Line of Duty ‘drops clues’ H is a woman as hunt for infamous bent copper resumes

It is the question that has haunted Line of Duty fans and driven five series of the iconic police drama – who is infamous bent copper H? 

Ahead of the show’s sixth series – due to premiere on March 21 – fan theories have circulated that the mysterious criminal mastermind commanding a network of corrupt police officers, is a woman, with the drama dropping ‘clues’ to support this.

A Reddit theory debates the topic that female officers and criminal associates are attempting to destroy the male-dominated leadership within the force – and using corrupt female officers to do so. 

In series five, Superintendent Ted Hastings (Adrian Dunbar) was framed as H, with Organised Crime Syndicate member and solicitor Gill Biggeloe a driving force behind this.

When Ted was interrogated at AC-12, three female AC-3 officers interviewed him including DCS Patricia Carmichael and SI Madeline Summers – with fans speculating this was a strong hint.

In series three, officer Patrick Fairbank, who is under investigation, and Ted are shown to be Freemasons and share handshakes.

As Kate Fleming (Vicky McClure) goes undercover within AC-12 – she seeks permission to do so from another ant-corruption unit – and meets with SI Madeline Summers in AC-2.

Summers tells Kate she has met with her as being female, she ‘cannot be a mason’ – suggesting AC-3 has already established the link between police corruption and the Freemasons.

Speculation has also swirled around DS Jayne Akers, who appeared in series two when she called DI Lindsay Denton and informed protected witness Tommy Hunter was in serious danger.

The end of series two reveals that Lindsay conspired to have Tommy abducted by ‘the Caddy’ Dot but had allegedly believed there would be no blood shed.

Jayne and Tommy were both murdered – with speculation Jayne was part of the H group. 

Detective Chief Constable Andrea Wise has also become a contender for H, after she replaced DCC Mike Dryden for series five.

Gill Biggeloe had also mentioned Wise may only have got the job due to being a woman, as women can’t be Freemasons, echoing Summers’ remark.

In series five DCC Wise was not happy to support AC-12 investigations and reluctantly gave them access to Operation Pear Tree – aimed at infiltrating the Organised Crime Syndicate with John  Corbett,

She later removed them from the investigation and ordered an inquiry into Ted. 

DCC Wise has attracted further speculation with her seeming willingness to play down police corruption.        

Line of Duty series six will introduce DC Chloe Bishop (Shalom Brune-Franklin), who has been brought to the department to help with a ‘tricky’ case.

A memorandum sent by Ted reads: ‘MEMORANDUM TO STAFF. DATE: 03/02/2021 .TO: ALL ANTI-CORRUPTION UNIT STAFF. FROM: HASTINGS, TED (SUPERINTENDENT)

‘CC: ARNOTT, STEVE (DETECTIVE SERGEANT); FLEMING, KATE (DETECTIVE INSPECTOR); BISHOP, CHLOE (DETECTIVE CONSTABLE)  

‘SUBJECT: IMPORTANT STAFF CHANGES TO AC-12

‘I am writing to inform you that DC Chloe Bishop (Shalom Brune-Franklin) will be joining AC-12 to assist in their important work on a tricky upcoming case. This action will be effective immediately.

‘AC-12’s highest priority will always be capturing bent coppers. With that in mind, we have requested and been granted an extension of an extra episode for our next series, making it our longest yet.  

‘This extension ensures we can properly and thoroughly investigate organised criminal activity when we return soon to BBC One and BBC iPlayer for our sixth outing.

‘In the meantime, to see AC-12 sucking diesel, footage from DI Denton’s case will be repeated on BBC One weekly from Saturday 6th February at 9pm.

‘Sincerely, Superintendent Ted Hastings.’

Of course, the number one name who fans speculate could be H is DI Kate Fleming – with a recent trailer doing nothing to quell speculation.   

In a short teaser trailer which dropped on Saturday, Superintendent Ted Hastings voice is heard while the show’s dramatic theme music builds.

He confidently declares: ‘This is Superintendent Hastings, you’ll be treated fairly with the full protection of the law.’ 

While speaking, he and DS Steve Arnott are seen looking tense during a night scene before DI Kate Fleming’s face is also dramatically shown to the camera.

However in true AC-12 style, it seems as if something more than meets the eye might be happening.   

Kate appears to be wearing a multi-coloured striped jumper – and standing next to a woman who has her arms up in surrender.

Only adding the the intensity and suggestion she could be dirty, the final image before Line Of Duty’s logo is shown, reveals a woman reaching for her gun. 

Creator Jed Mercurio has been tight-lipped on details surrounding the upcoming sixth series, but has hinted that fans will learn more about H’s identity.      

This series of Line of Duty is set to be the show’s longest yet, comprised of seven episodes instead of the usual six.    

The series will also see Kelly MacDonald starring as Detective Chief Inspector Joanne Davidson.

Davidson is assigned as senior investigating officer on an unsolved murder case whose suspicious conduct attracts the attention of the anti-corruption team.   

Fans were floored to learn in series five that after years of waiting to discover the identity of the villainous H, it was actually an organisation.   

Steve Arnott discovered the vital clue when a clip of DI Matthew ‘Dot’ Cottan’s dying declaration was played during AC-12 boss Ted Hasting’s interrogation with Patricia Carmichael (Anna Maxwell-Martin). 

Mercurio left fans speculating he had revealed the identity of bent copper H when he dropped another major clue about series six in February 2020.

He whipped up a social media storm with viewers of the smash-hit BBC show when he shared a photo of Australian chocolate biscuits TimTams with the caption #LineofDuty Series 6 Plot Clue No. 1.’

Manufactured by Arnott’s – the same surname as AC-12 guru DS Steve Arnott – the cryptic snap sent viewers into a frenzy, with theories ranging from a move to Australia to Steve breaking up with his girlfriend.  

After filming for series six kicked off in February 2020, Jed shared a more on-the-nose snap from filming of a passed-out Ted Hastings lies slumped on a chair between stars Martin and Vicky. 

Earlier this week Jed also confirmed he plans to write a seventh series of Line Of Duty, after its fifth instalment became the most-watched yet.

Speaking on the Out To Lunch podcast, he said: ‘What I do know is that season six proves there is much more ground for us still to cover and then in terms of other projects. I really want to carry on with Line of Duty as I think it still got some ground to cover. 

‘I am in a fortunate position as a writer. To dream of getting to the point where people watch your work in such larger numbers and you get a little bit of name recognition as well.’

Line of Duty will return on Sunday 21 March at 9pm on BBC One.