Adrian Dunbar has revealed he is looking forward to filming the seventh series of Line of Duty as shooting with the Covid restrictions ‘wasn’t quite as much fun’.
The 64-year-old actor, best known for his role as Chief Superintendent Ted Hastings, fueled speculation that the BBC drama could be returning to the small screen.
He told the Radio Times: ‘There is no update yet on whether or not we can expect a seventh season. I think in general everybody has a desire to do something, but I guess we just have to wait a little longer.
Thriller: Adrian Dunbar reveals he is looking forward to filming the seventh series of Line of Duty as the shoot ‘wasn’t as much fun’ with Covid restrictions (pictured in November 2022)
‘It wasn’t that fun. We couldn’t hangout, we couldn’t go out. We were all in a bubble of sorts so it just wasn’t the same experience – which is one of the reasons we want to create another bubble.’
And when asked if he would be available to reprise his role in the spin-off series, the Irish star replied: ‘You will always be in the market for whatever consideration people throw at you.
‘ So I mean, it would be interesting. I think the answer is yes.
It comes after Adrian confirmed he helped record a hilarious parody version of Line of Duty which poked fun at former Metropolitan Police commissioner Cressida Dick.
Expectation: The 64-year-old actor best known for his role as Chief Superintendent Ted Hastings has fueled speculation the BBC drama could return (pictured)
Earlier this year, the actor appeared in a viral video that featured him in character as Superintendent Ted Hastings as he gave Dame Cressida a grilling.
The video, created by political campaign group Led by Donkeys, has been edited with clips from the BBC show and clips of the retired senior official speaking.
Dame Cressida is seen in the video saying: ‘We have a long-established and effective working relationship with the Cabinet Office.’
The camera then cuts to Hastings who replies: ‘Who does the Metropolitan Police really work for ma’am? Our citizens, or Boris Johnson?’
The Spoof: Earlier this year, the actor appeared in a viral video that featured him in character as Superintendent Ted Hastings as he gave Dame Cressida a grilling.
Dame Cressida, looking down at her notes, says: ‘Downing Street’.
When the video was first released in January, Dame Cressida was facing questions about the No 10 lockdown parties scandal.
There was speculation that Adrian recorded his dialogue specifically for the video.
In response, he told Radio Times: ‘Of course, I can neither confirm nor deny your theory. However, we did record things.
The TV star confirmed that Led By Donkeys approached Line of Duty producer Jed Mercurio to make the video.
Poking Fun: Video created by political campaign group Led By Donkeys, edited with clips from BBC show and clip of retired senior official speaking
He said: ‘These people are really nice. Will you record this and that? So we did and I think they treated it a little bit so it sounds like us, but maybe not. It was great It didn’t quite get rid of Johnson then but it got rid of Cressida Dick.’
Cressida Dick announced on 10 February 2022 that she was leaving her role in the Metropolitan Police after losing the confidence of the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan.
Adrian noted that he has previously spoken negatively about Line of Duty in the past, taking issue with the show’s portrayal of corruption in the police force.
He added: ‘She gave us a terrible review, saying the series was completely wrong about everything. She really didn’t like us! Luckily a lot of other people did.’
Adrian catapulted himself into super stardom during the course of the show From BBC2 to BBC1 in 2017, its audience doubled to almost 10 million.
Prior to this he had successfully worked in the industry for 40 years including roles in films The Crying Game, Ashes to Ashes and TV are also broken.
He admitted that he is in a WhatsApp group with fellow stars Martin Compston and Vicky McClure where they discuss the show’s possible future.
In October sources told The Sun that BBC executives had finally drawn up plans for new episodes of the beloved police drama after a series of secret meetings, giving news that ‘millions of fans are looking forward to’.
Please: sources in October said BBC bosses were drawing up plans for new episodes of Line of Duty after a series of secret meetings (Line of Duty stars Vicky McClure, Martin Compston and Adrian Dunbar still featured in the show Is)
Co-star Martin recently said that he was desperate to finish the sixth series of Line of Duty, which has been in production for years due to the Covid pandemic.
The actor who plays Steve Arnott in the series said he built up to the final release “pretty much”, adding that the experience of starring in the most recent season was “intense”.
Television bosses commissioned the sixth series in May 2017 and filming began in February 2020 but was halted a month later when the UK was put into lockdown as a result of COVID-19.
Filming resumed from September 2020 until November that year, with the series finally launching on 21 March 2021 on BBC One.
Speaking on the Table Manners podcast with Jesse and Lenny Ware, Martin said: ‘It started during the end of lockdown, I think there were two episodes in lockdown, but the build up was very high.
‘By that point we were all hooked which was great but by the last episode I was desperate for it to end. It was just too much. It’s intense.
‘And when it’s a returning show like this… that’s why I’m so excited about our house coming out… and our house has proper cliffhangers too… we’re on it four nights in a row so it’s It’s going to happen that week, people are going to go wild and then it will happen.’
FRIENDS: He admitted he is in a WhatsApp group with fellow stars Martin Compston and Vicky McClure where they discuss the show’s possible future (all three pictured together in the show)
