Line of Duty | |
---|---|
Series 3 | |
Starring | |
No. of episodes | 6 |
Release | |
Original network | BBC Two |
Original release | 24 March – 28 April 2016 |
Series chronology | |
The third series of the British police procedural television programme Line of Duty , was broadcast on BBC Two between 24 March and 28 April 2016. The series follows the fictional Anti-Corruption Unit 12. AC-12 is led by Superintendent Ted Hastings (Adrian Dunbar) who is assisted by his team, DS Steve Arnott (Martin Compston), DC Kate Flemming (Vicky McClure), and DI Matthew "Dot" Cottan (Craig Parkinson). The unit investigates the actions of Sergeant Daniel Waldron (Daniel Mays), who is suspected of wrongfully shooting and killing a suspect. Waldron leads a team of authorised firearms officers backed by PC Rod Kennedy (Will Mellor), PC Harinderpal "Hari" Bains (Arsher Ali), and PC Jackie Brickford (Leanne Best). Lindsay Denton (Keeley Hawes), a former DI, returns from the previous series as an officer formerly investigated by AC-12. Supporting characters include Gill Biggeloe (Polly Walker), Chief Superintendent Terry Reynolds (Shaun Parkes), DS Sam Railston (Aiysha Hart), Joe Nash (Jonas Armstrong), Maneet Bindra (Maya Sondhi), Chief Superintendent Patrick Fairbank (George Costigan), and DC Nigel Morton (Neil Morrissey). The series was created and written by Jed Mercurio, who also serves as an executive producer. Six episodes were directed by Michael Keillor and John Strickland with cinematographer Peter Robertson. Filming took place in Belfast in 2015. The series received mostly positive reviews and was nominated for 13 awards, two of which were won. The fourth series, which had previously been commissioned with the third, was broadcast on BBC One in 2017. Following the series, a fifth was also commissioned due to the third series success.
No. overall | No. in series | Title [1] | Directed by | Original air date | UK viewers (millions) [2] | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
12 | 1 | "Episode 1" "Monsters" | Michael Keillor | 24 March 2016 | 3.53 | |
Sergeant Danny Waldron and his team of armed officers are deployed to detain Ronan Murphy, a suspect wanted in connection with a murder plot. The suspect flees into a nearby housing estate, where Waldron corners him. Murphy surrenders his gun, but Waldron shoots him in cold blood and manipulates the scene to make it look like self-defense. When the rest of his team arrives, Waldron orders his team to aid in the cover-up. Waldron denies any wrongdoing to AC-12. Superintendent Ted Hastings agrees to send DC Kate Fleming undercover in Waldron's squad. On their next call, they are tasked with raiding the home of a drug-dealer where Waldron pockets an illegal firearm. Waldron spies on Ronan Murphy's funeral and follows Murphy's uncle, Linus, home from the funeral. Holding Linus at gunpoint, Waldron admits to killing Ronan for revenge, and begins to torture Linus. Back at his flat, Waldron leaves a list of names in an envelope addressed to DS Steve Arnott. When Waldron's team raids another drug house Fleming, who was ordered to remain on another floor, hears a gunshot, and rushes upstairs to find Waldron bleeding out. | ||||||
13 | 2 | "Episode 2" "The Process" | Michael Keillor | 31 March 2016 | 6.02 | |
Fleming attempts to provide first aid to Waldron, who dies. The remaining members of his team are interviewed by AC-12 and claim Waldron shot himself. Hastings arrests them, but counsellor Gill Biggeloe convinces him to rescind the arrest. The police search Waldron's flat where DI Matthew Cottan discovers the stolen firearm, a photograph of a young Waldron and other boys alongside the Murphy's, and the envelope containing Waldron's list. Cottan takes the list and later destroys it. Arnott locates Linus Murphy's decapitated body, then finds the head in a storage room rented by Waldron. Lindsay Denton, a former officer investigated by AC-12, has appealed her conviction for conspiracy to murder Tommy Hunter. Denton claims in court that she had sex with Arnott, which puts strains on his relationship with DS Sam Railston. The next morning, PC Rod Kennedy, a member of Waldron's team, in found hung by apparent suicide in a warehouse. The remaining two members, PC Hari Bains and PC Jackie Brickford, now claim to AC-12 that Kennedy shot Waldron. Bains receives a package containing a burner phone, and is congratulated him on his deception. | ||||||
14 | 3 | "Episode 3" "Snake Pit" | Michael Keillor | 7 April 2016 | 5.73 | |
Fleming asks Cottan to organise a second examination of Kennedy's body, which Cottan intentionally neglects to do. The photo of young Waldron is traced to Sands View boys' home. Arnott identifies Joseph Nash, another boy in the picture, and interviews him. Nash explains Linus Murphy was the caretaker at Sands View, and allowed the boys to be sexually abused by Ronan and other men. He identifies one of the abusers as city councillor Dale Roach, who is unable to stand trial. Brickford decides to confesses the truth about Waldron and Ronan's death. Arnott orders a second post-mortem on Kennedy's body which indicates he was murdered. AC-12 moves to arrest Bains, but Cottan warns him. Bains travels to the warehouse where Kennedy was hung and is framed by Cottan for a second murder attempt. Bains is arrested. At the conclusion of Denton's trial, the jury finds her guilty of perverting the course of justice but not guilty of conspiracy to murder. She is released with time already served. Burner phones in a search of Bains' home suggest he was acting on orders. As Cottan watches the news footage of Denton's release, a number of mobile phones begin to ring simultaneously. | ||||||
15 | 4 | "Episode 4" "Negative Pressure" | John Strickland | 14 April 2016 | 5.55 | |
Denton demands a formal apology from AC-12 for her wrongful conviction. She later records an exploitative parole sponsor pressuring her into sex. Cottan is awarded with a commendation for arresting Bains. He then proceeds to tell Biggeloe and Fleming he is concerned about Arnott's behaviour. Bains confesses to killing Waldron on the demands of his unknown contact, but insists he did not murder Kennedy. AC-12 eventually interviews former Vice Chief Superintendent Patrick Fairbank in connection to a possible Sands View police cover up, but he claims to remember no details of the case. Cottan meets former colleague DC Nigel Morton and threatens to derail his pension if he does not hand over a mobile phone and SIM card with records of Cottan's calls made to Hunter. Cottan later creates a profile for 'The Caddy', a known associate to Hunter presumed to be a police officer, which he deliberately engineers to fit Arnott. Morton later hands the phone and SIM card to Cottan, who then destroys the SIM card in a car park, but it is revealed it was a duplicate and Morton still possesses the items in his car. | ||||||
16 | 5 | "Episode 5" "The List" | John Strickland | 21 April 2016 | 5.72 | |
Cottan continues to attack Arnott by pressuring PC Maneet Bindra to keep key forensics on the envelope found in Waldron's flat[ private, and then by spreading rumours surrounding Arnott's conduct. Arnott is suspended by a hesitant Hastings. Meanwhile, Fairbank is called in for another interview and maintains his ignorance as he is presented with images of alleged abusers. Nash is shown a photograph of Fairbank, ostensibly to identify him as an officer that had overlooked accusations, but his reaction suggests to Fleming that Fairbank was one of the abusers. Arnott and Denton investigate the possibility that Waldron hid another copy of his list of abusers. Denton surmises the list is kept digitally, so she tricks Arnott into pursuing a false lead while she, goes to an internet cafe near Waldron's flat to access his emails. She finds a photograph of the list in his drafts folder and transfers it to hers as insurance. Cottan, in Arnott's stolen service vehicle, is outside and summons her to his car. He offers Denton money for the list. Denton, staying true to her morals as a former police officer, rejects this and defiantly emails the list to Hastings, for which Cottan murders her. | ||||||
17 | 6 | "Episode 6" "Breach" | John Strickland | 28 April 2016 | 5.93 | |
Hastings receives the list sent by Denton which identifies Fairbank as one of the abusers. Arnott reports his service vehicle missing as Hastings attends a call where Denton's body has been discovered in Arnott's car. Arnott is arrested on suspicion of murder. During questioning, evidence is presented identifying Arnott as 'The Caddy'. Arnott concludes another officer has set him up, but has no way of proving it. With outside authorisation, Fleming has been carrying out an undercover operation into AC-12 officers. New evidence allows Hastings and Fleming to interview Cottan about holes in his evidence against Arnott. Cottan stalls and sends a text reading "Urgent exit required." An armed officer enables Cottan to escape. Fleming gives chase, but Cottan is rescued by a getaway car. Fleming, shoots the driver which stops the car. As she approaches, Cottan jumps in front of three final shots from the driver, saving Fleming. Cottan records a dying declaration that directly leads to Fairbank being imprisoned. Arnott is exonerated and returns to AC-12, where Hastings and Fleming also remain. Fleming receives an award and is promoted to Detective Sergeant. Denton receives posthumous recognition for her contributions. Morton retires on full pension plus disability benefits. |
In March 2014, while the second series was still airing it was reported that discussions were already occurring on a potential third series of Line of Duty . [4] On 8 April, it was officially commissioned for a third and fourth series by BBC Two. [5] Series creator and writer Jed Mercurio returned to executive produce alongside Simon Heath and Stephen Wright for World Productions and BBC Northern Ireland, respectively, and producer Peter Norris. [6]
Cast members Martin Compston, Vicky McClure, and Adrian Dunbar all returned to the series. [7] Actor Daniel Mays was announced to be joining the series cast as Daniel Waldron, the latest officer to be investigated by the fictional Anti-Corruption Unit 12 (AC-12). [8] Craig Parkinson also reprised his role as Matthew "Dot" Cottan. [9] Keeley Hawes, who starred in series two as DI Lindsay Denton, initially stated that she would not return to Line of Duty due to her conflicting filming on the Fungus the Bogeyman television adaptation. [10] Will Mellor, Arsher Ali, and Leanne Best also joined the cast in supporting roles. [11] Mellor, Ali, and Best portrayed a group of authorised firearms officers, led by Mays' character. [12] Mercurio later decided to bring Hawes back to the series as a result of Denton's positive reception and made changes to a script to allow for Waldron's death. [13] On her return, Hawes stated that she didn't expect to ever return to the series, but was glad to be given the opportunity. [14] Mercurio also considered not killing Parkinson's character, but believed viewers wanted justice. [13] Other supporting cast members include the returning Neil Morrisey [15] and newcomers Polly Walker, Shaun Parkes, Aiysha Hart, Jonas Armstrong, Maya Sondhi, and George Costigan. [16] [17]
Filming began in Belfast in March 2015. [18] [19] Michael Kellior directed the first three episodes while John Strickland directed the final three. [20] Peter Robertson provided cinematography work. [21] Filming locations included BT Riverside Tower, McHugh's Bar, Belfast City Hall, and Invest Northern Ireland. [22] The series consisted of five hour-long episodes [23] and an extended feature-length finale. [24] Due to the success of the series a fifth series was commissioned on 6 May 2016, with the fourth and fifth seasons moving to BBC One. [25]
The series was first broadcast on BBC Two in the United Kingdom on 24 March 2016, and concluded six weeks later on 28 April. [26] In the United States the series was released on Hulu on 1 May 2016. [27] It can also be streamed there on Acorn TV and BritBox, [28] and was later broadcast on the American basic cable channel AMC beginning 20 June 2020. [lower-alpha 3] [29] In Canda and Australia the series streams on Netflix. [30]
Name | DVD release dates | Number of episodes | Number of discs | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Region 1 | Region 2 | |||
Line of Duty: Series 3 | 9 August 2016 [31] | 2 May 2016 [32] | 6 | 2 [lower-alpha 4] |
Line Of Duty: Series 1-3 | — | 2 May 2016 [33] | 17 | 6 |
Line of Duty - Series 1-4 | — | 8 May 2017 [34] | 23 | 8 |
Line of Duty - Series 1-5 [lower-alpha 5] | 26 November 2019 [35] | 6 May 2019 [36] | 29 | 10 [lower-alpha 6] |
Line of Duty - Series 1-6 Complete Box Set | — | 31 May 2021 [37] | 36 | 12 |
Line of Duty opened to 3.53 million viewers, this quickly increased with all remaining episodes bringing in over 5.50 million. it ranked as the most-viewed series on BBC Two in each week of its broadcast. The series finale was viewed by 5.93 million. [2] In consolidated figures the series averaged 5.1 million viewers, maintaining a 19.3% share. [38]
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes the series holds an approval rating of 100% based on seven reviews. [39] Reviewing the series premiere for Den of Geek , Louisa Mellor wrote about the depth of Mercurio's writing, noting how Waldron's character was both a dirty cop and a victim. [40] Sara Hughes with The Guardian stated that it was a strong premiere for a returning series. [41] Following the second episode of the series, a former Metropolitan Police homicide detective criticised the accuracy of Line of Duty, stating that it "suggests a culture where fatal shootings are not thoroughly investigated and where dangerous officers can be re-issued with firearms." [42] Hawes return as Denton was praised by many critics who noted the passion and complexion behind the performance as well as her unexpected death. [43] [44] [45] The series was also mentioned for its impact on gender equality as a result of its strong female leads. [46]
After the series concluded, Mercurio's writing was further applauded with CultBox's Rob Smedley writing that Mercurio has the "rare ability to make watching an interview scene feel like tip-toeing across a minefield, and to make that an experience you crave more of." [47] Mellor further complimented these scenes, observing that two of them together used over forty minutes of screentime. [48] Smedley also admired the morally gray characters as an riviting area of the series. [49] The series final scene of the series, often named "Urgent Exit Required," received largely mixed reviews from critics, with some condemning it for being unrealistic due to firearms regulation and police use of firearms in the United Kingdom, [50] while others commended the uncharted territory for a British television series. [51]
Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref(s). |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2016 | British Academy Scotland Awards | Director Film/Television | Michael Keillor | Nominated | [52] [53] |
Royal Television Society Northern Ireland Awards | Best Drama | Line of Duty | Nominated | [54] | |
TV Choice Awards | Best Drama | Line of Duty | Nominated | [55] [56] | |
2017 | British Academy Television Awards | Virgin TV's Must-See Moment | "Urgent Exit Required" | Nominated | [57] |
Best Supporting Actor | Daniel Mays | Nominated | |||
Broadcast Magazine Awards | Best Drama Series | Line of Duty | Nominated | [58] | |
Broadcasting Press Guild Awards | Best Drama Series | Line of Duty | Nominated | [59] | |
Best Actress | Keely Hawes | Won [lower-alpha 7] | [60] | ||
Celtic Media Festival | Drama Series | Line of Duty | Won | [61] | |
Diversity in Media Awards | TV Moment of the Year | "Urgent Exit Required" | Nominated | [62] [63] | |
Royal Television Society Programme Awards | Best Drama Series | Line of Duty | Nominated | [64] [65] | |
Best Drama Writer | Jed Mercurio | Nominated | |||
Royal Television Society Scotland Awards | Television Director of the Year | Michael Keillor | Nominated | [66] |
Hat Trick Productions Limited is an independent British production company that produces television and radio programmes, mainly specialising in comedy, based in London.
Clare JuliaHawes, known professionally as Keeley Hawes, is an English actress. After beginning her career in a number of literary adaptations, including Our Mutual Friend (1998) and Tipping the Velvet (2002), Hawes rose to fame for her portrayal of Zoe Reynolds in the BBC series Spooks (2002–2004), followed by her co-lead performance as DI Alex Drake in Ashes to Ashes (2008–2010). She is also known for her roles in Jed Mercurio's Line of Duty as DI Lindsay Denton (2014–2016) and in BBC One drama Bodyguard (2018) in which she played Home Secretary Julia Montague. Hawes is a three-time BAFTA TV Award nominee, having been nominated for the British Academy Television Award for Best Actress for her roles as Lindsay Denton and Julia Montague, and a British Academy Television Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Dorothy Wick in the drama Mrs Wilson.
David Matthew Macfadyen is an English actor. Known for his performances on stage and screen, he gained prominence for his role as Mr. Darcy in Joe Wright's Pride & Prejudice (2005). He rose to international fame for his role as Tom Wambsgans in the HBO drama series Succession (2018–2023), for which he received two consecutive Primetime Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award.
William Mellor is an English actor, singer and model. He is known for his roles as Jambo Bolton in Hollyoaks, Gaz Wilkinson in Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, Warren Stamp in EastEnders, DC Spike Tanner in No Offence, Steve Connolly in Broadchurch, Georgie in Barking! and Ollie Curry in White Van Man. From 2021 to 2022, he appeared in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street as Harvey Gaskell. In 2024 he appeared as sub-postmaster Lee Castleton in the ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office, about the British Post Office scandal.
Phyllis Logan is a Scottish actress, widely known for her roles as Lady Jane Felsham in Lovejoy (1986–1993) and Mrs Hughes in Downton Abbey (2010–2015). She won the BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer for the 1983 film Another Time, Another Place. Her other film appearances include Secrets & Lies (1996), Shooting Fish (1997), Downton Abbey (2019) and Misbehaviour (2020).
Ashes to Ashes is a British fantasy crime drama and police procedural drama television series, serving as the sequel to Life on Mars.
Gerald Gary "Jed" Mercurio is a British television writer, producer, director and novelist. A former hospital doctor and Royal Air Force officer, Mercurio has been ranked among UK television's leading writers. In 2017, Mercurio was awarded a Fellowship of the Royal Television Society and the Baird Medal by RTS Midlands.
Craig Parkinson is an English actor and podcaster. He has played Shaun in the E4 series Misfits, twins Jimmy and Johnny Kray in the ITV series Whitechapel, and DI Matthew "Dot" Cottan in Line of Duty. He has also acted in several independent films, including Control, Soulboy, The Unloved and Four Lions.
Upstairs Downstairs is a British drama series, broadcast on BBC One from 2010 to 2012, and co-produced by BBC Wales and Masterpiece. Created and written by Heidi Thomas, it is a continuation of the London Weekend Television series of the same name, which ran from 1971 to 1975 on ITV.
Line of Duty is a British police procedural television series created by Jed Mercurio and produced by World Productions. On 26 June 2012, BBC Two began to broadcast the first series; it was its best-performing drama series in ten years with a consolidated audience of 4.1 million viewers. Broadcast of the second series began on 12 February 2014; its widespread public and critical acclaim led to the BBC commissioning a further two series. The third series began on 24 March 2016 on BBC Two; the following three series were broadcast on BBC One.
Sophie Rundle is an English actress, best known for portraying Ada Thorne in the BBC One historical crime drama television series Peaky Blinders, Ann Walker in BBC One and HBO's period drama Gentleman Jack, Vicky Budd in the BBC television series Bodyguard, code-breaker Lucy in the ITV drama series The Bletchley Circle and Labia in the British/American television sitcom Episodes. She also played Alice in Sky One's 2017 drama Jamestown.
Inside No. 9 is a British black comedy anthology television programme that first aired on 5 February 2014. It is written by Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton and produced by the BBC. Each 30-minute episode is a self-contained story with new characters and a new setting, almost all starring Pemberton or Shearsmith. Aside from the writers, each episode has a new cast, allowing Inside No. 9 to attract a number of well-known actors. The stories are linked only by the number 9 in some way, typically taking the form of a door marked with the number 9, and a brass hare statue that is in the background of all episodes. Themes and tone vary from episode to episode, but all have elements of comedy and horror or perverse humour, in addition to a plot twist. Pemberton and Shearsmith took inspiration for Inside No. 9 from an episode of Psychoville, a previous project, which was filmed in a single room – this in turn was inspired by Alfred Hitchcock's Rope.
"The Riddle of the Sphinx" is the third episode of the third series of the British dark comedy anthology television programme Inside No. 9. It first aired, on BBC Two, on 28 February 2017. The episode was written by the programme's creators, Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith, and directed by Guillem Morales. "The Riddle of the Sphinx", which is set in Cambridge, stars Alexandra Roach as Nina, a young woman seeking answers to the Varsity cryptic crossword, Pemberton as Professor Nigel Squires, who pseudonymously sets the crossword using the name Sphinx, and Shearsmith as Dr Jacob Tyler, another Cambridge academic. The story begins with Nina surreptitiously entering Squires's rooms on a stormy night and being discovered; this leads to Squires teaching her how to decipher clues in cryptic crosswords.
Bodyguard is a British political thriller television series created and written by Jed Mercurio and produced by World Productions as part of ITV Studios for the BBC. The six-part series centres around the fictional character of Police Sergeant David Budd, a British Army war veteran suffering from PTSD, who is now working for the Royalty and Specialist Protection Branch of London's Metropolitan Police Service. He is assigned as the principal protection officer (PPO) for the ambitious Home Secretary Julia Montague, whose politics he despises. The series draws attention to controversial issues such as government monitoring of private information and its regulation, the politics of intervention and terrorism, and PTSD.
"Diddle Diddle Dumpling" is the fifth episode of the third series of the British black comedy anthology television series Inside No. 9. It was written by Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith, and first aired on 14 March 2017, on BBC Two. The episode, which was directed by Guillem Morales, follows the story of David, played by Shearsmith, a middle class stay-at-home dad, who happens across a lone black shoe. Much to the concern of his wife Louise, played by Keeley Hawes, he becomes obsessed with finding the shoe's owner. The episode follows the development of his obsession. Rosa Strudwick plays Sally, David and Louise's daughter, and Pemberton plays Chris, a family friend. Danny Baker voices a radio presenter, and Mathew Baynton also appears.
The first series of the British police procedural television programme Line of Duty was broadcast on BBC Two between 26 June and 24 July 2012. The series follows the actions of the fictional Anti-Corruption Unit 12. AC-12 is led by Superintendent Ted Hastings, who recruits DS Steve Arnott and is backed by undercover officer DC Kate Fleming, as they lead an investigation into the corrupt actions of DCI Tony Gates. Gates leads Tactical Operations Unit 20 (TO-20), which includes DS Matthew "Dot" Cottan and DC Nigel Morton. Supporting characters include Jackie Laverty, Jools Gates, Chief Superintendent Derek Hilton, Chief Inspector Philip Osborne, and Tommy Hunter. The series was created and written by Jed Mercurio, who also serves as a producer. Filming took place in Birmingham in late 2011. Five episodes were directed by David Caffrey and Douglas Mackinnon with cinematographer Ruairi O'Brien. Despite being censured by Ofcom, the series received mostly positive reviews and was nominated for multiple awards, leading to the commission of a second series.
The second series of the British police procedural television programme Line of Duty, was broadcast on BBC Two between 12 February and 19 March 2014. The series follows the actions of the fictional Anti-Corruption Unit 12. AC-12 is led by Superintendent Ted Hastings who is assisted by his team DS Steve Arnott, DC Kate Fleming, and DI Matthew "Dot" Cottan. The unit investigates DI Lindsay Denton, the sole survivor of an attack on police officers, and the possibility of a corrupt police officer conspiring to murder a protected witness in the ambush. Jessica Raine stars in a single episode as DC Georgia Trotman. Beginning with this series, Dunbar and Parkinson are credited as main cast members in the opening credits. Supporting characters include DCC Mike Dryden, Jo Dwyer, DCS Lester Hargreaves, DC Nigel Morton, and Tommy Hunter. The series was created and written by Jed Mercurio, who also serves as an executive producer. Filming took place in Belfast in 2013. Six episodes were directed by Douglas Mackinnon and Daniel Nettheim with cinematographer Ruairi O'Brien. The series received positive reviews and multiple accolades, most notably for Hawes performance as Denton, leading to the commission of a third and fourth series.
The fourth series of Line of Duty, consisting of six episodes, began broadcasting on 26 March 2017 on BBC One. The series follows Superintendent Ted Hastings, DS Steve Arnott and DS Kate Fleming as they investigate the corrupt actions of DCI Roseanne Huntley. Supporting characters include Forensic Investigator Tim Ifield, DS Sam Railston and DC Jodie Taylor.
The sixth series of Line of Duty, consisting of seven episodes, began broadcasting on BBC One on 21 March 2021. The story follows the actions of AC-12, led by Superintendent Ted Hastings and DI Steve Arnott, as they investigate DCI Joanne Davidson and her team, including former AC-12 officer DI Kate Fleming.