Ahead of their highly-anticipated return to the set of Line of Duty, stars Vicky McClure and Adrian Dunbar have enjoyed a weekend of bonding in Nottingham. The duo, who will begin shooting the seventh series of the BBC's hit police thriller this Spring, shared snaps from their get-together, hinting at the close off-screen friendship that fuels their on-screen chemistry.
A Nottingham Reunion Ahead of AC-12's Return
Vicky McClure, 42, hosted her co-star Adrian Dunbar, 67, at her home in Nottingham. The weekend included watching Nottingham Forest's Premier League clash with Arsenal alongside McClure's Trigger Point co-star, Eric Shango. The group also visited the historic Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem, famed as England's oldest inn, where Dunbar enjoyed a pint with McClure and her husband, Welsh director Jonny Owen.
"Had the best few days in Notts with the best of friends," McClure sweetly captioned a series of photos from the weekend, shared with her followers. This informal reunion comes as the core cast prepares to officially reassemble for production, which is scheduled to commence in Belfast in the coming spring.
Series Seven Plot: A New Challenge for a Disbanded AC-12
The new six-part series will see Martin Compston, Vicky McClure, and Adrian Dunbar all reprising their iconic roles. However, the landscape has shifted dramatically for the anti-corruption team. AC-12 has been disbanded and rebranded as the Inspectorate of Police Standards, making their work more difficult than ever.
In this challenging climate, Steve Arnott (Compston), Kate Fleming (McClure), and Ted Hastings (Dunbar) are handed their most sensitive case to date. They must investigate Detective Inspector Dominic Gough, a charismatic officer celebrated for tackling organised crime, who stands accused of being a sexual predator. The central question remains: is the Gough case a deliberate distraction from a more significant threat still lurking in the shadows?
Addressing Past Controversy and Building Future Excitement
The return follows the record-breaking but divisive sixth series finale in 2021, which attracted 17 million viewers over 28 days but left some fans disappointed by the unveiling of Det Supt Ian Buckells as 'H'. Creator Jed Mercurio addressed the backlash at the time, noting that audience research presented "a far less extreme picture" than social media reaction.
Now, the team is focused on delivering a compelling new chapter. Martin Compston recently revealed the cast's enthusiasm, telling the Chris Evans Breakfast Show that the scripts are already "a proper page turner" and "fantastic." He emphasised the close bond between the cast and Mercurio, stating, "We're genuinely close pals," and confirmed the collective drive to return, reasoning, "It's now or never."
With the final series averaging a massive 16 million viewers, the pressure is on for series seven to win back any disillusioned fans while delivering the intricate, suspenseful storytelling that made Line of Duty a national phenomenon. All eyes will be on Belfast this Spring as filming gets underway.
