Line Of Duty’s Martin Compston reveals future of hit BBC show
MARTIN COMPSTON is back on our screens taking part in Soccer Aid for Unicef.
But what everyone asks him is: When will Line Of Duty return?
This is more frequent since The Sun revealed the BBC was set to make three specials to air next year, tying up loose ends since the drama’s sixth season ended nearly two years ago.
Now Martin doesn’t seem to talk about if he’ll reunite with co-stars Vicky McClure and Adrian Dunbar on the police corruption show, rather when.
He said: “We’d all love to work together again but we’re all doing different stuff. We’re all running around. It’s just timing, and to get to the same point.”
But he added: “It’s testament to what we created that everybody is still desperate for more. I love that people ask about it. The day people stop, it’ll be a sad day.”
Martin, who will be on the World XI’s coaching team for the Soccer Aid celebrity match against an “England” line-up at Old Trafford on Sunday, is busy filming a travel series for the BBC in Norway.
Then he will shoot season two of Prime Video supernatural drama The Rig, later this summer.
After that he would be free to rejoin Line Of Duty, as DS Steve Arnott.
But the show’s producers, and writer Jed Mercurio, know that Vicky, who plays DI Kate Fleming, has a second run of ITV bomb-disposal drama Trigger Point coming up.
And Adrian, LoD’s Supt Ted Hastings, may have another series of detective drama Ridley.
Martin said: “Jed never stops writing, Vicky’s putting bombs out, Aidan’s a singing detective, I’m off on an oil rig. The truth is, we’ve not signed on for anything at the moment.
“There’s just nothing at the minute. That does not mean it won’t happen. Just at this point, I genuinely don’t know. But we’ve always taken time off. Probably if this happened 20 years ago, I’d have been more like, ‘Oh, I need to get away from it’. You need to do something else.
“It’s the thing I’m most known for and I’m incredibly proud of it.”
‘It haunts me’
MARTIN travelled to Dhaka in Bangladesh to see how Unicef was helping boys forced to live in the city’s railway station.
He found common ground through playing football but the visit stayed with him.
Martin said: “My wee boy’s four this year, and for a while after this trip I was having this recurring, terrifying dream of him in that situation.
“One of the boys we met was dropped at that train station when he was five.
“Your head starts going: ‘What if my boy was just wandering about that station and people could pick him up and do whatever, beat him, something even worse?’ It makes you feel sick.
“It haunts me.”
Vicky on duty for rivals
THE actor won’t have to wait for Line Of Duty to restart before he can be reunited with co-star Vicky – as they will be bumping into each other at Soccer Aid.
But rather than being colleagues like they are in the hit cop drama, the pair are on rival football teams – as she is co-managing the England side.
Martin, who will be joined by celebrities including Usain Bolt and Mo Gilligan on the World XI side, thinks Vicky’s side will end up disappointed.
He said: “I was joking with my wee one, he was playing in our drawers at home. My wife put all my Soccer Aid medals in the corner and he calls it Daddy’s treasure.
“There were four of them there and I said to Vick, ‘I’m going to take one for you just in case, because you are leaving empty handed.”
Kath has eyes for an other
KATHERINE PARKINSON admits having a crush on her co-star in ITVX’s new romantic comedy Significant Other.
The lucky chap is Youssef Kerkour and though Katherine is already spoken for, she has no qualms about sharing her feelings.
The former IT Crowd and Doc Martin actress is married to fellow actor Harry Peacock, who was in sitcoms Toast Of London and with his wife in The Kennedys.
But she said: “I make no secret of the fact I fancy Youssef, something that really helped our chemistry while we were filming.”
Katherine and Youssef’s character’s Anna and Sam are two lonely neighbours who become romantically involved.
Their romance happens after near-death experiences at the start of episode one, which drops today.
BBC Two is bringing Glastonbury Festival magic to music lovers at home with two new documentaries.
We Love Glastonbury sees stars such as Noel Gallagher share their tales from the fields, then 50 Years And Counting revisits old sets and interviews.
Watch on June 18 from 10pm.
Open to orgy for 18 people
IT’S not your average marriage advice, but two guests of Channel 4’s Open House tonight learn an 18-person orgy can really help their relationship.
Couple Tom and Kirsty head to the Great Sex Experiment mansion and the group romp leaves them more in love than ever.
And of course the red-hot scenes, which air tonight at 9pm, make for some eye-popping TV.
As they begin kissing other couples, Kirsty tells Tom: “If you are getting the tingles, you can go and join in.”
She says later: “To be there together in that scenario for me was great.”
Tom adds: “Tonight strengthens the relationship.”
And there was me thinking that emptying the dishwasher once a week did the job.