Line of Duty: Brand new images revealed as filming wraps for series 6

Line of Duty series 5, Steve, Ted and Kate
(Image credit: BBC/World Productions)

Line of Duty fans are in for a treat as new pictures are revealed...

Line of Duty fans will be thrilled with the news that filming has finally wrapped for the much-anticipated series 6.

The wait for the new series has been slightly longer than usual due to a pause in filming over lockdown earlier this year.

Line of Duty season 6 take one

Filming for series 6 has taken longer than expected due to lockdown earlier this year (Picture: BBC) (Image credit: World Productions)

Thankfully production for the sixth instalment of Jed Mercurio's crime thriller kicked off again in August, and it has now been confirmed by the BBC that filming has wrapped.

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When will Line of Duty series 6 start?

It was announced recently that the new series will be aired in early 2021, with the BBC hinting that the show will be on our screens before March.

Line of Duty season six lead cast

Adrian Dunbar, Vicky McClure and Martin Compston are back, along with a new addition to the cast (Picture: BBC) (Image credit: BBC/World Productions)

To mark the exciting milestone for the new series, the BBC has released new images from the show which see Kelly Macdonald in her new guest role.

A new addition to the cast  

The Trainspotting and Harry Potter star will be playing Detective Chief Inspector Joanne Davidson.

Joanne is the senior investigating officer on an unsolved murder case whose unconventional conduct attracts the attention of AC-12.

Kelly Macdonald Line of Duty

Kelly Macdonald joins the cast as Detective Chief Inspector Joanne Davidson (Picture: BBC) (Image credit: BBC/World Productions)

Of course series 6 will also see AC-12’s finest, Ted Hastings (Adrian Dunbar), DI Kate Fleming (Vicky McClure) and DS Steve Arnott (Martin Compston) back to crack the new case.

Speaking of the new series, Jed Mercurio said: "Thanks so much to our brilliant cast and crew who applied rigorous Covid safety measures to deliver Line of Duty 6 to our wonderful fans.

"We're all immensely grateful to World Productions and the BBC for the unswerving support they've given us in a time of unprecedented challenges to UK television production."

Kelly Macdonald Line of Duty

Joanne Davidson is the senior investigating officer on an unsolved murder case (Picture: BBC) (Image credit: BBC/World Productions/Steffan Hill)

Simon Heath, executive producer for World Productions added: "Huge praise has to go to Jed, Kelly, Vicky, Martin, Adrian.

"They, along with the brilliant Line of Duty cast and crew completed filming on Series 6 yesterday after 5 months of lockdown and three more of shooting under the most trying of circumstances.

"The audience is in for a treat next year”

The launch date for the new series will be announced in due course.

Series 1-5 of Line of Duty are available to stream in the UK exclusively on BBC iPlayer.

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.