Line of Duty series 4

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Line of Duty
Series 4
United Kingdom DVD cover
ShowrunnerJed Mercurio
Starring
No. of episodes6
Release
Original networkBBC One
Original release26 March (2017-03-26) –
30 April 2017 (2017-04-30)
Series chronology
← Previous
Series 3
Next →
Series 5
List of episodes

The fourth series of Line of Duty, consisting of six episodes, began broadcasting on 26 March 2017 on BBC One. The series follows Superintendent Ted Hastings (Adrian Dunbar), DS Steve Arnott (Martin Compston) and DS Kate Fleming (Vicky McClure) as they investigate the corrupt actions of DCI Roseanne Huntley (Thandie Newton). Supporting characters include Forensic Investigator Tim Ifield (Jason Watkins), DS Sam Railston (Aiysha Hart) and DC Jodie Taylor (Claudia Jessie).

Cast and characters[edit]

Main[edit]

Starring[edit]

Recurring[edit]

Guest[edit]

Episodes[edit]

See also: List of Line of Duty episodes
No.
overall		No. in
series		Title [1]Directed byOriginal air dateUK viewers
(millions) [2]
181"Episode 1"
"In the Shadow of Truth"		Jed Mercurio26 March 2017 (2017-03-26)9.21
After saving Hana Reznikova from being murdered, DCI Roseanne "Roz" Huntley captures a suspected serial killer known as 'Balaclava Man.' The suspect is uncooperative under questioning and doesn't have an alibi. ACC Derek Hilton pressures Huntley to charge the suspect. FC Tim Ifield informs Huntley of discrepancies that could prove the suspect's innocence, but Huntley seems uninterested. Ifield alerts AC-12 to a possible miscarriage of justice. He tells DS Steve Arnott that he believes Huntley is deliberately ignoring forensic evidence and that forensics suggest someone has attempted to frame the suspect. Superintendent Ted Hastings authorises DS Kate Fleming to go undercover and investigate Huntley. Ifield visits Reznikova at a cafe and arranges for her to clean his flat. Huntley suspects Ifield of talking to AC-12 and turns up at his flat. Ifield admits this, and a row breaks out over the guilt of the suspect. Huntley causes Ifield to burn his hand and he slaps her. When she accuses him of assault, he pushes Huntley who hits her head, appearing fatal. Ifield departs to a hardware store, purchasing cutting tools in order to dispose of the body. While he's preparing to carve Huntley's body, she wakes up.
192"Episode 2"
"Who Sows the Wind"		Jed Mercurio2 April 2017 (2017-04-02)9.04
Michael Farmer, the alleged serial killer, remembers he was in the hospital when Leonie Collersdale, the second murder victim, was killed. This casts further doubt on his guilt. A dismembered female body is discovered and identified as Collersdale's. AC-12 interviews Huntley and questions the forensic evidence concerning the attack on Reznikova. When Ifield goes missing, Arnott goes to his flat and finds his body with three fingers having been amputated. Huntley arrives and takes charge of the crime scene, despite Arnott's protests. Inside, she notices blood spatter, which she believes to be hers. Huntley obtains a sample of Ifield's blood and replaces the collected evidence. Communications with Reznikova are found in Ifield's mobile phone records. Arnott learns from forensics that Ifield was wearing a forensic oversuit at the time of death and concludes that Huntley is Ifield's killer. Huntley takes a further sample of Ifield's blood and inserts it into evidence for Collersdale's murder. Fleming passes the Inspector's exam, but Hastings indicates that Arnott has seniority for promotion first. Huntley tells Hilton that evidence against Ifield undermines any evidence he gave AC-12 about her. She tells him she's convinced Ifield's murder and Farmer's crimes are connected.
203"Episode 3"
"In the Trap"		John Strickland9 April 2017 (2017-04-09)9.05
Huntley continually shuts Fleming out of meetings as the officers try to find links between Ifield and Farmer. In order to gain access to information from the investigation, AC-12 seize evidence forcibly. A security camera shot of Ifield purchasing the cutting tools in a balaclava is found at his flat but does not convince Arnott that Ifield is 'Balaclava Man.' Arnott theorises Huntley was the one to kill Ifield after her phone history proves suspicious. DC Jodie Taylor notices Fleming checking the forensics and reports back to Huntley. Reznikova is discovered to be a prostitute and admits to having slept with Ifield. Arnott begins questioning Huntley's husband, Nick Huntley, regarding her whereabouts on the night Ifield diedi. DC Jamie Desford is assigned to assist Arnott with the investigation. Having heard no response from Nick, Arnott returns to Nick's office to question him and misses messages from AC-12 warning him Nick may be dangerous, as his car was identified both approaching and departing from the area near Ifield's flat on the night of his murder. Once arrived, Arnott is attacked by a man in a balaclava, and thrown down three flights of stairs.
214"Episode 4"
"Moral Superiority"		John Strickland16 April 2017 (2017-04-16)9.60
After the attack on Arnott, he is found to be badly injured, but alive. Nick is interviewed and denies attacking Arnott. He did not explain why his car was seen near Ifield's flat when Ifield was murdered. Nick's solicitor, Jimmy Lakewell, gets Nick released from custody. AC-12 find footage of a man in a balaclava around the time of Arnott's attack. Nick reveals to Huntley that he followed her on the night of Ifield's murder and witnessed her visit Ifield's flat. Huntley asks Hilton to help her make an official complaint against AC-12. Huntley's wrist injury is now worse; she has it examined by a doctor who takes a blood sample. AC-12 finds an anomaly in the second forensic examination of the blood-spatter from Ifield's flat: traces of fibres from a forensic oversuit. Huntley is interviewed by AC-12 and Hastings says he will recommend she be suspended from duty. Huntley then accuses Hastings of sexism and identifies Fleming as an undercover officer. Huntley brandishes a supporting letter from Hilton, recusing AC-12 from their inquiry. Hilton and Huntley meet again at his club, but Huntley rejects his sexual advances. Afterwards, PC Maneet Bindra gives a file to Hilton.
225"Episode 5"
"Lying Nest"		John Strickland23 April 2017 (2017-04-23)9.98
Hilton demands a copy of DI Matthew "Dot" Cottan's dying declaration, but Hastings refuses to provide it. Biometrics suggest the 'Balaclava Man' who attacked Arnott and the one seen in the area of Collersdale's murder are the same man, which would exonerate Farmer. More body parts of Collersdale's are discovered. Bindra uses Desford's password to access Cottan's dying declaration for Hilton. Hastings reprimands Desford who claims he is being scapegoated and requests a transfer. Believing the framing of Farmer could not have been random, Arnott finds that Farmer's former solicitor was Lakewell. Forensics reveal that Collersdale's latest remains had been frozen and were buried after Ifield's murder, further exonerating Farmer. Arnott recalls that the body of Jackie Laverty, was buried after being kept in deep freeze and men in balaclava masks were involved. He believes the two cases to be connected. Huntley faints and has her hand amputated due to MRSA. Huntley frames Nick for Ifield's murder and has him arrested. Hilton plays Hastings the recording of Cottan's dying declaration in which it is revealed that the corrupt official who promoted Cottan had a name beginning with "H." Hilton accuses Hastings of being "H."
236"Episode 6"
"Royal Hunting Ground"		John Strickland30 April 2017 (2017-04-30)10.40
Believing Huntley framed Nick, AC-12 narrow their search to a three-hour window before Ifield's body was discovered. Arnott works out that Huntley would only have had minutes to hide any evidence. They search a woodland area Huntley was seen driving towards and find incriminating evidence. It is also discovered the MRSA that infected Huntley is traceable to Ifield. Huntley is arrested for Ifield's murder. She admits to killing Ifield in self-defence and to framing Nick. Huntley then accuses Lakewell of perverting the course of justice. It is revealed that Lakewell used a burner phone to tip off Hilton, who then contacted the man who attacked Arnott. The same phone was used by the man who kidnapped Reznikova and planted evidence in Farmer's house. Huntley proves Hilton's involvement through a private number he gave her. Desford attempts to take Lakewell on Hilton's orders, but Arnott and Huntley stop him. Hilton is found dead the next day at the same location as a murder relating to Sands View boys' home. Huntley is sentenced to ten years for Ifield's manslaughter and subsequent cover-up. Lakewell pleaded guilty. Nick and Farmer are released without charge. The "H" accusation against Hastings is dropped.

Production[edit]

Thandie Newton starred in the series as DCI Roz Huntley

On 8 April 2014, the BBC confirmed that Line of Duty would return for a third and fourth series.[3] Following the success of the third series, a fifth was commissioned at which time it was reported that future editions of the programme would move from BBC Two to BBC One.[4][5] Although BBC One originally passed on the series when creator Jed Mercurio pitched it to the network, the decision to move the show came after high viewing figures and a restructuring of the networks.[6] Mercurio wrote the series, and executive produced it alongside Simon Heath for World Productions and Stephen Wright for Northern Ireland Screen, which was produced by Cait Collins.[7]

Actors Martin Compston, Vicky McClure, and Adrian Dunbar returned to the series.[8] Thandie Newton joined the series as Detective Chief Inspector Roz Huntley, the latest police officer to be investigated by AC-12.[9] Additionally, Jason Watkins was cast to portray Forensic Coordinator Tim Ifield.[10] Aiysha Hart, Maya Sondhi, Lee Ingleby, Patrick Baladi, Royce Pierreson, and Tony Pitts also appear.[11][12][13] Despite being killed off in the previous series, Craig Parkinson filmed new footage of his characters dying declaration.[14]

Mercurio directed the first two episodes of the series[15] while John Strickland returned to direct the final four episodes.[16] Anna Valdez Hanks served as the cinematographer for episodes 1–3[17] and Stephen Murphy took over for the remaining three episodes.[18] Filming on the series occurred in Belfast from 29 August to 16 December 2016.[15] It consisted of six hour-long episodes.[19] Five days after broadcast transmission concluded, Line of Duty was commissioned for a sixth series.[20]

Release[edit]

Broadcast and streaming[edit]

The series was first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One from 26 March 2017 and concluded six weeks later on 30 April.[21][22] In the United States, it was added to Hulu on 1 May 2017.[23] It can also be streamed there on Acorn TV and BritBox.[24] In Canada and Australia the series streams on Netflix.[25]

Home media[edit]

Name DVD release dates Number of
episodes 		Number of
discs
Region 1 Region 2
Line of Duty - Series 4 26 September 2017[26] 8 May 2017[27] 6 2
Line of Duty - Series 1-4 — 8 May 2017[28] 23 8
Line of Duty - Series 1-5[b] 26 November 2019[29] 6 May 2019[30] 29 10[c]
Line of Duty - Series 1-6 Complete Box Set — 31 May 2021[31] 36 12

Reception[edit]

Viewing figures[edit]

No. Title Air date Overnight ratings Consolidated ratings Total
viewers
(millions)		 28-day
viewers
(millions)		 28-day
rank 		Ref(s)
Viewers
(millions)		 Viewers
(millions)		 Rank
1 Episode 1 March 6, 2017 (2017-03-06) 5.0 2.4 2 7.4 9.21 1 [32][2]
2 Episode 2 April 2, 2017 (2017-04-02) — — 1 7.26 9.04 1 [2]
3 Episode 3 April 9, 2017 (2017-04-09) — — 1 7.37 9.05 1 [2]
4 Episode 4 April 16, 2017 (2017-04-16) 5.7 2.78 1 8.48 9.6 1 [33][2]
5 Episode 5 April 23, 2017 (2017-04-23) 6.6 2.43 1 9.03 9.98 1 [33][2]
6 Episode 6 April 30, 2017 (2017-04-30) 7.5 2.42 1 9.92 10.4 1 [33][2]

Critical response[edit]

Review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes holds an approval rating for series 4 at 100% based on 15 reviews.[34] The website's critics consensus reads: "Line of Duty's gripping fourth season is an adrenaline-fueled thrill ride from start to finish."

Louise Wise of the Sunday Times wrote "Line of Duty is animated by a sharp intelligence in both the plotting and the writing."[35] John Boland of the Irish Independent wrote "Line of Duty (BBC1) came to a nail-bitingly exciting end, or rather to three nail-bitingly exciting ends, two of them unforeseeable by even the most imaginative of viewers."[36] David Zurawik of the Baltimore Sun particularly praised the performance of Adrian Dunbar, stating "what I love is the great moral center to the series provided by Hastings, a quirky, sometimes cranky, hard to love, but easy to admire leader of this beleaguered anti-corruption team."[37]

Accolades[edit]

Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Line of Duty
Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref(s).
2017 British Screenwriters' Awards Best Crime Writing on Television (Series/Single Drama) Jed Mercurio Won [38]
Diversity in Media Awards TV Moment of the Year "DCI Roz Huntley Interview" Nominated [39]
Royal Television Society Northern Ireland Awards Best Drama Line of Duty Won [40][41]
Original Music Score Carly Paradis Nominated
2018 Association of Motion Picture Sound Awards Excellence in Sound for a Television Drama Bea O'Sullivan, Paul Maynes, Ian Wilkinson, and Pietro Dalmasso Nominated [42]
British Academy Television Awards Best Drama Series Line of Duty Nominated [43]
Best Leading Actress Thandie Newton Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Adrian Dunbar Nominated
Virgin TV's Must-See Moment "Huntley's Narrow Escape" Nominated
British Academy Television Craft Awards Best Editing: Fiction Andrew John McClelland for "Episode 4" Nominated [44]
Broadcasting Press Guild Awards Best Drama Series Line of Duty Won [45]
Best Actress Thandie Newton Nominated [46]
Best Writer Jed Mercurio Won [45]
Edinburgh TV Awards Best UK Drama Line of Duty Nominated [47][48]
Irish Film & Television Awards Best Drama Line of Duty Nominated [39]
Best Actor in a Leading Role Adrian Dunbar Nominated
National Television Awards Best Crime Drama Line of Duty Nominated [49][50]
Royal Television Society Programme Awards Best Actress Thandie Newton Nominated [51]
Televisual Bulldog Awards Best Drama Series Line of Duty Won [52]
Best Writer Jed Mercurio Won
Writers' Guild of Great Britain Awards Best Long Form TV Drama Jed Mercurio Nominated [53][54]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Watkins is credited with the main cast in episodes 1–2 and as a guest star in episode five
  2. ^ Titled Line of Duty: Series 1-5 Collection in region one
  3. ^ 5 discs in region one

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Line of Duty - Peacock". Peacock. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Top 30 Programmes". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board. Retrieved 8 February 2014. (User must select "BBC1" in the Channel field and then select the appropriate year, month and week to retrieve the figure for each episode)
  3. ^ Sweeny, Mark (8 April 2014). "Line of Duty set to return for third and fourth series". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  4. ^ Plunkett, John (6 May 2016). "Line of Duty promoted to BBC1 for two more series". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  5. ^ Stolworthy, Jacob (7 May 2016). "Line of Duty promoted to BBC1 for at least two more series". The Independent. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  6. ^ Hogan, Michael (26 June 2022). "Line of Duty's Jed Mercurio on scrapped storylines, Steve and Kate's potential romance and "H"". Radio Times. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  7. ^ "Line oF Duty". BBC. 16 March 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  8. ^ Errigo, Angie (25 March 2017). "Dodgy detectives, Twitter trolls and whistleblowers: Line of Duty is back". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  9. ^ Tartaglione, Nancy (24 August 2016). "BBC One Orders Drama 'The Split' From Abi Morgan; Thandie Newton Joins 'Line Of Duty' Season 4 – Edinburgh". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  10. ^ Harrison, Ellie (26 February 2017). "Thandie Newton is refusing to crack in the new Line of Duty trailer". Radio Times. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  11. ^ Stolworthy, Jacob (24 August 2016). "Line of Duty series 4: Thandie Newton to play cop under investigation in BBC series". The Independent. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
  12. ^ Frost, Caroline (28 April 2017). "'Line Of Duty' Series 4 Final Episode 6 Sees Return Of Two Very Familiar Faces From Previous Series". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  13. ^ Craig, David (27 April 2021). "Meet the cast of Line of Duty". Radio Times. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  14. ^ Griffiths, Elanor Bley (4 June 2019). "Line of Duty star Craig Parkinson reveals how he re-filmed Dot Cottan's dying declaration". Radio Times. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  15. ^ a b "Line of Duty Series 4". Northern Ireland Screen. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  16. ^ "John Strickland". Independent Talent. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  17. ^ "Anna Valdez Hanks". United Agents. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  18. ^ "Stephen Murphy BSC ISC". British Society of Cinematographers. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  19. ^ "BBC iPlayer - Line of Duty". BBC iPlayer. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  20. ^ "Line of Duty commissioned for sixth series". The Irish News. 5 May 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  21. ^ Stolworthy, Jacob (24 March 2017). "Line of Duty: Why the BBC series is the decade's best British drama". The Independent. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  22. ^ "The best TV shows this week: Line Of Duty reaches its thrilling climax". The Guardian. 28 April 2017. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  23. ^ Foran, Chris (17 April 2017). "What's new on (and leaving) Hulu in May 2017". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  24. ^ Ramachandran, Naman (26 March 2021). "'Line of Duty' Season 6 to Bow on BritBox in the U.S., Canada". Variety. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  25. ^ Kanter, Jake (9 June 2020). "'Line Of Duty': ITV Studios To Sell Season 6 Of Hit Police Drama After Kew Media's Collapse". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  26. ^ "Line of Duty: Series 4". Amazon. 26 September 2017. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  27. ^ "Line of Duty - Series 4". Amazon. 8 May 2017. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  28. ^ "Line of Duty - Series 1-4". Amazon. 8 May 2017. Archived from the original on 14 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  29. ^ "Line of Duty: Series 1-5 Collection". Amazon. 26 November 2019. Archived from the original on 15 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  30. ^ "Line of Duty - Series 1-5". Amazon. 6 May 2019. Archived from the original on 19 January 2024. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  31. ^ "Line of Duty - Series 1-6 Complete Box Set [DVD]". Amazon. 31 May 2021. Archived from the original on 14 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  32. ^ "Rowan Atkinson's Maigret praised by fans but Line Of Duty wins ratings battle". Lancashire Telegraph. 17 April 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  33. ^ a b c "Line of Duty season four finale cops 7.5 million viewers". The Guardian. 1 May 2017. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  34. ^ "LINE OF DUTY: SEASON 4 (2017)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  35. ^ "Television review: A perky tale of woman's bondage". Sunday Times. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  36. ^ "Thirteen reasons why controversial Netflix series scores for teens". Irish Independent. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  37. ^ "LINE OF DUTY: SEASON 4 REVIEWS". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  38. ^ "The British Screenwriters' Awards 2017". British Screenwriters' Awards. Archived from the original on 2 January 2022. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  39. ^ a b "Awards - World Productions". World Productions. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  40. ^ "The Royal Television Society Northern Ireland Programme Awards 2017". Royal Television Society. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  41. ^ "RTS NI Reveal Winners of 2017 Programme Awards". Royal Television Society. 17 November 2017. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  42. ^ "Fifth Annual AMPS Awards (2018)". Association of Motion Picture Sound. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  43. ^ Bakare, Lanre (13 May 2018). "Bafta TV Awards 2018: Full List of Winners". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  44. ^ "British Academy Television Craft Awards in 2018 Programme". Issuu. British Academy of Film and Television Arts. 21 April 2018. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  45. ^ a b Dowell, Ben (16 March 2018). "The Crown star Claire Foy among the winners at the Broadcasting Press Guild Awards". Radio Times. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  46. ^ Douglas, Torin (15 February 2018). "Broadcasting Press Guild Awards 2018 – Television nominations". Broadcasting Press Guild. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  47. ^ "Media release: Edinburgh TV Festival Awards – Shortlist Announced" (Press release). Plank PR. All Media Scotland. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  48. ^ "Media release: Edinburgh TV Awards – Winners Announced" (Press release). Plank PR. All Media Scotland. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  49. ^ McGrath, Rachel (9 January 2018). "National Television Awards 2018: See The Full List Of Nominees". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  50. ^ Rackham, Annabel (23 January 2018). "NTAs 2018: Ant and Dec Win Big With Three Awards". BBC News. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  51. ^ "RTS Programme Awards 2018 In Partnership With Audio Network". Royal Television Society. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  52. ^ "2018 BPG Awards: WAho Won What?". Televisual. 16 March 2018. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  53. ^ "Writers' Guild Awards 2018". Writers' Guild of Great Britain. 5 December 2017. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  54. ^ "Writers' Guild Awards winners 2018". Writers' Guild of Great Britain. 15 January 2018. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
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