Line of Duty Stars Spark Fan Frenzy with Pub Reunion Ahead of Series Seven
Fans of the hit BBC drama Line of Duty were sent into a frenzy this week when the show's iconic stars reunited for a casual pint at a local pub. Adrian Dunbar, Vicky McClure, and Martin Compston shared a heartwarming snapshot on Instagram, confirming their off-screen camaraderie as they gear up for the highly anticipated return to filming this spring.
A Long-Awaited Reunion Snap Delights Devoted Followers
In the photo posted on Sunday, the trio can be seen smiling broadly as they raise their beers in a cheerful toast. Martin Compston, aged 41, captioned the image with a playful nod to their fictional anti-corruption unit, writing: 'AC12 in the house (pub).' The simple yet powerful post immediately ignited excitement among the show's loyal fanbase, who have been eagerly awaiting news of the seventh series.
Enthusiastic comments flooded in, with one fan exclaiming: 'This makes us so happy', while another referenced a famous line from the show: 'Jesus, Mary & Joseph & the wee donkey, fab to see you all together xx.' Others expressed their impatience for new episodes, with one writing: 'The pic we've been waiting for!! Now finish your drinks and start shooting the new season', and another adding: 'I think I would hyperventilate if I was in that pub right now!'
Pre-Filming Bonding and Nottingham Meet-Ups
This pub gathering is just the latest in a series of recent meet-ups for the close-knit cast. Last week, Vicky McClure hosted Adrian Dunbar at her home in Nottingham, where they watched Nottingham Forest take on Arsenal in a football match alongside her Trigger Point co-star Eric Shango. The actress also shared photos of the group outside Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem, renowned as England's oldest inn, where Adrian enjoyed a pint with Vicky and her husband, Welsh director Jonny Owen.
Vicky sweetly captioned these images: 'Had the best few days in Notts with the best of friends ♥️', highlighting the genuine friendship that extends beyond their professional roles. These pre-filming catch-ups suggest a strong team spirit as they prepare to dive back into the intense world of AC-12.
Anticipation Builds for Series Seven After Record-Breaking Finale
The upcoming series marks a significant return for the Jed Mercurio-created thriller, which last aired in 2021. The series six finale achieved monumental success, becoming the biggest drama episode since modern records began in 2002, with an impressive 17 million viewers recorded after 28 days. However, it also left some fans disappointed by its controversial ending, which revealed bumbling Det Supt Ian Buckells as the mysterious 'H'.
Hoping to win back any disheartened viewers, the new six-part series is set to commence filming in Belfast this spring. In a dramatic shift for the storyline, AC-12 has been disbanded and rebranded as the Inspectorate of Police Standards. Martin Compston, Vicky McClure, and Adrian Dunbar will reprise their roles as Steve Arnott, Kate Fleming, and Ted Hastings, respectively, facing their most sensitive case yet in a challenging climate where anti-corruption work has never been more difficult.
New Plot Details and Cast Excitement Revealed
The seventh series will centre on Detective Inspector Dominic Gough, a charismatic officer praised for takedowns of organised crime, who is accused of abusing his position as a sexual predator. This case raises tantalising questions: is it a deliberate distraction from a larger threat still lurking in the shadows?
Martin Compston recently opened up about the new series on the Chris Evans Breakfast Show, revealing the cast's close bond and enthusiasm. He said: 'We chat every, like, if not every other day, like every other week, at least, we're genuinely close pals... We kind of just said, "Look, is it getting close to that time?" It's sort of, we're all getting on, you know, but, just in terms of the distance from it, we're kind of like, "It's now or never."'
He praised the scripts, calling them 'fantastic… already it's a proper page turner', and emphasised the importance of a solid foundation, noting: 'You've got to come from a solid base rather than just commission it. But the scripts are brilliant and we're all excited to get back.' The final series averaged a massive 16 million viewers, cementing its status as the biggest drama across the market since 2018, and expectations are sky-high for this new chapter.
