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A renewal that comes from across the pond is going to bring back Jed Mercurio´s Line of Duty for two more runs, as Line of Duty got renewed for seasons three and four by BBC Two.
Series three and four, commissioned by Adam Barker, Acting Controller of BBC Two, and Ben Stephenson, Controller of BBC Drama Commissioning, will feature two new police corruption stories told over two series of six one-hour episodes.
The nation was gripped by series two of the original British drama, starring Keeley Hawes, last month with the final episode drawing an audience of 4.1 million viewers and a series average of 3.4 million and 12.3 per cent share. It was described as “Quite breath-taking”, “As good as writing gets” and “Impeccably performed” by the audience and critics alike.
Creator and writer, Jed Mercurio, says: “We’re profoundly grateful to the fans who not only watched Line Of Duty but also made it such a talking point, and to BBC Two for this rare and immensely flattering opportunity. For series three and four, I can promise two explosive new cases for AC-12, new guest stars as police officers investigated for corruption, further twists and turns from the loose ends of series two, and maybe even some surprise reappearances…”
Ben Stephenson, Controller of BBC Drama, commissioning adds: “Line Of Duty shows what the reinvestment of money in drama on BBC Two has achieved – unique, powerful and gripping drama that gets the nation talking. Bringing it back for two more years is the easiest decision I have made. The only thing to expect from the show is the unexpected so I’m excited to see where next twists and turns take the series.”
Simon Heath, Executive Producer, World Productions, adds: “We’re delighted with the fantastic response to Line Of Duty and the commission of two further series. It’s a great chance to go deeper into the murky world of AC-12 and testament to the creative collaboration between Jed, World and the BBC.”
Line of Duty series two attracted a stellar British cast, with Keeley Hawes receiving flawless reviews for her performance as DI Lindsay Denton alongside Martin Compston as Detective Sergeant Steve Arnott, Vicky McClure as Detective Constable Kate Fleming, Adrian Dunbar as Superintendent Ted Hastings and Mark Bonnar as Deputy Chief Constable Mike Dryden. They were joined by Jessica Raine as newly appointed Detective Constable Georgia Trotman before she was shockingly killed in episode one.
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