Series 7 will relaunch the hunt for villain ‘H’ , with key suspects from Ted Hastings to Philip Osborne still under scrutiny
It was the burning question on everyone’s lips in spring 2021, with Line of Duty’s highly anticipated sixth series pledging to reveal the identity of ruthless villain ‘H’.
After nine years of conjecture, the crime boss appeared to be unmasked as Detective Superintendent Ian Buckells. Yet the 2021 finale left many fans dissatisfied by what they considered an underwhelming reveal, with some even describing the storyline as a ‘letdown’.
However, Line of Duty’s upcoming seventh series will restart the hunt for ‘H’. Over the years, viewers suspected practically everyone, with countless senior officers falling under suspicion, reports the Mirror.
Here, we examine the key figures who became suspects and who may still come under investigation when the new series begins.
Matthew ‘Dot’ Cottan
DI Matthew “Dot” Cottan, played by Craig Parkinson, provided the first significant twist in the ‘H’ storyline. Exposed in series three as a long-term OCG informant, he tried to flee before being gunned down.
As he tapped out a final Morse code message, AC-12 became convinced that a high-ranking officer whose name began with H was still pulling the strings from the shadows. Despite his demise, could Dot have actually deceived Ted, Kate and Steve, carrying his real identity as ‘H’ to his death?
Derek Hilton
Assistant Chief Constable Derek Hilton, brought to life by Paul Higgins, quickly established himself as a prime suspect in the hunt for ‘H’. He repeatedly sought to obstruct AC-12 investigations and was frequently at loggerheads with Ted Hastings.
Hilton was later exposed as corrupt, with ties to organised crime. Yet, despite his undeniable shadiness, he was never regarded as the senior figure AC-12 were pursuing. Could Derek have succeeded in pulling the wool over their eyes all along?
Gill Biggeloe
Gill Biggeloe, played by Polly Walker, left audiences stunned when she was unmasked as part of the OCG network. The eloquent senior legal counsel appeared to be working alongside AC-12.
In reality, she was feeding intelligence to organised crime and pulling strings behind the scenes. Her arrest highlighted the far-reaching nature of corruption, though she persistently maintained she wasn’t the elusive ‘H’ at the top of the chain of command. Could ‘H’ actually stand for Her?
Ted Hastings
Audiences adored Ted Hastings, played by Adrian Dunbar, yet he became one of the most shocking suspects of all. The AC-12 chief had devoted his career to hunting down bent coppers.
Nevertheless, financial difficulties, a hidden laptop and a mysterious “H” signature cast suspicion upon him in series five. He was formally investigated and came close to prosecution before being mercifully cleared.
The fallout rocked AC-12 to its core at the time, so we shudder to contemplate what might occur if there’s any chance he’s the real ‘H’.
Philip Osborne
Philip Osborne, played by Owen Teale, was extensively considered the ultimate “big boss” suspect. Initially appearing in series one, he later rose through the ranks to Chief Constable, placing him at the top of the force.
His distance from day-to-day operations and links to earlier cover-ups prompted fans to wonder whether he was the mastermind AC-12 had been chasing all along. Bookies had him at roughly 4/1 ahead of the finale.
However, despite the conjecture, Osborne was never exposed as ‘H’… thus far. With the investigation now apparently continuing, he remains among the most substantial unsolved questions.
Patricia Carmichael
Patricia Carmichael, played by Motherland actress Anna Maxwell Martin, became one of the most intriguing suspects in series six. The formidable AC-3 chief repeatedly clashed with Ted Hastings and appeared determined to dismantle AC-12.
Her calm demeanour and sharp interrogation skills put her firmly in the frame, with many viewers convinced she was protecting someone higher up the chain. At one point, she even topped the bookmakers’ odds as the probable ‘H’, before the finale implied otherwise. Could this smug senior officer be hiding the ‘H’ secret?
Jo Davidson
Jo Davidson, played by Kelly Macdonald, took centre stage in series six. As the senior investigating officer on the Gail Vella case, she quickly came under scrutiny as evidence mounted suggesting she was working with the OCG.
Her undeclared family ties to organised crime sent shockwaves through AC-12. For a time, many believed she could be ‘H’.
However, it later emerged she was being coerced and controlled, rather than running the show. Was the victim act simply a cover to conceal her identity as ‘H’?
Hillside Lane Police Station
Some viewers became progressively convinced the letter actually referred to Hillside Lane Police Station, a location that had been consistently highlighted since the opening series.
Numerous bent officers were linked to the station, fuelling theories amongst audiences that “H” represented systemic corruption at a senior level – rather than one individual mastermind. Whether this hypothesis re-emerges in series 7 is yet to be determined.
Ian Buckells
After nine years of unexpected developments and misleading clues, Ian Buckells, played by Nigel Boyle, was exposed as the infamous “Fourth Man”. Often dismissed as incompetent rather than threatening, the senior officer had quietly protected OCG activities across multiple series.
In the climactic finale, AC-12 identified him as the last remaining high-ranking corrupt official within the organisation.
Whilst some bookmakers had listed him at odds as high as 16/1 before the finale, he turned out to be the final senior bent copper still active. Nevertheless, the seventh series may still question whether he genuinely was ‘H’ from the beginning….
Production for Line of Duty is due to begin next month, although no broadcast date has been confirmed at this stage.
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