While we might still be waiting for news on series 7 of Line of Duty (rumours are it could be here in 2023), we're still allowed to swot up on our LOD knowledge by getting to know the Line of Duty cast. Don't forget to brush up on your Line of Duty acronyms too!
If you're all caught up with the sixth series of Line of Duty and you'd like a recap of the characters or you're a LOD newbie and want to know who's who, here's an introduction to the cast of the show, past and present.
Line of Duty cast
Martin Compston plays DS Steve Arnott (series 1-6)
Originally an anti-terrorism officer, Steve transfers to the anti-corruption unit after he refuses to cover up a botched operation. After coming under scrutiny in season three, he's now an integral part of the team.
Martin recently starred in BBC drama The Nest which followed a couple attempting to have a baby via a teenage surrogate.
Vicky McClure plays DI Kate Fleming (series 1-6)
Kate is AC-12’s undercover specialist. She prides herself on being the consummate professional, unmoved by emotional considerations. She's worked hard to work up the ranks in the force but while her professional career flew, her personal life wasn't going so well and her marriage broke down with her ex having primary custody of their son.
Vicky starred in the initial film of This is England as well as the subsequent Channel 4 TV shows. You may also remember her from Broadchurch and she's more recently starred in the ITV crime drama, Without Sin.
Adrian Dunbar plays Superintendent Ted Hastings (series 1-6)
Ted Hastings remains the ethically upstanding senior investigating officer. In the previous series, Superintendent Ted Hastings personally recruited Steve Arnott to AC-12. Zealous and suspicious, he's not everyone's cup of tea. His marriage has also come to an end.
Adrian has also played Richard Plantagenet in The Hollow Crown as well as Dr Jim Hogan in the Channel 5 thriller Blood.
Kelly Macdonald plays Detective Chief Inspector Joanne Davidson (series 6)
The focus of series six, Kelly plays Joanne, the senior investigating officer of an unsolved murder, who raises suspicions at AC-12.
Speaking of her character Kelly said: "At the start of the series, she’s quite a lonely figure. She’s struggling and we don’t quite know why that is."
Anna Maxwell Martin plays DCS Patricia Carmichael (series 5-6)
Patricia is a senior anti-corruption detective brought in from outside of AC-12.
Anna Maxwell Martin has been in lots of other shows including Motherland, The Bletchley Circle, and Death Comes to Pemberley.
Shalom Brune-Franklin plays DC Chloe Bishop (series 6)
DC Chloe Bishop is the latest member to join AC-12 in Line of Duty. Currently, very little is known about her but between the events of series five and six, she was assigned to AC-12.
Before joining the Line of Duty cast, Shalom has had previous roles including Maisie Richards in the BBC drama, Our Girl, Aoife in Doctor Who and Rose in Roadkill.
Nigel Boyle plays DCI Ian Buckells
Ian is a former Detective Superintendent and criminal operative. At the end of season six, he is revealed as 'The Fourth Man' who is the final corrupt senior ranking member of the police affiliated with the organised crime group. He is currently imprisoned.
Perry Fitzpatrick plays DS Chris Lomax
A new addition to the cast, DS Chris Lomax is assigned to the Murder Investigation Team.
Craig Parkinson plays Matthew 'Dot' Cotton (series 1-5)
A poacher turned gamekeeper, on secondment from AC-9, Dot assists AC-12’s investigation into Witness Protection.
Nigel Morton played by Neil Morrissey (series 1-3)
Detective Constable Nigel Morton is Tony Gates' closest colleague. Disabled by a leg injury, Morton had resigned himself to desk duties until Gates brought him into TO-20.
Outwardly a run-of-the-mill copper who likes to keep his head down, Morton's deep loyalty towards Gates is capable of turning him into a much darker and more dangerous figure...
Keeley Hawes plays Detective Inspector Lindsay Denton (series 2-3)
DI Lindsay Denton is a Missing Persons detective of outstanding probity.
Her willingness to report colleagues’ misconduct makes her something of a pariah. Whilst on duty at 4th Street Station, Lindsay is called upon to assist in the urgent transfer of a protected witness whose life is in danger.
Having spent large parts of her career in administrative positions, Lindsay is unaccustomed to handling critical incidents. Shocked and anguished when the police convoy is raided and three colleagues murdered, she is as eager as anyone to track down those responsible.
Daniel Mays plays Sergeant Danny Waldron (series 3)
Danny is a member of an armed response unit and is the protagonist of series three. He is a very complex character. On the surface, he’s incredibly driven and ambitious, great at his job and rules his team with an iron fist.
There are many different layers to him and he’s got a lot of issues that he’s dealing with. In episode one, he's put under investigation, and as the story unfolds we realise the inner workings of his character and what is motivating him to do these dangerous and unpredictable things.
Thandie Newton plays DCI Roz Huntley (series 4)
The lead investigator on a huge case in series four, Roz is under pressure to prove herself after taking some time out to be a mother.
John Corbett played by Stephen Graham (series 5)
The star of series five, John Corbett is the ruthlessly ambitious leader of an Organised Crime Group (OCG). His willingness to go to extreme lengths draws attention from the highest levels of the organisation.
But as viewers discovered, John is not as he seems...
Lisa McQueen, played by Rochenda Sandall (series 5)
Lisa claims to have been recruited by the OCG (Organised Crime Group) as a teenager to deal drugs along County Lines. As such, she knows more about the workings of the OCG than anyone.
She’s initially intimidated by Corbett's cold-blooded determination but soon sees a potential ally in advancing her career.
Tim Ifield, played by Jason Watkins (series 4)
Tim’s a forensics expert, not only is he a very detailed and brilliant practitioner but he is meticulous and professional. "Often these guys can solve the case themselves and I think because they have the ability to do that, sometimes there’s friction between other departments, particularly with DCI Roz Huntley (Thandie Newton)," says Jason.
"There is a moral call to be made as well as a procedural one and I think if you’re, like Tim, forensically minded and meticulous then it’s hard to square that."
Georgia Trotman, played by Jessica Raine (series 2)
Georgia is a new recruit to AC-12 in series 2 of Line of Duty, played by actress Jessica Raine.
She joins AC-12 from Armed Robbery. She’s smart and dedicated, but has difficulty controlling potentially damaging impulses.
Jackie Laverty, played by Gina McKee (series 1)
Jackie Laverty was at one time engaged to Tony Gates. She left him for a rich businessman.
Newly divorced and now a successful businesswoman in her own right, Jackie has become involved with Gates again.
Mike Dryden, played by Mark Bonnar (series 2)
Ambitious and charismatic, Dryden is a politically savvy police officer.
Detective Chief Constable Mike Dryden takes personal charge of the investigation into the ambush, assigning AC-12 to investigate Lindsay Denton and the Major Violent Crime Unit to investigate the gunmen who carried out the attack. However, AC-12 eventually come to suspect that Dryden may have his own hidden agenda for controlling the case.
Lennie James plays DCI Antony Gates (series 1)
Detective Chief Inspector Tony Gates led the serious crime unit TO-20. Adored by his loyal team, Gates has returned the best crime figures on the Force for three years running. Series one discovered Tony was not the model officer he was believed to be.