Alright, Line of Duty fans, brace yourselves: Martin Compston, our favorite waistcoat-wearing copper, has spoken, and there’s a glimmer of hope for a seventh season of the BBC’s nail-biting police drama. In a chat with The Sun’s TV Mag, reported by Deadline, the actor who plays DI Steve Arnott teased that a return could happen—but only if it’s “for the right reasons.” After that divisive 2021 finale left us all screaming at our TVs, Compston’s words are like a beacon in the fog for AC-12 devotees. So, what’s the deal? Let’s dive in.
Why We’re Still Obsessed with Line of Duty
If you’ve somehow missed the Line of Duty train, here’s the gist: from 2012 to 2021, this Jed Mercurio creation had us glued to our screens with its twisty tales of corrupt cops and tense interrogation scenes that could make your palms sweat. Compston’s Steve Arnott, alongside Vicky McClure’s Kate Fleming and Adrian Dunbar’s Ted Hastings, runs AC-12, the unit tasked with sniffing out “bent coppers.” The show’s sixth season finale in 2021 pulled in a whopping 13 million viewers, all desperate to learn who the shadowy “H” was. But when the big reveal landed, not everyone was cheering—some felt it didn’t pack the punch of earlier seasons. Cue endless fan debates and pleas for more.
Now, Compston’s stirring the pot again. He told The Sun, “We’re always talking about possibilities and schedules and whatnot,” which is basically catnip for fans like me who’ve been refreshing X for updates. But he’s not promising a comeback just yet, warning that “everybody’s got stuff going on at the minute,” so any new season is “a way off.” The kicker? He’s dead set on keeping the show’s quality sky-high, saying, “We really care about the quality of it. So if we come back, it would be for the right reasons.” Honestly, you’ve got to respect that—nobody wants a rushed season just to cash in on the hype.
Is Season Seven Really Happening?
Here’s where things get juicy. According to Deadline, back in April 2025, Compston, McClure, Dunbar, and Mercurio reportedly “committed” to a seventh season, with plans to start filming in January 2026, aiming for an early 2026 release. A source spilled to The Sun that the gang’s been trying to sync their 2025 schedules, which is no small feat. Compston’s been busy with Prime Video’s The Rig and Fear, McClure’s kicking butt in Trigger Point, and Dunbar’s juggling theater gigs and TV roles. Getting these three back in the AC-12 office is like herding cats—talented, busy cats.
What I love about this crew is how tight they are. Compston’s called McClure and Dunbar “some of my closest friends,” and he’s got nothing but love for working with Mercurio. That bond makes me think they’d jump at the chance to reunite if the story’s right. But Compston’s clear: no script, no show. Mercurio’s got to bring his A-game, and knowing his track record, I’m betting he’s cooking up something wild.
Fans vs. That Finale
Let’s talk about that elephant in the room: the season six ending. Without spoiling too much, the “H” reveal had some fans buzzing and others grumbling that it didn’t match the show’s earlier gut-punch twists. Compston’s “right reasons” comment feels like a nod to those mixed reactions—he knows the bar’s high. Mercurio’s always been about digging into the messy reality of corruption, not just tossing out shockers for clicks, so I’m curious to see how he’d tackle a new season.
Source: Deadline
