| Line of Duty | |
|---|---|
| Series 3 | |
_DVD.jpg) United Kingdom DVD cover | |
| Showrunner | Jed Mercurio |
| Starring | |
| No. of episodes | 6 |
| Release | |
| Original network | BBC Two |
| Original release | 24 March – 28 April 2016 |
| Series chronology | |
The third series of the British police procedural television programme Line of Duty, was broadcast on BBC Two between 24 March and 28 April 2016.
The series follows the fictional Anti-Corruption Unit 12. AC-12 is led by Superintendent Ted Hastings (Adrian Dunbar) who is assisted by his team, DS Steve Arnott (Martin Compston), DC Kate Flemming (Vicky McClure), and DI Matthew "Dot" Cottan (Craig Parkinson). The unit investigates the actions of Sergeant Daniel Waldron (Daniel Mays), who is suspected of wrongfully shooting and killing a suspect. Waldron leads a team of authorised firearms officers backed by PC Rod Kennedy (Will Mellor), PC Harinderpal "Hari" Bains (Arsher Ali), and PC Jackie Brickford (Leanne Best). Lindsay Denton (Keeley Hawes), a former DI, returns from the previous series as an officer formerly investigated by AC-12. Supporting characters include Gill Biggeloe (Polly Walker), Chief Superintendent Terry Reynolds (Shaun Parkes), DS Sam Railston (Aiysha Hart), Joe Nash (Jonas Armstrong), Maneet Bindra (Maya Sondhi), Chief Superintendent Patrick Fairbank (George Costigan), and DC Nigel Morton (Neil Morrissey).
The series was created and written by Jed Mercurio, who also serves as an executive producer. Six episodes were directed by Michael Keillor and John Strickland with cinematographer Peter Robertson. Filming took place in Belfast in 2015. The series received mostly positive reviews and was nominated for 13 awards, two of which were won. The fourth series, which had previously been commissioned with the third, was broadcast on BBC One in 2017. Following the series, a fifth was also commissioned due to the third series success.