Line Of Duty writer Jed Mercurio has let a Sun journalist know exactly what he thinks after the newspaper ran a story about future series’ of the BBC police drama.
The showrunner labelled the tabloid’s showbiz features editor a “c***” after the paper ran a story about actor Martin Compston being offered a new two series deal to play DS Steve Arnott.
The Sun claimed Jed was “desperate” to secure the Scottish actor, with a ‘source’ claiming an “offer is on the table”.
After the story was published, Jed took to Twitter to brand the ‘exclusive’ “lies”.
He tweeted: “This story about @martin_compston #LineofDuty by @StuartPink is a lie. We’ve told you it’s a lie. You’ve printed it anyway. I’m not writing S6 let alone S7. The only thing I’m desperate to do is tell people what a cunt you are @StuartPink”.
A BBC spokesperson confirmed to HuffPost UK that none of the current Line Of Duty cast had been approached about the new series.
“No offers have been made to any cast for the next series of Line of Duty,” they told us.
This Sunday will see the finale of series five of the hit police drama, which has been a huge hit with viewers, with 8.3million tuning in to last week’s penultimate episode.
In the climax, viewers hope to finally have the identity of bent copper ‘H’ revealed, with AC-12 boss Ted Hastings, played by Adrian Dunbar, currently the bookies favourite.
But one of the show’s stars has hinted that fans might not even find that out in the series finale.
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 Willoughbyand 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.”
Phillip said: “Will we find out who H is next weekend?”
Rochenda replied: “I can’t tell you that! Come on!”
Asked if she even knew H’s real identity herself, she coyly replied: “Maybe I do, maybe I don’t...
“My mum is desperate for an exclusive and every week she rings and I tell her, ‘absolutely no way’! But most people don’t want to know as they like being the detectives as well.”
We’re just going to have to wait until Sunday, folks.
Line Of Duty concludes on Sunday at 9pm on BBC One with an extended 90 minute episode.