Line of Duty Season 1 returns to BBC One
David Farnor | On 18, Jul 2020
Line of Duty is returning this summer, but with production on the new season suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Beeb is taking us all the way to the beginning.
Line of Duty showrunner Jed Mercurio says: “When series one was first broadcast, Line of Duty was a little police drama on BBC Two. I’m delighted the BBC are giving new viewers and existing fans a chance to watch from the very beginning.”
Simon Heath, Line of Duty’s executive producer for World Productions, adds: “Eight years after our unheralded Brummie cop show quietly debuted on BBC Two, we’re thrilled that Tony Gates and AC12’s top team get a chance to go again for a brand new audience on BBC One.”
Season 1 starred Lennie James as DCI Tony Gates, alongside series leads Martin Compston (Steve Arnott), Adrian Dunbar (Ted Hastings) and Vicky McClure (Kate Fleming). It also introduced viewers to Craig Parkinson as DS Dot Cottan, Neil Morrissey as DC Nigel Morton, Paul Higgins as CS Derek Hilton, Nigel Boyle as DI Ian Buckells, Gregory Piper as Ryan Pilkington and Gina McKee as Jackie Laverty – characters who would all return for later seasons, in one form or another.
Line of Duty Season 1 averaged 3.8 million viewers with a 14.5% share (7-day consolidated figures) on BBC Two in the summer of 2012. Last year, Season 5 averaged 10.7 million viewers with a 40.1% share (7-day consolidated) on BBC One, making it UK television’s most watched drama in 2019.
Season 1 will air on Monday and Tuesday nights on BBC One from Monday 3rd August at 9pm. Alternatively, all five seasons are available to watch on BBC iPlayer now. Season 6, featuring Kelly Macdonald as guest series lead, will resume filming in due course.