As the most-watched show of the 21st century, it’s only natural that Line of Duty has produced a whole lot of debate online following the recent finale.

Fans have had plenty of things to say since the last episode of series six arrived on our screens, with viewers weighing in on the divisive H reveal and looking forward to possible future series. 

There was a whole lot to take in. After years of waiting, the most recent episode of Jed Mercurio’s acclaimed police drama finally revealed that Ian Buckells was the fourth man.

Kate Fleming (Vicky McClure), Steve Arnott (Martin Compston) and Ted Hastings’ (Adrian Dunbar) were also in the lurch, with AC-12 left hanging in the balance.

The episode divided opinion online, but while it’s yet to be announced, fans are already looking ahead to the future and hoping for a seventh series.

We spoke to Line of Duty superfans to get their reactions to the finale, and hear their theories about what a seventh series of the hit drama could involve.

Kul Mahay

Kul is the co-founder of the UK’s Black Police Association and once one of the most senior Asian officers in the country. He’s also a massive Line of Duty fan, with decades of experience in real-life policing. But how did he like the finale?

‘I have to say, like most people, I felt a bit flat. I’m not gonna say it almost felt like it was rushed. Towards the end, it was almost like they just wanted it finished,’ Kul said.

‘It was like when we had Game of Thrones. It was almost like [the show’s creators] were exhausted and they just wanted to finish it.’

What could happen in series 7?

After the sixth series tackled the case of Lawrence Christopher – an architect and victim of a racist hate crime who died in Central Police custody in 2003 – in a ‘really, really clever way’, Kul believes a seventh series could see AC-12 look into institutionalised racism in the police service.

‘Given that we’ve had the reaction to George Floyd’s death, and given everything that’s happened with BLM, I thought was so topical, and so well constructed the way they looked at the Stephen Lawrence inquiry in series 6,’ he said.

‘They could have had a whole series around systemic racism. They’ve got a phenomenal diverse cast anyway, which I applaud them for. Because it really does replicate the police service. So I think they could have had something around bigotry. I would be really interested in watching a series like that.’

Keith-Andrew Kershaw

While many fans thought the finale missed the mark, Keith-Andrew, who is the creator of the BBC Line of Duty Facebook fan page, was blown away with the final episode of series six.

‘I think I’m in the minority to say that I loved the finale. I thought it was excellent,’ he said. ‘The reason why I thought it was excellent was because I’d done a rewatch before season six started, and all those little details that preempted Ian buckles being revealed as H were sewn right back in series one.’

Keith-Andrew went on to say: ‘I think that a lot of people didn’t like the season finale because those events happened so long ago, that they didn’t necessarily link the two together. I think if everyone had done a series one to five rewatch before series six, it would have been more satisfying for them.’

What could happen in series 7?

Like Kul, Keith-Andrew also wants to see a possible seventh season ‘deal with institutional racism within the police force’, which was touched on in the Lawrence Christopher case.

‘I thought it was really interesting to show prejudices within the police service in the last series. It’s such a relevant storyline, especially with the age that we live in today,’ he said.

‘I think this story with H has run its course. I do think it is now time to wipe the slate clean and start something else. I think that tackling institutional racism in the police service is a great subject matter that they could really hit upon and raise a lot of awareness.’

Katy Sherwood

Katy, who is the moderator of the official Line of Duty Facebook fan page, was similarly impressed with the last episode, but understands the backlash online.

‘I thought it was really good,’ she said. ‘It’s one of those finales that makes you think and it’s really made me want to kind of go back and re-watch from the beginning.’

Kate added: ‘I think it was almost one of those instances where, however it ended, people would have been disappointed because there are so many theories and so many ideas. I think it would have been really tricky to please everyone, but I think they did a good job.’

What could happen in series 7?

As long as it was written for the ‘right reasons’, Kate hopes a further series would attempt to find the ‘head honcho’ who is really pulling the strings for the Organised Crime Group.

‘I really hope Jed doesn’t feel like he’s now got to write one because he’s got to justify how he ended series six,’ Kate said.

‘They could follow up on the idea of Buckells being a stooge, and go on to expose the head honcho running the OCG from inside the police force. It might not be something that even needs the whole series, it could be one off, slightly extended episode. You’d want it to be for the right reasons.’

Lucy Rosina

She might be a Line of Duty superfan and active member of the BBC Line of Duty Facebook fan page, but it’s safe to say Lucy wasn’t impressed with the last episode.

‘It felt like I’d wasted my time,’ Lucy said. ‘I’d given up so many hours to watch it all. I just think it was disappointing. It didn’t have any action. It didn’t have any thrills. It was the most ridiculous choice of villain, too.’

What could happen in series 7?

Lucy thinks there will be another series, and hopes it’ll shine a light on one of the biggest surprises of series six – the introduction on James Nesbitt’s bent copper Marcus Thurwell, who only appeared in the form of two pictures.

‘I’d like to see where the [Marcus] storyline could go. It just seemed like a waste of casting really, especially as he was so good in Bloodlands,’ Lucy said.

‘He was a bit of a red herring. So I’d like to see the show explore that character if they can.’

Ismael Lea South

Ismael, who is a megafan of the show and member of youth working organisation The Salam Project, was one of the viewers left cold by the finale.

‘I was a bit disappointed with the end,’ he said. ‘It just reminded me of Unusual Suspects with the big reveal. I think personally it would have been better if it was Rohan Sindwhani (Ace Bhatti) or Patricia Carmichael (Anna Maxwell Martin) who were revealed as H, or a mixture of some of the top wigs in the service.

What could happen in series 7?

‘I personally think there’s going to be a seventh series,’ Ismael said. ‘With all the options out there – Netflix, Amazon and Disney and everything else – they’re pulling in so many millions of viewers. That’s crazy. They have to bring it back.’

‘Hopefully AC-12 will be working in another case, and hopefully they’ll find that Buckells isn’t the main guy at all, but the go-between working with the top people running the OCG from inside the police service.’

Line Of Duty is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

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