winner of the Royal Television Society Award for Best Drama Series. Line of Duty was included in a list of the Top 50 BBC Two shows of all-time, in a list of the 80 best BBC shows of all time and was the highest ranked current series in a list of the best cop shows of all time.

The first series was BBC Two's best-performing drama series in ten years, with a consolidated audience of 4.1 million viewers. The drama was recommissioned for a second series and the first episode was broadcast on 12 February 2014. The second series achieved widespread public and critical acclaim, and on 8 April 2014, the BBC commissioned two more series.

In an interview on 28 April 2016, creator Jed Mercurio said that a fourth series would begin filming in the autumn of that year. It commenced broadcast on BBC One on 26 March 2017.

In the United States, the first series was aired on Hulu in August 2012 as an exclusive series.

Main cast and characters

AC-12 personnel

• Martin Compston as Detective Sergeant Steve Arnott (series 1-)

Arnott is a detective sergeant assigned to AC-12, the anti-corruption unit within Central Police. He initially served as an anti-terrorism officer, but was transferred after he refused to collude with his fellow colleagues following the shooting death of an innocent man. During series three, Arnott is accused of being a gangland informant known as The Caddy, framed for the murder of DI Lindsay Denton, and is later arrested. He is cleared of all charges.

• Vicky McClure as Detective Sergeant Kate Fleming (series 1-)

Fleming is originally a detective constable and an undercover specialist. A consummate professional, Kate is willing to investigate officers both within, and outside of, AC-12. In series two, Kate begins investigating DI Lindsay Denton. She is promoted to Sergeant at the end of series three. Kate has children, though her ex-husband retains custody.

• Adrian Dunbar as Superintendent Ted Hastings (series 1-)

Hastings, a police superintendent, is the Senior Investigating Officer of AC-12. He personally recruited Arnott, Fleming, and Cottan, and has a black-and-white view of the law. In series three, it is revealed that Hastings is a Freemason, which causes both Arnott and Fleming to doubt his commitment to AC-12.

• Craig Parkinson as Detective Inspector Matthew "Dot" Cottan (series 1-3)

Originally a DS attached to TO-20, Cottan transfers to AC-12 at the close of the Tony Gates investigation. Acting as Fleming and Arnott's supervising officer, Cotton oversees numerous anti-corruption investigations, though he is later revealed to be the notorious "Caddy". In series 3, he shoots and kills Lindsay Denton, and is later shot and killed himself.

AC-12 suspects

• Lennie James as Detective Chief Inspector Anthony "Tony" Gates (series 1)

As the head of the serious crime unit TO-20, Tony Gates is renowned for returning the best crime figures of any unit in Central Police. It is this reputation, however, that leads AC-12 to his team. Suspected of corruption, Gates faces an internal affairs investigation that adds further complications to his troubled home-life.

• Keeley Hawes as Detective Inspector Lindsay Denton (series 2-3)

Denton finds herself at the centre of an AC-12 investigation following the ambush of a convoy that resulted in the deaths of several police officers. As the sole survivor, Denton is arrested and charged shortly thereafter. During series 2, Denton attempts to convince AC-12 of her innocence and regain her reputation. In series 3, Denton is granted an appeal trial, and is acquitted on the basis of an improper sexual relationship with Arnott. After refusing to accept a bribe, she is murdered by "The Caddy", a corrupt officer. Prior to her death, Lindsay discovered crucial evidence pertaining to the Danny Waldron murder investigation and historical child sex abuse.

• Daniel Mays as Sergeant Daniel Waldron (series 3)

Danny is an armed police officer who is investigated by AC-12 as a matter of routine following an on-the-job shooting. When Arnott and Fleming discover the shooting may not have been necessary, however, a deeper investigation is required. Danny is shot and killed during series 3, with his death leading to the capture of "The Caddy," as well as the opening of an investigation into historic child sex abuse.

• Thandie Newton as Detective Chief Inspector Roseanne "Roz" Huntley (series 4)

Acting as Senior Investigating Officer of Operation Trapdoor, Huntley finds herself at the centre of an AC-12 investigation for mishandling evidence. During a short interim in her leadership of the case, she becomes Duty S.I.O. of Major Crimes, and must head the investigation into the death of a Forensics Specialist named Tim Ifield.

Supporting cast and characters

AC-12 personnel

• Jessica Raine as Detective Constable Georgia Trotman (series 2)

Assigned to AC-12 following a stint as a patrol office, Trotman is partnered with Steve Arnott during the initial stages of the Lindsay Denton investigation. She is later pushed from a hospital window and killed.

• Polly Walker as Gill Biggeloe (series 3)

Following the Lindsay Denton investigation, Biggeloe - a police federation legal counsellor - is assigned to AC-12 in order to ensure its credibility is maintained.

• Maya Sondhi as Police Constable Maneet Bindra (series 3-4)
• Royce Pierreson as Detective Constable Jamie Desford (series 4)

TO-20 personnel

• Neil Morrissey as DC Nigel Morton (series 1-3)
• Claire Keelan as DS Leah Janson (series 1)
• Nigel Boyle as DI / DCI Ian Buckells (series 1, 4)
• Faraz Ayub as DC Deepak Kapoor (series 1)

Armed Response personnel

• Arsher Ali as PC Harinderpal "Hari" Bains (series 3)
• Leanne Best as PC Jackie Brickford (series 3)
• Will Mellor as PC Rod Kennedy (series 3)
• Lisa Palfrey as Insp. McAndrew (series 3)

Operation Trapdoor personnel

• Jason Watkins as FC Tim Ifield (series 4)
• Claudia Jessie as DC Jodie Taylor (series 4)
• Mark Stobbart as DS Neil Twyler (series 4)

Other police personnel

• George Costigan as Chief Supt. Patrick Fairbank (series 3)
• Paul Higgins as Chief Supt. / ACC Derek Hilton (series 1, 4)
• Tony Pitts as DCS Lester Hargreaves (series 2, 4)
• Christina Chong as DS Nicola Rogerson (series 2)
• Mark Bonnar as DCC Mike Dryden (series 2)
• Steve Toussaint as C/Supt. Mallick (series 2)
• Sacha Dhawan as DS Manish Prasad (Series 2)
• Aiysha Hart as DS Sam Railston (series 3-4)
• Shaun Parkes as C/Supt. Terry Reynolds (series 3)

Other supporting cast and characters

Production

Series one and two were created and written by Jed Mercurio and produced by World Productions, on behalf of BBC Two. David Caffrey and Douglas Mackinnon directed series one. Mackinnon was retained as Director for series two's first three episodes, whilst Daniel Nettheim directed series two's last three episodes. Mercurio produced series one and acted as executive producer for series two, with Peter Norris taking over as producer for series two.

Inspiration

The police refused to co-operate with the programme's producers. Consequently, the production team was advised both by retired police officers and anonymously by serving officers; production also made use of anonymous police blogs.

Locations

Series one was filmed in Birmingham (including pub interiors in the Queens Arms) and series two, three and four in Belfast by BBC Northern Ireland, per the end credits, though the city is not identified in the script in any series – set dressings and props indicate that the unnamed city is Birmingham (maps of Birmingham appear on walls, and telephone numbers use an 0121 area code). A photo gallery of exterior scenes from series two shows the 4th Street Station on Ormeau Avenue in Belfast.

Series overview

Episodes

Awards and nominations

Censure by Ofcom

Following the complaint of one viewer, the media regulator Ofcom found the BBC had breached Rule 1.28 of the Code in 2012 . Specifically that there was a "serious lapse" in its duty of care for a 13-year-old actor, Gregory Piper, who had appeared in scenes which were "of a particularly violent nature and included sexually explicit language" by breaching broadcasting rules requiring that "due care must be taken over the physical and emotional welfare and the dignity of people under 18". In its full report, Ofcom cited the programme's failure to involve an independent expert, such as a child psychiatrist, to determine the actor's intellectual and emotional capacity to participate in the controversial scenes and that programme makers had not followed the best practice advice of the BBC’s Editorial Policy Unit. However, the regulator found that there was no actual harm, distress or anxiety caused to the child actor.

Home media releases

Online

iTunes releases for Line of Duty

Blinkbox releases for Line of Duty

BBC Store releases for Line of Duty

DVD

DVD releases for Line of Duty

Bluray

Bluray releases for Line of Duty

References

1. Plunkett, John (28 April 2016). "Line of Duty outranks Wolf Hall to take BBC2 ratings crown". The Guardian.
2. "RTS Programme Awards 2015".
3. Hogan, Michael et all (18 April 2014). "The Top 50 BBC Two shows of all-time". The Telegraph.
4. Tate, Gabriel; et al. (2 November 2016). "The 80 Best BBC Shows of All Time". The Telegraph. {{cite web}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |first= (help)
5. Ross, Graeme (12 November 2016). "The 20 Greatest TV Cop Shows of All Time". The Independent.
6. Jed Mercurio: taking aim at target culture | In-depth | Broadcast
7. Sperling, Daniel (25 July 2012). "'Line of Duty' renewed for second series by BBC". DigitalSpy. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
8. Moir, Jan (17 March 2014). "Is Line of Duty the best cop show ever?". Daily Mail.
9. Sweeney, Mark (8 April 2014). "Line of Duty set to return for third and fourth series". Guardian.
10. "Express.co.uk". 28 April 2016.
11. Thomas, June (24 August 2012), "The Global Network", Slate, retrieved 28 January 2013
12. Jed Mercurio (26 June 2012). "Line of Duty – a police drama that swaps reassurance for reality". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
13. "Line Of Duty". Retrieved 15 February 2015.
14. "Behind the Scenes Photo Gallery". BBC. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
15. BBC censured over violent Line of Duty scene featuring child actor, The Guardian, 17 December 2012. Accessed 27 April 2013.
16. Ofcom Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 220 (PDF), 17 December 2012, pp. 5–17
17. "Line of Duty – Series One (iTunes)". Apple Inc. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
18. "Line of Duty – Series Two (iTunes)". Apple Inc. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
19. "Line of Duty – Series 1&2 (iTunes)". Apple Inc. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
20. "Line of Duty – Series (Blinkbox)". blinkbox Entertainment Limited. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
21. "Line of Duty – Series 2 (Blinkbox)". blinkbox Entertainment Limited. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
22. "Line of Duty – Series One [DVD]". BBC Worldwide LTD. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
23. "Line of Duty – Series Two [DVD]". BBC Worldwide LTD. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
24. "Line of Duty – Series 1&2 [DVD]". BBC Worldwide LTD. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
25. "Line of Duty – Series One [Bluray]". BBC Worldwide LTD. Retrieved 10th April 2015. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
26. "Line of Duty – Series Two [Bluray]". BBC Worldwide. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
27. "Line of Duty – Series 3 [Bluray]". BBC Worldwide. Retrieved 20 January 2017.

External links

• Line of Duty at BBC Online
• Line of Duty at Hulu
• Line of Duty at IMDb
• Line of Duty at epguides.com
• Template:Tv.com show

• 2012 British television programme debuts
• 2010s British drama television series
• BBC television dramas
• British crime drama television series
• English-language television programming
• Television shows set in England
• Thriller television series
• 2010s British crime television series