Hit ITV cop drama handed a second series – but it’s bad news for Line of Duty fans

THERE’S bittersweet news for fans of Line Of Duty and its veteran star Adrian Dunbar.

The actor, who plays the show’s Superintendent Ted Hastings, is set to return as the lead in a second series of ITV1 detective show, Ridley.

But since filming takes place in autumn it could stop him reuniting with co-stars Martin Compston and Vicky McClure for the long-awaited new episodes of Line of Duty.

A TV insider said: “The biggest hurdle facing the Beeb was getting all three leading stars together as their diaries are so busy.

“They were pinning their hopes on Martin having wrapped filming on the second series of Prime Video’s thriller, The Rig, by the autumn.

“But that’s around the same time Adrian will start work on Ridley.

“The hope is that, because the second series is only four parts long, it won’t prove a major obstacle.”

Adrian will return to play retired detective, Alex Ridley, who is brought back as a consultant to help solve crimes.

The debut season last year and was a ratings hit. Hailing the recommission, the actor said: “We have to thank ITV and the public for taking to Ridley in such numbers.”

The sequel, made up of a series of two-hour films, will see him reunited with former protégée, DI Carol Farman, played by Bronagh Waugh, who is now in charge of investigations.

I exclusively revealed that the BBC was planning a series of special episodes of Line of Duty which could have been filmed and aired by the end of this year.

But the busy work schedules of Adrian, Martin and Vicky, who has her own hit with ITV1’s Trigger Point, meant filming had to be pushed back.

Now the hope is new episodes of Line Of Duty could be ready to air early next year.

It can’t come too soon for me.

KEN NOT FLASHY

KEN BRUCE insists there will be “no flashy prizes” on his new PopMaster TV programme.

The music quiz has been adapted for a new Channel 4 show after moving from BBC Radio 2 after more than 20 years to Greatest Hits Radio.

Ken – who co-created the quiz with radio producer Phil Swern – says despite changes made for a TV format, winners will get no cash payout.

He said: “There are no flashy prizes, just a gold disc or a silver disc. You’re not walking off with half a million!”

GASP! IT’S CLAUDIA, TRAITORS

VIEWERS were on the edge of their seats every time contestants on The Traitors interrogated each other – and host Claudia Winkleman was no different.

Bosses have revealed they had to have a word with her during filming after her gasps for breath became too loud.

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Claudia Winkleman was on the edge of her seat when contestants on The Traitors interrogated each other[/caption]

Executive producer Sarah Fay said: “There was a round table in episode six, and I am in her ear.

“She does not say much, and was watching in the shadows, and I could hear her breathing get heavier.

“And I just had to say ‘Watch your breathing’ in case she gave something away.”

Fellow exec Mike Cotton added: “When we first met her she came in and said ‘I have been up til 4am watching the Dutch version’.

“She wanted to play the game and was massively invested.”

Weren’t we all.

IT’S THE END FOR STACEY

IT’S going to be a busy summer for Stacey Dooley.

The documentary maker has revealed that as well as doing a new series of her W show Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over, she’s working on a new programme all about death.

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Stacey Dooley is working on a new programme all about death[/caption]

The presenter will film the new Sleeps Over series in the US after completing the one-off special on all things afterlife.

She said: “I’m starting to film next month about death, which I’m quite nervous about because I’m so afraid of dying.

“The new Sleeps Over series in America, that’s September, and there are a couple of other things that haven’t been green lit yet but they’re sort of in the pipeline.

“I’m going to keep doing what excites me, I’m not going to try to stick to a rigid plan.”