Line of Duty fans have been begging for the BBC crime drama to return since series six concluded in 2021.
The award-winning series, starring Martin Compston, Vicky McClure and Adrian Dunbar, kicked off in 2012 and follows officers in the Anti-Corruption Unit 12 (AC-12).
Despite wrapping up most of the questions in the series six finale, including the unmasking of corrupt officer H, fans are still unable to let the show go. And with Line of Duty being one of the most popular BBC programmes of all time, no one is able to shut down the possibility of a return.
While there has been no confirmation of a seventh series, each member of the cast has added an extra glimmer of hope as they discussed a potential return for the show in interviews over the past year.
Famed for playing Steve Arnott, Martin Compston has been open and honest when answering burning questions about the series. However, he appeared to let fans down in April when he told The Mirror that there were no immediate plans for a series seven.
The 40-year-old told the publication: "I'm sorry. They're some of my closest friends, we all love Jed [Mercurio], and we'd all love to work together at some point, but there are no immediate plans. It's just getting us all together and stuff. We'd like to but, yeah, these things are a bit complicated. But there are no immediate plans."
Just a few months later, ahead of his appearance at Soccer Aid, Martin was quizzed by BBC Breakfast star John Watson about the trio returning to AC-12. The Scottsman seemed more hopeful, admitting the cast are hoping to reunite for at least one more series.
"We've always said I think we've got one more in us at some point," he confessed. "The thing is with Jed [Mercurio], he wouldn't do it just for the sake of it. There would have to be a story to tell, but we believe there is one."
Martin added: "Us getting together at some point will be great. We're very grateful at how big the show has got, but that all afforded us other opportunities so we're all away doing different stuff at different times of year."
Back in May, Vicky McClure was discussing her Paramount+ drama, Insomnia, but unsurprisingly, the conversation turned to Line of Duty. Vicky, best known for her role as Kate Flemming, joked that another series was already in the works.
"I've got the script in my bag, I'll just pull it out and leave it here," she remarked when speaking to Radio Times.
"I'm joking!" the Trigger Point star clarified. "Sorry, nothing to tell you." That same month, the 41-year-old was grilled about the BBC programme during an appearance on This Morning with Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard.
Keen to know if the show would ever be back, Ben probed: "There's always going to be rumours and expectations, have you all agreed that you'd be ready and up for it when Jed gets himself together?"
Vicky let the daytime TV hosts down gently as she explained nothing had been confirmed as of yet. The actress replied: "There will always be rumours. I mean look.
"We have all said we love the show and would love to go again obviously but there's nothing to talk about so it's disappointing in terms of there is no news!"
With Ted Hastings practically forced into retirement in the series six finale, it's no surprise that Adrian Dunbar hopes to reprise the beloved character. In May, Adrian echoed his co-star's comments as he confirmed they would all like to return, especially before he gets too old.
"We all want it to come back," he told the Belfast Telegraph. "It's apposite that today should be their birthdays because I really don't want them getting any older."
The 66-year-old added: "I don't want to get any older either because we don't want to be coming back when we're in a wheelchair. Ted Hastings with a Zimmer frame."
Two months later, Adrian appeared on Good Morning Britain to discuss his role as Fred Graham in the West End musical Kiss Me, Kate. But presenters Ed Balls and Susanna Reid couldn't resist asking about a possible comeback for Ted and AC-12.
Adrian said: "Well I think so, Vicky (McClure) thinks so, Martin (Compston) thinks so. Everybody thinks so! It'll be down to the BBC and Jed Mercurio I think, when and whether we do it."
Ed then questioned the Irish actor on how long it could be before another series is commissioned. He explained: "First of all, Jed will have to write whatever he's going to write. That doesn't happen overnight. Then the BBC will have to make a decision on when we're going to shoot it, where we're going to shoot it."
Adrian went on: "Hopefully we'll get back to Belfast, that's where we shot everything. It'll easily be a year."
