Vicky McClure leaks first look at Line of Duty season 7 and fans are going crazy

We have our first proper look at Vicky McClure and Martin Compston in character ahead of Line of Duty season 7 – and yes, everyone is reacting as you’d expect.

Earlier this year, fans of the BBC cop drama were sent into a spin when it was finally confirmed to be returning.

Iconic trio Vicky, Martin, and fellow lead Adrian Dunbar will reprise their roles as DI Kate Fleming, DI Steve Arnott, and Superintendent Ted Hastings, respectively, while newbie cast members include Robert Carlyle as Specialist Rifle Officer DC Shaun Massie.

It’s been over five years since Line of Duty’s sixth season came to an end, with AC-12 taking down the elusive ‘H’ in a nail-biting finale – although viewers have been eager for more ever since, with the majority feeling somewhat disappointed with the reveal.

Thankfully, creator Jed Mercurio is giving the people what they want, with filming now underway in Belfast ahead of a 2027 premiere.

While the cast and crew have remained pretty secretive in terms of sharing pics on social media since shooting began last month, actress Vicky has now treated us to a leak.

Seemingly in between takes, the co-stars and close pals were sitting in a car, and while the clip was given a black-and-white filter, it was clear they were in costume.

Red Eye lead Martin was back in Steve’s famous waistcoats – after confessing that his wife, Tianna Chanel Flynn, had him on a pre-Line of Duty diet – while Vicky also donned a shirt and blazer.

Belting out the song’s catchy lyrics, the duo grooved and swayed, with a police station in the background.

‘Friday feeling anyone?!’, Vicky captioned her post, sweetly adding the hashtag ‘flemnot’, and, in the comments, it’s fair to say fans were hyped.

‘And our favorite duo is here ❤️’, wrote @anmolassad9, with @lornabyrne1978 echoing: ‘The gang is back 👏👏👏’
@rc_roisin said they were ‘absolutely buzzing’ and @allisongreen75_ said she ‘can’t wait’ for Line of Duty to come back.

‘AC-12 are back.

Looking forward to seeing the team back in action 🙌❤️’, commented @zpb1986.

‘This is getting me so so excited 😍😍 my fave duo ❤️❤️’, added @emiliekayy.

Up to now, the only glimpses we’ve had of the gang in action are from writer Jed’s page, where he confirmed on March 23 that it was the first day of filming, sharing a snap of Trainspotting star Robert, 65, holding a clapperboard.

Meanwhile, fans have said that they’re rewatching the previous seasons in preparation, with the sixth culminating in unveiling DCI Ian Buckells as the ‘Fourth Man’ after years of twists, turns, and red herrings.

As for what season 7 has in store, things are set to look a little different for our favourite coppers.

In the next run, the anti-corruption unit has been disbanded and rebranded the Inspectorate of Police Standards, with Kate, Steve, and Ted assigned their most sensitive case to date.

‘Detective Inspector Dominic Gough (Tom Weston-Jones), a charismatic officer winning plaudits for a string of takedowns of organised crime, is accused of abusing his position of trust to act as a sexual predator,’ a BBC synopsis teases.

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‘But is Gough’s case a deliberate distraction from a bigger threat still operating in the shadows?’
The cast are, naturally, remaining tight-lipped, but in a recent interview, Vicky heaped praise on the storyline and gave audiences a taste of what to expect.

‘I’m really enjoying it,’ she said of filming in an appearance on BBC Breakfast.

‘We worked out the other day; it’s six years since we last shot, and it’s been nearly 15 years since we began, so it’s been a long time.

Martin, Adey, and Jed, we’re all solid friends, so there’s been lots of curries, we love a curry night, and it’s been great.

‘The storyline is unbelievable.

So Line of Duty, so twisty-turny… Obviously having Robert Carlyle join the team is major, and working with him is like a dream come true.

Other additional cast members for the new season include Laura Aikman as DC Paula Beckman, Levi Brown as DC Luke Tobin, and Amy Leigh Hickman as DC Nira Rashid.

Seasons 1-6 of Line of Duty are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

Season 7 is due to be released in 2027.
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