Superintendent Hastings’ Ted-isms have become somewhat of a thing of legend on Line Of Duty.
Fans have even invented their own drinking games for when the AC-12 boss utters something like “Now we’re sucking diesel”, or “I didn’t float up the Lagan on a bubble” – and now actor Adrian Dunbar has revealed the inspiration behind the catchphrases.
Speaking to the Radio Times, he admitted they belonged to his father and he has worked with show boss Jed Mercurio to put his dad’s words into the hit BBC series.
“People start to get involved with the character, and you start adding little bits of characterisation, with both myself and Jed putting in these little Northern Irish-isms and people get interested in that,” he said.
“Those were phrases, I have to say, that my father used.”
Asked if he uses them himself in real life, he added: “Not necessarily, no.”
Adrian also revealed he was allowed to keep his real life Northern Irish accent for the character after his audition changed the direction of Hastings.
Revealing Mercurio originally intended him to be a shambolic genius akin to Columbo, he explained: “We all came to the decision that it would be useful if the character was from outside the police system, making him a Catholic in the RUC [Royal Ulster Constabulary] – so he was an outsider within an organisation.”
Line Of Duty fans are currently speculating about the identity of the mysterious figure ‘H’, who is heading up an organised crime group from inside the police force.
Although Hastings is currently under firm suspicion, Rochenda Sandall – who plays OCG member Lisa McQueen – has suggested fans might have to wait until the next series to get some answers.
Speaking on Monday’s edition of This Morning, she told hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield: “It will certainly have some form of conclusion, but as I’m sure you’re all aware, there’s still another series to go… and there’s lots of details.”
Read the full interview with Adrian Dunbar in this week’s Radio Times, on sale now.
Line Of Duty concludes on Sunday at 9pm on BBC One with an extended 90 minute episode.