The BBC's Line of Duty could return to screens in January, months earlier than fans expected, after executives reportedly moved the show's air date forward.
The police corruption drama, starring Martin Compston, Adrian Dunbar and Vicky McClure, has drawn in millions of viewers over the years. The seventh series has been on a five-year hiatus, but new episodes may arrive sooner than anticipated.
January release date reportedly confirmed
It has been revealed that executives are set to bring the show's air date forwards to January, meaning viewers only have to wait just over two months for the show's return. Previous series have usually been released in March.
A TV insider told The Sun: "This will be welcome news for fans who have already been waiting five years for the next instalment in the story of AC-12."
"They will have been expecting this to land in late March and moving the show is a vote of confidence in the new series as January is when the Beeb likes to showcase its big dramas," the insider added.
Cast and filming details
Filming for the new series wrapped up in July, as revealed by Vicky McClure after she posted two behind the scenes photos with her castmates. It has been confirmed that McClure, Compston and Dunbar will all be returning to the show.
Robert Carlyle, best known for his roles in Once Upon a Time and The Hack, will be joining the trio as Detective Constable Shaun Massie, who will be helping them to take down Organised Crime Groups. Other new cast members include This City Is Ours star Laura Aikman as DC Paula Beckman, Ackley Bridge star Amy Leigh Hickman as DC Nira Rashid, and Tom Weston-Jones as Detective Inspector Dominic Gough, leader of the Tactical Operations Unit 7.
Mark Bonnar will also be returning to the show as former Deputy Chief Constable Mike Dryden. The insider added: "Rumour has it that bosses have viewed early edits of the new run and are delighted with what they see."
