We thought it was all over, but apparently, Line of Duty is set to make a “shock return” to our screens for three new episodes.
Well, if you’re to believe the rumours, that is.
The beloved BBC crime drama series first hit screens back in 2012, and ran for six seasons, raked in millions of viewers each episode, and won a handful of awards all before it came to a conclusion in May 2021 – or at least, that’s what many presumed was the end.
As we’re sure some fans will recall, though, creator Jed Mercurio has never actually conclusively revealed the show was finished.
A whopping 16.45 million viewers tuned in to the final episode of season six, which ended with revelation of the identity of the enigmatic “H” – who was the leader of undercover corruption syndicate within the police force.
ADVERTISEMENT
But it’s fair to say that the identity reveal in the so-called final episode didn’t exactly go down too well with lots of viewers – with many of them left pretty unsatisfied with the plot direction and making sure to voice their views on social media.
Those fans will probably be pretty chuffed to hear it’s not quite over yet then – apparently.
ADVERTISEMENT
Line of Duty is reportedly set to make a ‘shock return’ for three new episodes / Credit: BBC
Reports emerging this morning are suggesting the show is set to make a return for three new episodes within the next year, with an inside source telling The Sun: “Viewers weren’t satisfied with the ending of series six and were crying out for a more sensational conclusion – now Jed can deliver that.
“The question is whether the person we were led to believe was H really is the villain that AC-12 has been hunting or if it was another nemesis.”
According to the source, there’s also a theory that another “darker puppet master is at work”.
ADVERTISEMENT
“The fact that they’re looking at taking the unusual step of making three episodes rather than the usual six or seven is a reflection of just how special this is for the show,” the source added.
The new episodes come be coming at Christmas 2024 / Credit: BBC
Fan reaction to the news of the show’s reported return has been mixed online, with quite a few questioning whether or not there’s any truth to the rumours, and whether we’ll actually see the gang back together any time soon.
Regardless of this, most fans just seem to be excited – and who can blame them?
If you do believe what’s being claimed though, Line of Duty is apparently set to return for those three episodes over the Christmas period in 2024, so keep your eyes peeled.
Featured Image – BBC
Trending
60% of Brits apparently think Valentine’s Day is the ‘most stressful’ day of the year
Emily Sergeant
A new study has revealed that 60% of Brits consider Valentine’s Day to be the ‘most stressful’ day of the whole year.
And to be honest, who can really blame them?
In case you need a little reminder, the most romantic day of them all – also known as Valentine’s Day – is this weekend (14 February), and if the findings of some new research by popular chewing gum, Extra, is anything to go by, then that spells stress for more than half of the British population.
Many lucky – or unlucky – lovers have a story to tell about a time the big V Day has crept up on them, and so they have resorted to spending either the day before or the day itself running around as quick as they can trying to grab gifts and make last-minute plans in a bid to pass it off like they haven’t forgotten all about it.
Situations like this are probably why more than half (60%) of us consider Valentine’s Day to be such as stressful day, and even when we do remember, it can still be a pretty nerve-wracking experience.
60% of Brits apparently think Valentine’s Day is the ‘most stressful’ day of the year / Credit: Pixahive | Pexels
Valentine’s Day is among the top 10 times of year when people experience so-called ‘microstresses’, according to Extra’s research results – with one in eight (13%) feeling even more stressed around the day than at Christmas.
A quarter (24%) of survey respondents said they found that the pressure to have plans or a date on Valentine’s Day was the cause of their microstresses, whilst almost a fifth (17%) put it down to struggling to know what to buy their partner to celebrate.
When it comes to here in Manchester in particular, the survey revealed that almost one in five (18%) Mancunians think knowing what gift to buy to buy for their partner on Valentine’s Day is a ‘microstress’, while Mancs also feel leaving it too late to get a good restaurant reservation is more of a microstress than the average Brit (14% vs 10%).
‘Microstresses’ may feel harmless in the moment – but, just as a recent study in the Harvard Business Review has found, they can slowly build up over time and create more long-term issues for an individuals’ wellbeing.
Apparently, the study found that one of the best ways to combat such microstresses is by taking time to “invest in close relationships” and take part in activities that “help to keep stresses at bay”.
So, what’s your thoughts on all this then? Is Valentine’s Day a cause of stress for you? Or do you see it as a walk in the park?
Gig Review | Mika shines at the AO Arena in Manchester on the first night of his world tour
Aimee Woodcock
Mika’s Manchester stop on his ‘Spinning Out’ global tour was a vibrant, high-energy celebration of all things pop.
Not happy with just walking on stage – this is Mika we’re talking about – he made his entrance on a spinning hamster wheel, bathing the AO Arena in kaleidoscopic lights.
Opening with ‘Modern Times’ and ‘Eleven’ from his latest discography before leaning into one of the classics, ‘Relax, Take it Easy’, the atmosphere inside the packed arena felt charged.
His stamina was something that stood out from the get-go, delivering every track with that signature Mika flair, accompanied by choreography and a live band that matched his energy – no mean feat.
The production leaned heavily into colour and movement, with swirling visuals and playful stage design that mirrored the tour’s theme of motion and momentum with nods to themes of LGBTQ+ rights.
Working through this current album, and after a quick outfit change, we were treated to an a cappella intro to another classic, ‘Lollipop’ with Mika dressed in a full pink suit (and shoes).
Between songs, Mika’s easy rapport with the crowd added warmth and intimacy to the arena-sized performance.
He shared anecdotes and playful banter, encouraging the crowd to sing along, uniting the fans.
Highlights included a rendition of ‘Grace Kelly’, which sparked one of the loudest reactions of the night, and a heartfelt performance of his more reflective ‘Happy Ending’ offered a welcome contrast to the glittering pop anthems.
Emily Sergeant -
22nd December 2022 
