Line Of Duty returns to BBC Two and pits AC-12 against their most dangerous adversary yet.
The third season of Jed Mercurio’s police corruption thriller sees Mrs Biggs star Daniel Mays join the cast as Sergeant Danny Waldron, alongside Will Mellor (In the Club) as PC Rod Kennedy, Arsher Ali (The Missing) as PC Harinderpal ‘Hari’ Bains and Leanne Best (Fortitude) as WPC Jackie Brickford.
Returning cast members include Martin Compston as Detective Sergeant Steve Arnott, Vicky McClure as Detective Constable Kate Fleming and Adrian Dunbar as Superintendent Ted Hastings.
> Buy Season 3 on DVD on Amazon.
> Buy the complete Season 1-3 box set on Amazon.
Episode 1
Thursday 24 March 2016, 9pm
Season 3 opens with the fatal shooting of a criminal suspect by an armed response unit led by Sergeant Danny Waldron (Daniel Mays).
Danny and his team claim they acted in self-defence, but AC-12, led by Superintendent Ted Hastings (Adrian Dunbar), gather evidence that suggests that this was a deliberate killing. Under interview, Danny confidently rebuts all of AC-12’s accusations that he acted unlawfully, so DC Kate Fleming (Vicky McClure) is sent undercover into Danny’s team to find out more.
Ingratiating herself to her new colleagues, Kate is quick to identify tensions and conflict between Danny and his team. But when Kate’s own conduct comes under scrutiny she finds herself sidelined from an armed drugs raid that goes very badly wrong.
Episode 2
Thursday 31 March 2016, 9pm
The shooting at the drugs house intensifies the scrutiny on Danny’s team, who once again close ranks.
But with DC Kate Fleming (Vicky McClure) on the inside, AC-12 feed in new information that helps her expose cracks in the team’s story – but with tragic consequences.
DS Steve Arnott (Martin Compston, pictured) looks deeper into Danny Waldron’s background and makes a shocking discovery.
Arnott’s life is complicated by an investigation into his own past conduct, but – determined to vindicate himself – Steve prioritises his leads into the Danny Waldron case.
The increasing pressure on Danny’s team pushes Danny’s colleague Rod (Will Mellor) to the edge.
Episode 3
Thursday 7 April 2016, 9pm
Undeterred by recent events, DS Steve Arnott continues to find crucial evidence in the Danny Waldron case, and when his theory is confirmed he vows to get justice.
DC Kate Fleming (Vicky McClure) discovers that PC Hari Bains (Arsher Ali) is making secret calls to an unregistered phone number while having clandestine meetings with his colleague PC Jackie Brickford (Leanne Best).
With AC-12’s suspicions raised, Steve acts fast – but it is DI Dot Cottan’s (Craig Parkinson) actions that garner praise.
Episode 4
Thursday 14 April 2016, 9pm
With mounting evidence, Steve (Martin Compston) approaches retired Chief Supt Patrick Fairbank to see if the allegations he’s heard were investigated during Fairbank’s time as Head Of Vice.
But Fairbank’s friendship with Supt Ted Hastings (Adrian Dunbar, pictured) stymies attempts to question the retired officer, and Steve is left suspicious of Hastings’ actions. However, with seeds of distrust sown, Hastings is starting to have his own doubts about the integrity of his former protégé Arnott.
Evidence from PC Hari Bains (Arsher Ali) leads AC-12 to believe that they are once again witnessing the work of the ‘Caddy’, a corrupt detective embedded in the force, acting as a fixer for organised crime.
Episode 5
Thursday 21 April 2016, 9pm
Facing growing concerns about his conduct, Steve Arnott (Martin Compston) is forced to turn to the unlikely figure of Lindsay Denton (Keeley Hawes) for help finding Danny’s list and cracking open the truth behind his death.
Following new evidence obtained by DC Kate Fleming, the former Head of Vice Patrick Fairbank is questioned by AC-12 – but despite Kate’s best she is left frustrated.
Worried by Arnott’s contact with Lindsay Denton, DI Dot Cottan takes matters into his own hands – with shattering consequences.
Under pressure from AC-12 legal counsel Gill Biggeloe, Ted Hastings has no choice but to make a dramatic and heartbreaking decision.
Episode 6
Thursday 28 April 2016, 9pm
AC-12 legal counsel Gill Biggeloe puts pressure on Superintendent Ted Hastings,, but new evidence turns the enquiry on its head.
An AC-12 officer faces mounting suspicion that they are responsible for the shocking events in last week’s episode, and the net closes in on the ‘Caddy’, the corrupt officer at the heart of the unit.
In this explosive feature-length finale, will AC-12 get to the truth at last?
> Buy Season 3 on DVD on Amazon.
> Buy the complete Season 1-3 box set on Amazon.
Watch the Season 3 trailer…
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