Line of Duty poster

Line of Duty

★ 8.7 82K votes 2012–present 6 seasons · 36 episodes Returning Series BBC One
TenseSustained suspense and pressure from start to finish.This show: 10/10Cliffhanger-drivenEngineered for the 'one more episode' effect.This show: 9/10British TVThe British television sensibility: tone, restraint and format traditions.This show: 9/10Secrets & liesHidden truths straining every relationship.This show: 9/10Tight writingNo wasted scenes, just disciplined storytelling.This show: 8/10GrittyRaw, unglamorous realism in both look and subject matter.This show: 8/10Detective mysteryCrime-solving from the investigator's side of the table.This show: 8/10Morally grayNo clean heroes or villains anywhere in sight.This show: 8/10
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Starring
Martin CompstonVicky McClureAdrian DunbarCraig ParkinsonGregory PiperOwen Teale
Written by
Jed Mercurio
Starring
Martin CompstonVicky McClureAdrian DunbarCraig ParkinsonGregory PiperOwen Teale
Written by
Jed Mercurio
Ratings per Episode
246810
Votes per Episode
01k2k3k4k

Line of Duty Episode Ratings Heatmap

AvgE1E2E3E4E5E6E7
S18.07.78.18.08.18.3
S28.48.58.58.28.48.78.2
S38.88.68.38.48.49.19.5
S48.58.48.18.68.58.59.0
S58.58.58.58.48.98.58.4
S67.87.78.18.29.08.98.26.1

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About

"Interrogation-room tension elevated into an art form"

Line of Duty follows AC-12, a British police anti-corruption unit, as its investigators hunt for bent officers embedded inside their own force. Each season centers on a new case and a new suspect, built around gripping, marathon interrogation scenes and labyrinthine internal politics. It's tense, procedural, and dialogue-driven rather than action-heavy, demanding real attention to who's lying, who's compromised, and who's protecting whom. The payoff is less about chases and more about slow-burn dread, moral compromise, and the satisfaction of watching sharp interrogators pick apart a lie under fluorescent lights.

Watch it for

the interrogation scenes, which turn procedural dialogue into some of TV's most gripping tension.

Maybe skip if

you need action or quick resolution rather than dense, talk-heavy plotting.

Written by our AI editor to help you decide, spoiler-free by design.

All Seasons

Series 12012
8.09K54h 50m
DS Steve Arnott is transferred to the police anti-corruption unit after the death of a man in a mistaken shooting during a counter-terrorist operation by another cop.
Series 22014
8.49K65h 49m
An ambush of a police convoy results in three police officers dead and a protected witness seriously injured. The sole surviving police officer is Detective Inspector Lindsay Denton. Deputy Chief Constable Mike Dryden takes personal charge, assigning AC-12 to the case. Initially AC-12’s most valuable witness, the suspicion soon arises that Denton could be their prime suspect. In the pursuit of corruption, how far will they go to uncover the truth?
Series 32016
8.811K66h 24m
After a criminal is shot dead during a police raid, the AC-12 team begins examining the conduct of Sergeant Danny Waldron, leader of an elite unit. But Waldron’s loyal team obstructs the investigation, and the truth about the shooting proves more complicated than Arnott and Fleming could ever have imagined.
Series 42017
8.59K65h 48m
The fourth series sees AC-12 facing their most devious opponent yet! Under pressure from her superiors, DCI Roz Huntley charges a young man with a series of murders after months of fruitless investigation, but is he guilty? The Chief Forensic Investigator has doubts and turns to AC-12.
Series 52019
8.59K66h 13m
Series 5 follows the actions of Superintendent Ted Hastings, D.I. Kate Fleming and D.S. Steve Arnott as they investigate an Organised Crime Group with links to missing undercover officer D.S. John Corbett.
Series 62021
7.812K76h 41m
Series 6 sees AC-12 facing their most enigmatic adversary so far: Detective Chief Inspector Joanne Davidson, the senior investigating officer of a high-profile unsolved murder.

Full Cast & Crew

Cast

Martin Compston DS Steve Arnott, DI Steve Arnott
Vicky McClure DC Kate Fleming, DI Kate Fleming, DS Kate Fleming
Adrian Dunbar Supt Ted Hastings
Craig Parkinson DI Matthew Cottan, DS Matthew Cottan
Gregory Piper Ryan Pilkington, PC Ryan Pilkington
Owen Teale CC Philip Osborne, CI Philip Osborne
Perry Fitzpatrick DS Chris Lomax
Maya Sondhi PC Maneet Bindra
Aiysha Hart DS Sam Railston
Christina Chong DI Nicky Rogerson, DS Nicky Rogerson

Crew

Jed Mercurio

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