Exciting news for Line of Duty fans as BBC finally confirms when series 6 will start

Line of Duty
(Image credit: ITV)

Line of Duty is heading back to our screens for a new series...

Line of Duty fans have been waiting patiently for the start of series six after filming was delayed due to the current pandemic.

But, thankfully, the wait is almost over and it has been confirmed that the new series of the crime drama is just a few months away.

Line of Duty season six lead cast

Line of Duty is back early next year with new addition Kelly MacDonald as DCI Joanne Davidson (Picture: BBC) (Image credit: BBC/World Productions)

New year, new series 

The BBC has announced that series six is coming to our screens early next year, and will be aired before the end of March 2021.

Originally the series was due to be filmed and aired this year, but when television studios across the world came grinding to a halt in March, filming was postponed.

Thankfully, production kicked off again in September, with Line of Duty creator Jed Mercurio keeping fans up to date with what is going on behind the scenes with pictures on his Twitter account.

Line of Duty

Jed Mercurio has been keeping fans up to date on his Twitter page (Picture: Jed Mercurio/Twitter) (Image credit: Jed Mercurio/Twitter)

Much like the previous years, Line of Duty series six will see AC-12's team, Ted Hastings, DI Kate Fleming and DS Steve Arnott back to what they do best - cracking another case.

As always, new series will see the storyline revolve around one central character that the team are investigating, and this time the shady character will be DCI Joanne Davidson, played by Harry Potter star Kelly MacDonald.

Line of Duty series 5, Steve, Ted and Kate

The wait is almost over to see the dream team back in action (Picture: BBC) (Image credit: BBC/World Productions)

The new series will also continue the search for H, which we now believe is a group of four corrupt officers, rather than just one individual as previously thought.

Three dodgy officers have been exposed, but after DI Cottan revealed on his deathbed that there were four H's, the hunt for the fourth is still on.

Line of Duty series 6 will air on BBC1 in 2021 – see our TV guide for more shows to enjoy.

You can catch up on series 1-5 on BBC iPlayer now.

Claire Crick
Assistant Managing Editor at What To Watch

Claire is Assistant Managing Editor at What To Watch and has been a journalist for over 15 years, writing about everything from soaps and TV to beauty, entertainment, and even the Royal Family. After starting her career at a soap magazine, she ended up staying for 13 years, and over that time she’s pulled pints in the Rovers Return, sung karaoke in the Emmerdale village hall, taken a stroll around Albert Square, and visited Summer Bay Surf Club in sunny Australia. 


After learning some tricks of the trade at websites Digital Spy, Entertainment Daily, and Woman & Home, Claire landed a role at What’s On TV and whattowatch.com writing about all things TV and film, with a particular love for Aussie soaps, Strictly Come Dancing and Bake Off


She’s interviewed everyone from June Brown — AKA Dot Cotton — to Michelle Keegan, swapped cooking tips with baking legend Mary Berry backstage at the NTAs, and danced the night away with soap stars at countless awards bashes. There’s not a lot she doesn’t know about soaps and TV and can be very handy when a soapy question comes up in a pub quiz! 


As well as all things soap-related, Claire also loves running, spa breaks, days out with her kids, and getting lost in a good book.