Hit crime drama Line of Duty to return to TV screens
It's the hit corrupt copper drama which has gripped millions across the nation since it took over screens seven years ago.
But the wait for the highly-anticipated fifth series of Line of Duty will soon be over, as the BBC show returns on Sunday.
Nail-biting interrogation scenes, captivating guest leads and unsuspecting twists are expected to captivate audiences - and it's all down to writer Jed Mercurio, who hails from Cannock.
Mercurio, who was also behind smash-hit six-part series Bodyguard, said he was "thrilled" with how filming for the latest Line of Duty series came together.
He added: "When we filmed Line Of Duty Series 1 in 2011, we could never have dreamt we’d reach five series with a sixth already commissioned.
"Thanks so much to all our fans for your amazing support over the years."
The latest instalment of the show, which will air at 9pm, is set almost two years on from the crime drama's last series.
Fictional police squad AC-12 will return, ready to continue its quest to uncover corruption within the force.
Vicky McClure will reprise her role as DS Kate Fleming, along with fellow regular co-stars Adrian Dunbar as Superintendent Ted Hastings and Martin Compston as DS Steve Arnott.
They will be joined by newcomers Stephen Graham, best known for his role in This is England, and Rochenda Sandall, who stared in Netflix's Black Mirror: Bandersnatch.
Nottingham-born McClure said she thought viewers were hooked as they enjoy trying to guess what might happen next.
She said: "It is a complicated show and we don't spoon-feed the audience,
"At the minute there is a lot of quite hard-hitting docs which are a bit shocking, but you go in [to work] and say 'did you watch it?' because you want to discuss it, and it is a similar thing with Line of Duty.
"People have got their own theories; some are way too far out there but some, right on the nose."
A recent trailer for the show showed H, the corrupt senior officer thought to be dead at the end of series four, is still in the picture.
The last episode, which aired in 2017, concluded with Supt Hastings saying he was satisfied Assistant Chief Constable Derek Hilton was 'H' and colluding with the late 'Dot' Cottan.
Mercurio, who gained critical acclaim when his series Bodyguard smashed viewing records, said he always tries to achieve a perfect gender balance in his work.
He said: "I do like to have gender balance, so always looking for ways to keep it as near to 50/50.
"And also because it's a precinct drama I kind of like to reflect modern workplaces and so having come from a background of women doing exactly the same jobs as men, I think that's very important as a message in TV.
"I should also pay tribute to our casting team, what we do is we see a diverse range of actors for every role so in respect of Lisa McQueen, Rochenda Sandall's part, we saw actors of all kinds of ethnicities and you just pick the best person for the job.
"Because there is so much talent out there, and so much diverse talent, it's really important that people go up for roles that aren't compartmentalised.
"I think we're really proud of what we've achieved over the years."
