He left the nation reeling after his bumbling Line Of Duty character Ian Buckells was revealed to be the elusive Fourth Man.
And actor Nigel Boyle has now revealed that he’s become an unlikely heartthrob following his unmasking as H during the series six finale last Sunday.
Joking about his new-found status as a hunk, the star explained how his pals have been spotting fan groups calling him ‘dishy’.
Hunky H! Nigel Boyle has revealed that he’s become an unlikely heartthrob following his unmasking as H during the series six finale last Sunday (pictured on Monday)
He told the The Mirror: ‘One of the funniest things my mate spotted on a fan group was someone saying, “Oh, my God he looks nothing like Buckells” and “I wouldn’t kick him out of bed for farting!”
‘Another wrote, “God, he looks quite dishy doesn’t he?”. It’s just really funny. I’ve got this beard and my hair is different. Who’d want to look like Buckells in real life?’
Nigel also commented on the divisive reaction the series, and him turning out to be the Fourth Man, has received since 12.8million people tuned into the finale.
Attention: Joking about his new-found status as a hunk, the star explained how his pals have been spotting fan groups calling him ‘dishy’ (pictured on the BBC show as Buckells)
The actor explained that he doesn’t take it personally that some people think the ending was a ‘huge disappointment’ as writer Jed Mercurio perfectly showed how not all criminals are masterminds, as his character was easily bought by the OCG.
Instead Nigel told the publication: ‘I prefer to think of it more, as someone said to me, that I’ve become one of the biggest TV baddies of all time.’
Nigel’s interview comes after Jed revealed that he wrote in a major clue that Buckells was H back in Line Of Duty’s first ever season.
The series creator, 55, detailed how he dropped a sign the officer was bent back in 2012 after he allowed the caddy Dot Cottan (Craig Parkinson) to speak with criminal Tommy Hunter (Brian McCardie) alone in the back of a van.
Family: Aston Villa supporter Nigel is married to wife Lainy (pictured together) who he raises sons Finnian, five, and Decan Sonny, two, and daughter Cora Rose, three weeks, with
And explaining why he made bumbling Buckells the fourth man, much to the shock of many of the 12.8m fans watching the series six finale, Jed explained that it was ‘really important’ that H ended up being someone involved from the start.
Jed told the Obsessed With Line of Duty podcast: ‘It was always really important to me that it was someone who had been in season one, someone who had been there the whole time.
‘We did introduce some characters late, so Thurwell came in late, we went back to Fairbank, who’d appeared in season three, we had the Chief Constable, who had obviously been there since season one.
‘But then I don’t think he would have been a satisfying candidate because he had been absent for so long, it would feel like we’d just brought him back in to pin it on him.’
So clever: It comes after Jed Mercurio has revealed that he wrote in a major clue that Ian Buckells (pictured) was H back in Line Of Duty’s first ever season
Corrupt: At the end of series one Cottan (left) and Hunter (right) are seen talking alone, with the officer telling the criminal to play along with the investigation to get immunity
Jed then revealed the clue he’d written into the script, which should have tipped eagle-eyed fans off about Buckells right from the offset.
He said: ‘It was really about the heritage of the series, going all the way back to season one, where Dot Cottan says, “Oh, can I just have a quick word with Tommy Hunter in the back of the van?” and Buckells goes, “Yeah, alright”. OK, like, really, is that what you should be doing? Of course, not.’
Jed continued that Buckells being seen as a bit useless and bumbling ended up being written into the script to the officer’s advantage.
According to Entertainment Daily, he said: ‘So you think he’s just a bit rubbish and so he doesn’t care. And that ended up being part of the evolution of the character..’
Series one of Line Of Duty saw AC-12 investigate DCI Tony Gates (Lennie James) and Jackie Laverty (Gina McKee) is also introduced, with her becoming a key character in following seasons as her body is stored in Terry Boyle’s fridge.
Taking it in his stride: The actor explained that he doesn’t take it personally that some people think the ending was a ‘huge disappointment’ (pictured on Monday)