Martin Compston, Vicky McClure and Adrian Dunbar turned up together at the National Television Awards 2026 on September 8. The Line of Duty trio presented Best New Drama, then Compston told the room he could not wait to be back on screens when series 7 arrives.
“We are thrilled to be ruined and can’t wait to be back on your screens when Line of Duty returns for series 7,” he said. That line lands because the show ran for six seasons and 36 episodes from 2012 to 2021, and the cast reunion offered a public marker that the next chapter is moving forward.
Best New Drama at the O2
Vicky McClure kept the presentation in character for the night, saying, “Hello it is such a pleasure to be here this evening to celebrate the best of this year’s TV. To be here with my mates and present the award for new drama.” Adrian Dunbar cut through the ceremony with his own line: “I’m interested in one thing and one thing only, the winner of the NTAS Best New Drama.”
I Fought The Law won Best New Drama, beating A Woman of Substance, Believe Me, Heated Rivalry and The Other Bennet Sister. For viewers, that meant the reunion served a dual purpose: a nostalgia hit for Line of Duty and a clean handoff to the night’s winner, rather than a staged teaser with no outcome.
Series 7 and AC-12
Earlier in 2026, Line of Duty was announced as returning for series 7, and the synopsis already sets out a sharp reset. AC-12 has been disbanded and rebranded the Inspectorate of Police Standards, while Steve Arnott, Kate Fleming and Ted Hastings are assigned their most sensitive case so far.
That same synopsis puts Detective Inspector Dominic Gough at the center of the new case, accused of abusing his position of trust to act as a sexual predator. Robert Carlyle is joining the cast as Detective Constable Shaun Massie, described as a Specialist Rifle Officer and seasoned marksman working alongside Tactical Operations Unit 7.
Joel Dommett’s filming tease
Joel Dommett added the wrinkle that turns a reunion into a production update: he teased that the Line of Duty stars have just finished filming. That suggests the show is further along than a simple return announcement, but the public still only has the broadcast promise, not a date on the calendar.
For now, the practical takeaway is straightforward. Compston, McClure and Dunbar are back in front of viewers, the seventh series is moving, and the next real question is when one chooses to put Line of Duty back on air.
