Robert Carlyle to join Line of Duty as AC-12 faces new crisis
Robert Carlyle will join the cast of Line of Duty when filming begins in Belfast this spring, the BBC confirmed today, marking the first new guest lead since the series drew 17 million viewers for its 2021 finale. His arrival signals a relaunch of one of the corporation’s most successful dramas at a time when flagship crime series remain central to its schedule.
The Bafta-winning actor will play specialist rifle officer Det Con Shaun Massie in the seventh series of the long-running police thriller. Carlyle joins returning cast members Martin Compston, Vicky McClure and Adrian Dunbar, who reprise their roles as the anti-corruption unit AC-12.
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Read the full reportThe forthcoming six-part series follows AC-12 after it has been disbanded and reconstituted as the Inspectorate of Police Standards. The team is assigned what is described as its most sensitive case to date, placing renewed scrutiny on policing oversight and internal accountability.
Massie, a veteran marksman characterised as a gruff loner, is tasked with tackling organised crime groups. The investigation takes a dramatic turn when his commanding officer, DI Dominic Gough, is accused of being a sexual predator, shifting the focus from operational risk to institutional integrity.
Carlyle, 64, said he had long admired series creator Jed Mercurio’s writing and described the scripts for the new series as maintaining the standard audiences expect. Mercurio said working with Carlyle would be a career highlight, adding that viewers would be left questioning Massie’s motives and next moves.
The Glasgow-born actor is best known for roles in Trainspotting and The Full Monty. He follows previous guest leads including Kelly Macdonald, Stephen Graham and Thandiwe Newton.
Line of Duty first aired in 2012 and became one of the most-watched British dramas of the past decade, according to viewing data published by Ofcom. The seventh series will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer next year.
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[Image Credit | World Productions]
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