Line of Duty, Season 3: five things you need to know about the critically-acclaimed BBC2 police drama

It’s been two years since the Series 2 finale but Line of Duty is back with a vengeance on Thursday.
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Elinore Court24 March 2016

Gritty procedural drama Line of Duty is one of the most authentic shows on the box - inspired by accounts from retired police officers and anonymous police blogs to give the show a sense of real-life drama.

Now it's returning for a third series from writer and creator Jed Mercurio, with Martin Compston, Vicky McClure and Adrian Dunbar returning as DS Steve Arnott, DC Kate Fleming and Superintendent Ted Hastings.

There will also be some new faces and more plot twists than ever to ensure it fills the Happy Valley void in your life. Here are five things you need to know.

1) There is a new villain in the force

Sergeant Danny Waldron, played by Danny Mays, is set to be the latest villain we love to hate.

According to Jed Mercurio, the Armed Response Unit leader is perhaps more than he seems, and it’s clear he will start causing mayhem right from the first episode. The trailer sets him up as a flawed and impulsive character that lets his personal life affect his moral judgement.

Waldron is bound to shake things up a bit and he already appears to be a standout character to keep your eye on.

2) Lindsay Denton will not be returning

Lindsay Denton, played by Keeley Hawes, is still serving her prison sentence after resorting to corruption as she struggled with her mounting debt in Series 2 - so she won’t be in Series 3.

The explosive Series 2 finale saw Denton found guilty of being involved in a fatal ambush with sinister motives.

Keeley Hawes earned a best actress Bafta nomination for her portrayal of DI Lindsay Denton, but at the awards ceremony she claimed that she was ready to step away from the show. “There’s nothing for me in there… it’s done and dusted,” she said. I’ve done it.”

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3) We’ll be seeing AC-12 in a different light

The first two series explored the darker side of the police force with plenty of dodgy dealings and violence, but it looks like Series 3 will show a more sympathetic view.

At the Bafta screening, director Jed Mercurio said: “We are not a police bashing show; we hope that in watching the series people will understand the kinds of situations that police officers deal with are ones that very few other professionals have to face and that is obviously great for us dramatically.”

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4) Tensions are mounting in the armed response unit

In the opening episode of Series 3, a suspicious PC Rod Kennedy is determined to get to the bottom of what happened between Waldron and a suspect who was shot dead. Cue moody glares, accusatory stares and a showdown on the stairs as the confrontation turns into a battle of the egos.

Was Waldron was acting out of self-defence, or was it was a deliberate killing? The story will span over all six episodes so it seems pretty juicy.

Best TV dramas 2016

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5) The show has already been renewed for a fourth series

Jed Mercurio revealed that he is already beginning to think about Series 4 - so you won’t have to despair when Series 3 ends on the inevitable cliff-hanger.

BBC Two, Thursday, 10pm

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