Spoiler alert: this blog is for people watching series five of Line of Duty (it also contains spoilers from earlier series). Don’t read on unless you have watched episode six. OK everybody, hold it right there. I’ll get back to you as soon as I’ve perfected my Morse code deciphering skills. Line of Duty finales are when the show tends to throw everything at the wall. This time was no different, as we were treated to the sublime (a lengthy interrogation) and the ridiculous (Steve’s out-of-the-blue realisation that Dot was tapping out Morse code as he died). That said, it was a more downbeat conclusion than in previous series, which I appreciated. I’ve always loved Line of Duty for its quieter moments rather than its ever-so-twisty twists and enjoyed the fact that final revelations largely made sense instead of milking shock moments for all they were worth. The bad guys A rotten apple ... Gill Biggeloe (Polly Walker). Photograph: BBC/World Productions We all called it – Gill Biggeloe was a “rotten apple” (and not just because she spelled her surname the wrong way). Kudos to those who pointed out that Biggeloe having been a defence lawyer would prove a key plot point. I thoroughly enjoyed the revelations concerning the extent of her villainy (yes, even the moment when everything went a bit slasher film in the toilets), largely because Polly Walker has been a poisonous delight in the role. Unsurprisingly, Biggeloe provided many of the night’s best moments, from wiping the smug grin off DCS Carmichael’s face by pointing out that the eager DI Brandyce had filed the wrong paperwork, to unwisely suggesting that Carmichael should stay in the interrogation room with Steve and Kate because “it’s up to you if you want to be in on it or not”. Indeed every small exchange between Biggeloe and Anna Maxwell Martin’s Patricia Carmichael, AKA the Maximilien Robespierre of the anti-corruption world, was worth savouring. Ted’s interrogation might have been billed as the main event, but the real action was happening on the undercard as Carmichael and Biggeloe circled each other in a particularly venomous game of cat and mouse. With all that going on, it was no surprise that the OCG plot strand took a backseat. There was one brief scene featuring Lisa McQueen’s interrogation (after all that, it seems she was just a criminal, albeit one who wanted to change) and another focusing on Ryan’s acceptance to police academy (yes, yes, you were all right). In truth that was OK with me. Jed Mercurio, the writer, has always been tighter on the police corruption element than on the gang plot. If I have a complaint about this particular series, it’s that in the early episodes it got bogged down in gang interaction when the interesting stuff has always been AC-12’s increasingly desperate attempts to stem the flood of corruption in the force. The good guys It might have been obvious but I’ll admit I let out a small cheer when Kate and Steve decided to save the gaffer themselves. And then an even bigger one when they marched straight past Carmichael and into the interview room in what was pretty much a declaration of war. Kate, in particular, was on fire this evening, from telling Brandyce where to go, to ensuring that all the regulations were observed to the letter even as she worked at cross purposes from Carmichael. I’ve said it before but she’s much better at being a DI than at being undercover. To the rescue ... Steve (Martin Compston). Photograph: Aidan Monaghan/BBC/World Productions The episode’s main thrust, however, was Carmichael’s tense interview of an increasingly broken Ted. This was pretty much a showcase for Adrian Dunbar and he rose to the challenge, showing us a Ted who was both recognisable and surprising: a man obsessed with his moral righteousness, who felt so ashamed of watching pornography that he dumped his computer; who had, if not an affair, then close feelings for the young and widowed Anne-Marie McGillis; and who felt guilty about his past and bewildered by his present. The story, when it was finally divulged, had its roots as expected in Ted’s time in Northern Ireland: a sad tale of a Catholic cop in a largely Protestant force who found some sort of kinship with a Catholic widow grieving over the violent death of her husband. It was a kinship that was to prove disastrous for both of them – and for the next generation as well. Which brings us to the real victim: John Corbett, a decorated undercover officer who was primed as a weapon by Biggeloe, lied to, betrayed and set on a path of destruction that would ultimately result in his death. The callous way Biggeloe used Corbett without heed as to what would become of him was bleakly believable. Like so many officers on this show, he died in the line of duty, but as Ted sorrowfully observed, it was a “tragic, senseless death”. Case notes Carmichael, feeling a little blue. Photograph: Aidan Monaghan/BBC/World Productions Is it just me or did the explanation for Dot’s dying message make no sense? I feel as though I’m through the looking glass here – once there was H, then there were balaclava men, now there are four caddies. What’s next? An explanation that he was also wiggling his toes to tell us more? I was quite glad when Steve suddenly turned into Mr Exposition and got us up to speed on all the salient plot points. Less so, however, by Ted’s unravelling of Biggeloe’s motivation and actions, if only because I kept imagining her saying: “And I would have got away with it if it wasn’t for you pesky kids in AC-12.” Where did Ted hide the rest of the money and how complicit was he in Anne-Marie’s death? Despite the holes in his storyline, I still trust him and was pleased he gave the £50,000 to Corbett’s widow, but even I must admit he’s not as straightforward as he pretends to be. Well done Gill, for calling out the world’s most useless police solicitor. Poor DI Brandyce: when Carmichael wants someone gone, they’re toast. That said, the reference to glasshouses by DCC Wise was well-made given that Carmichael’s team consisted of one bent copper and one incompetent one. That’s nearly as bad as the shaggers of AC-12. In another first season reference, Ryan cited Simon Bannerjee – the police constable he gave the run-around to – as the officer who made him want to become a cop. For something to pass the time with now that Line of Duty is over, check out crime writer Adrian McKinty’s outstanding Sean Duffy series, which is all about a Catholic cop in Northern Ireland during the 80s. Weasel of the week Smug, self-satisfied and seemingly convinced that she was too smart to be caught, Gill Biggeloe was the weasel’s weasel, a woman who offered hope with one hand, only to quickly snatch it away. Quote of the week “We’re witnesses not suspects, now stop making a tit of yourself and piss off.” DI Kate Fleming lays down the law. So what did you think? Was it a satisfying conclusion or one with too many plot holes? Were you glad Steve and Kate saved the day, and did you believe Ted’s tale? Finally, it’s been a pleasure reading all your theories over the past six weeks, thanks for reading, commenting and pointing out the errors. See you back here next time provided there’s no urgent exit required …<doc-sep>Line of Duty star Polly Walker has revealed that she did not see any of the current series - and went to a friend's birthday party instead of watching the long-awaited season finale on BBC One on Sunday night. Walker, who plays lawyer Gill Biggeloe, was a guest on ITV's This Morning on Monday, where she discussed the season finale. 122 crew 82 shoot days 44 cast 16 stunt performers 6 episodes 2 directors 1 writer 1 epic finale Thanks for watching #LineOfDuty. See you for Series 6. pic.twitter.com/nzVUMknBfu — BBC One (@BBCOne) May 5, 2019 Warning: spoiler alert! Walker told the show she did not realise how much her character was involved in corruption until near the end of the series. "I knew two episodes before what was happening. I knew she [Biggeloe] was up to no good," she said. "But I didn't know to what extent she was a snake in the grass. "I've always known that Gill was a 'bad'un' on some level but I didn't know to what extent." Gill, the only thing we're trusting right now is our gut... #LineOfDuty pic.twitter.com/7jXo6v1eaE — Line of Duty (@Line_of_duty) May 5, 2019 "I didn't watch any of it," the actress revealed. When asked if she even watched the season finale, Walker replied: "No I didn't. I went to a friend's birthday party." "I know what's happening, so on some level the excitement is different," Walker explained. As for her character's Line of Duty future, Walker said she thinks "everything is up for grabs". "I don't think anybody knows, apart from the puppet master [series writer-creator] Jed Mercurio..." she teased. "This is my theory, Gill is such a survivor, she won't be playing sudoku in her sitting room for too long. She'll be looking for ways to survive." "Gill's alive. I thought she was going to die, but no" "Gill's alive," Walker continued. "I thought she was going to die, but no." The Line of Duty season finale was the most-watched show on British television this year so far, with an average audience of 9.1 million viewers and a peak of 9.6 million. The 2018 season finale had a higher overnight audience of 10.4 million viewers and a peak of 11 million. Ninety things we LOVE about #LineOfDuty for the 90 minute feature finale. Now we're cooking with gas. pic.twitter.com/MYpplcXgXU — BBC One (@BBCOne) May 5, 2019 Click here for more television news.<doc-sep>
Line of Duty season 6 has been confirmed Line of Duty: Polly Walker teases Gill Biggeloe’s return Line of Duty season five concluded last night (Sunday, May 5) in an epic 90-minute long finale. You can catch the final episode of the gripping series on the BBC iPlayer right now. Fans had to wait two years for the fifth instalment of the Jed Mercurio police drama but will the series continue after tonight? Will there be another series of Line of Duty? Yes! There will be another series of Line of Duty on the BBC. The BBC confirmed in early 2017 that Line of Duty would return for two more seasons. Season five was part of that deal and has already begun airing, concluding tonight on the channel. BBC director-general Tony Hall said at the time: “I am very excited to say there’s not one but two more series of Line of Duty. So hooray for AC-12!“ HOW LONG IS THE LINE OF DUTY SEASON FINALE? Line of Duty season 6 has been confirmed There was a two-year delay after season four, with season five premiering in March 2019. The delay was due to the creator, writer and director Jed Mercurio working on the hugely successful Bodyguard starring Richard Madden and Keeley Hawes. Fans are not wrong to expect Line of Duty season six as early as 2020, however, there is likely to be further delayed until Spring 2021. Although the BBC has not officially confirmed a second season of Bodyguard, it is highly likely the series will return and Mercurio may be working on that for the foreseeable future. Speaking recently to the Telegraph, Mercurio confirmed he was in talks with Richard Madden. He said: “We’re still in talks. We’re just looking at the logistics of doing a second one. We haven’t reached the end point of those discussions.” Taking to Twitter on Tuesday, April, 30 Mercurio also confirmed that he had not begun writing the scripts for season six of Line of Duty. Speaking to Kirsty Wark on Newsnight in 2018, Mercurio also revealed filming will take place in the next "couple" of years. He said: “With Line of Duty we’re shooting series five now, and series six has been commissioned which we’re going to shoot hopefully in the next couple of years.” Season six of Line of Duty is likely to have six episodes, the same as the previous five seasons of the show. COULD JOHN CORBETT STILL BE ALIVE? Line of Duty season 6 has been confirmed WARNING: This article contains spoilers about LOD season 5 What will happen in Line of Duty season 6? At the moment it is impossible to predict what will happen in Line of Duty season six. At first, Ted Hastings (Adrian Dunbar) was suspected to be H and was under arrest. However, Mercurio is down for shocking viewers with his major plot twists and turns, so H really could have been anybody. In the end, three corrupt individuals were revealed to part of the OCG, but there is one caddy who is still missing. Dot Cottan (Craig Parkinson), Derek Hilton (Paul Higgins) and Gill Biggeloe (Polly Walker) were revealed to the three Caddies. Kate Fleming (Vicky McClure) realised that in season three, Dot seemed to be sending a message via Morse Code in which he was gesturing “dot-dot-dot-dot” which referred to four Caddies within the police force rather than one individual. Appearing on BBC Breakfast on Friday, May 3, Martin Compston who plays DC Steve Arnott hinted that season six may be the last one but he also teased there is a lot more still to explore in the sixth series and a potential seventh. He said: “At the moment we only have [series] 6 commissioned, but I think what we've got, what Jed's done is very clever. He wants to end the show on his terms. He wants to give the audience the pay-off. “So if 6 is to be the last one, it will be. And if 7 is commissioned, then he'll maybe do a longer storyline.” Richenda sandals who plays Lisa McQueen revealed last week on This Morning that there would be “some form” of conclusion. She added: “But as I'm sure you're all well aware, there's still another series to go and there's lots of details.“ WILL BE FIND OUT WHO H IS? Line of Duty: Gill Biggeloe sends emergency text Line of Duty season 6 has been confirmed