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Line of Duty fans have been waiting years for this news – and now the wait is almost over.

The BBC’s hugely popular police drama is officially returning for Series 7, bringing back three of its most recognisable stars and reopening the world of police corruption, secret investigations and those infamous interrogation scenes.

The new series will be the first instalment of Line of Duty since the dramatic sixth series aired in 2021.

And this time, there is a major change to the team.

Martin Compston, Vicky McClure and Adrian Dunbar are back

Fans will be delighted to know that Martin Compston, Vicky McClure and Adrian Dunbar are all returning.

That means Steve Arnott, Kate Fleming and Ted Hastings will once again be at the heart of the story.

The trio’s return was officially confirmed by the BBC when Series 7 was announced, with the new run consisting of six episodes.

The announcement was particularly significant because the sixth series had originally appeared to bring the long-running story to an end.

But Jed Mercurio wasn’t finished with AC-12 just yet.

AC-12 has changed

One of the biggest changes in Series 7 is that the familiar AC-12 set-up has been altered.

The anti-corruption unit has been disbanded and rebranded as the Inspectorate of Police Standards.

However, Arnott, Fleming and Hastings are still working together – and they are given what is described as their most sensitive case yet.

The new investigation centres on DI Dominic Gough, a senior officer who has built a reputation for tackling organised crime.

Things take a dramatic turn when allegations of sexual misconduct emerge.

Naturally, Line of Duty fans will know that things are rarely as straightforward as they first appear.

Robert Carlyle joins the cast

One of the biggest new additions to Series 7 is Robert Carlyle.

The Trainspotting and The Full Monty star will play DC Shaun Massie, a specialist rifle officer involved in tackling organised crime.

His character works under DI Dominic Gough, putting him right in the middle of the new investigation.

Carlyle joins a returning cast that also includes several familiar faces, alongside new additions to the Line of Duty universe.

When will Line of Duty Series 7 be on TV?

The BBC has confirmed that Series 7 will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in 2027.

Filming took place in Belfast during 2026 and production has now moved into post-production.

So unfortunately, fans shouldn’t expect the new series to arrive this year.

But after such a long wait, another few months may be worth it if Mercurio delivers another of his trademark twists.

Is Series 7 going to be the final series?

This is where things get particularly interesting.

Martin Compston recently suggested that the seventh series could bring the story that began with Series 1 to its conclusion.

Speaking about the new episodes, Compston said that he believes “everything will come to a head” and described the upcoming series as the end of the story arc that has been building since the beginning.

That doesn’t necessarily mean the Line of Duty universe could never return in another form, but it certainly suggests fans should prepare themselves for some major developments.

And if Compston’s comments are anything to go by, Series 7 could be very different from a simple return to business as usual.

What can fans expect?

Details of the plot are being kept tightly under wraps – which is probably exactly how Line of Duty fans would want it.

What we do know is that the reformed anti-corruption team will be investigating a highly sensitive case involving Dominic Gough, while Robert Carlyle’s Shaun Massie is also drawn into the story.

With Jed Mercurio back writing the series and the original trio reunited, there should be plenty of opportunities for the twists, interrogations and shocking revelations that made the show such a huge hit.

And after five years away, fans will undoubtedly be asking the same question:

Who can we actually trust?

When did Line of Duty last air?

The last series aired in 2021 and ended with the revelation of the identity of the mysterious corrupt officer known as H.

The finale attracted more than 17 million viewers, making it one of the biggest TV events of the year.

Five years later, Line of Duty is finally coming back.

And if the new series really is the end of the story, fans could be in for one final, very memorable investigation.

Line of Duty Series 7 will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in 2027.

This article will be updated as more details about the new series are announced.