Line Of Duty s Jed Mercurio says he keeps things flexible when writing the hit show - and storylines can change depending on the stars schedules
It was revealed during Sunday night s eagerly-anticipated finale that The Fourth Man - also known as H - was Superintendent Ian Buckells
Initially portrayed as a hapless character, it was revealed that he was in fact the criminal mastermind who had formed the secret network of bent coppers
Many clues appear to have come to light since the show hit screens in 2012, including a real life note from actor Nigel Boyle, who tipped off fans in 2017
The series creator, 55, detailed how he dropped a sign the officer was bent back in 2012 after he allowed the caddy Dot Cottan to speak with Tommy Hunter alone in the back of a van.
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Did you hear that mass scream from sofas nationwide at around 9:34pm on Sunday? It was the sound of millions of blindsided Line Of Duty viewers exclaiming a single word. And that word was “Buckells?!”.
Yes, recurring character DSU Ian Buckells (played by Nigel Boyle) was at last unmasked as the corrupt cop pulling strings on behalf of organised crime. Once erroneously code-named H, latterly known as the Fourth Man and now forever associated with baffled cries of: “What the… Buckells? Are you sure? Yes but Buckells, though? Mother of God!”
Despite fan theories proliferating online, bookmakers taking bets and everyone having their own pet theory, the big Buckells reveal miraculously managed to still pull off a major surprise. But has writer Jed Mercurio been laying a nine-year, six-series trail of subtle hints all along?
Line of Duty s clever throwbacks to season one as conspiracy theories heat up Mirror 8 hrs ago Louise Randell
Line of Duty is moving forward with series six, but fans have been noticing an increasing number of clever links back to the first ever season.
The show launched in 2012 with the first episodes focusing on the story focusing on Detective Chief Inspector Tony Gates, played by Lennie James.
Series one first teamed AC-12 newbie Steve Arnott [Martin Compston] with DC Kate Fleming [Vicky McClure] who was working undercover.
Fast forward to series six, and there have been more and more throwbacks to season one - and fans have started to think these clues might be the key to unravelling the entire murky plot.