Line Of Duty fans were delighted as Vicky McClure posted a photo of new co-star Robert Carlyle kicking off series seven on the BBCÂ set.
The actress, 42, who plays Kate Fleming, took to Instagram to share a momentous picture with the show’s viewers.
It shows Robert, 64, holding up a clapper board indicating filming today for much-anticipated series seven.
Over the social media picture, a caption reads: ‘Line of Duty 7. Day 1.’
As well as Vicky, the show’s creator and showrunner Jed Mercurio is also tagged in this post.
One fan commented: ‘And theyâre off! What a way to start the week. Have a great shoot everyone. We cannot wait to see the series.’
Vicky McClure and Jed Mercurio thrilled Line of Duty fans by marking series seven filming beginning – with new cast addition Robert Carlyle
The popular police procedural drama is returning for a seventh series – which is set to hit screens next year
Another said: ‘POST of the year!! Woohoo It’s finally happening. Beyond excited.’
A third wrote: ‘I never thought id see this⊠and i still cant believe we will! The best series ever!’
While a fourth penned: ‘Excited for this!’
The popular police procedural drama originally aired on BBC Two, before moving to BBC One for series four.
Three series aired up to 2021, which was when the show initially ended after completing six series.
In November 2025, it was reported series leads Vicky, Martin Compston and Adrian Dunbar would all reprise their roles for a seventh series.
And last month, it was revealed The Full Monty and BAFTA-winning star Robert Carlyle had been cast as a guest character, Detective Constable Shaun Massie.
He follows in the footsteps of former guest stars Kelly Macdonald, Stephen Graham, Thandiwe Newton, Daniel Mays, Keeley Hawes and Lennie James.
Robert said of joining the cast: ‘Having been a huge admirer of Jed Mercurioâs work for many years, Iâm delighted to be given the opportunity to join such an exceptional cast for series 7 of Line of Duty.
‘The scripts for the series are excellent and will absolutely maintain the quality that the audience have come to expect from this fantastic show.
‘DC Massie is an extraordinary character and I look forward to bringing him to life.’
Series writer Jed added: ‘On Line of Duty we’ve been honoured by the glittering guest leads who’ve joined the cast over the years.
‘We couldn’t be more thrilled that Robert Carlyle will star in series 7 as Specialist Rifle Officer Shaun Massie.
‘I’ve been a huge fan of Robert’s work for many years and it will be a career highlight to work with him.
‘Robert always brings mesmerising power and depth to every role; I know viewers will be on the edge of their seats wondering what his character will do next, and why.’
While director of BBC drama Lindsay Salt concluded: ‘Sometimes a piece of casting feels so right that you just can’t imagine anyone else.Â
New cast member Robert Carlyle will join returning series leads Martin Compston and Vicky McClure
‘Robert Carlyle is one of our greatest actors and the perfect fit for the phenomenon that is Line of Duty.’
Series seven of Line Of Duty will follow the familiar faces of AC-12 after it was been disbanded and rebranded as the Inspectorate of Police Standards.
The anticorruption unit will be seen working harder than ever as Steve Arnott, Kate Fleming, and Ted Hastings are assigned their most sensitive case so far.
The synopsis teases: ‘Detective Constable Shaun Massie is a Specialist Rifle Officer (SRO), a veteran marksman, operating with Tactical Operations Unit 7 (TO-7) to take down Organised Crime Groups.
‘A gruff loner, Massie keeps himself to himself, but when his boss, TO-7’s commanding officer DI Dominic Gough, is accused of being a sexual predator, Massie’s otherwise detached demeanour changes drastically.’
The seventh series of Line Of Duty will also see the former AC-12 trio trying to track down the elusive ‘H’, according to reports.
The news will thrill fans who were left disappointed by the controversial ending of series six in 2021, when bumbling Det Supt Ian Buckells (Nigel Boyle) was unmasked as ‘H’ – the shadowy criminal mastermind behind the police corruption.
