Line of Duty fans across the nation were left ‘fuming’ as the nail-biting series finale drew to a close tonight and the mysterious antagonist ‘H’ was finally unmasked.
Seasoned fans took to social media in their droves to share their frustrations as officers from the police anti-corruption unit AC-12 discovered the identity of the elusive ‘fourth man’, who had been colluding with the organised crime group (OCG), was none other than DSU Ian Buckells.
The detective was first introduced to viewers in series one when he was appointed as SIO in the case of murdered businesswoman Jackie Laverty by then chief superintendent Derek Hilton.
The show, also saw DI Steve Arnott, played by actor Martin Compston, finally called in for a meeting with Occupational Health, who noted that while he had not broken the law through his excessive painkiller use, he would have to surrender his firearms licence.
However, the episode’s end failed to offer any resolution on whether the fan-favourite team of DI Steve Arnott, DI Kate Fleming and Superintendent Ted Hastings would return, ending on the revelation that the team has ‘never been weaker.’
The mystery surrounding the identity of ‘H’ has been up for speculation since the show was first released in 2012 and detectives at the anti-corruption unit discovered there were four officers working within the force who had links to the underground criminal network.
Sharing their disappointment on the revelation, one disgruntled Line of Duty fan wrote on Twitter: ‘Can’t believe I watched six seasons of line of Duty for Ian Buckells, the most pointless character to be the fourth man. Fuming.’
While another viewer added: ‘I’m fuming, can’t believe I waited this long for Ian Buckells to run the roost.’
Line Of Duty’s much-anticipated sixth series came to its conclusion on Sunday night with the identity of the elusive criminal ‘H’ finally unmasked
Fans shared their frustrations as officers of the police anti-corruption unit AC-12 discovered that the identity of the elusive ‘fourth man’
While another wrote: ‘We waited 10 years for Ian Buckells to be revealed as the OCG mastermind.’
Another commented: ‘Everyone in the UK when we waited all this time for Ian Buckells to be revealed as the OCG mastermind.
Meanwhile another fan said: ‘I would have accepted Hastings as H over Ian bloody Buckells #LineOfDuty #LineofDutyFinale.’
Elsewhere another viewer added: ‘I once got the entire UK invested in a TV show only to end it with bumbling Ian Buckells being H #LineofDutyFinale #LineOfDuty.’
And another wrote: ‘Well I hate to say it but that’s a disappointing ending. I refuse to believe it was all down to Ian Buckells of all people.’
One frustrated fan added: ‘In whose universe is Ian Buckells any kind of mastermind of anything? I’m dazed and completely confused.’
During the episode tonight, superintendent Ted Hastings, played by actor Adrian Dunbar, was seen asking his colleague Chloe to run checks on the constant misspelling of the word ‘definately’ which had become synonymous with the ‘fourth man’ in previous episodes.
A number of checks traced the word back to Buckells who used the misspelling when messaging former undercover officer John Corbett, played by Stephen Graham, in series five.
When confronted with the revelation superintendent was left astounded and was left asking his colleague: ‘Are you sure Chloe?’
After being confronted by Hastings and his team Buckells declared: ‘I’m only the one whose made total mugs out of you lot!’.
He also revealed that would have to offer him immunity or Witness Protection if they wanted him to co-operate.
Pointing out that H did not officially exist as the investigation into corruption had been quashed, he insisted Tommy Hunter, the organised crime kingpin who was a sinister character during the drama’s early series, was the leader of the OCG.
Also during the show, viewers watched as DI Arnott was left torn on whether to pursue fears that his boss Ted Hastings could be ‘H’ as the team raced to uncover the mystery figure’s identity.
The officer also admitted to his detective friend Kate Fleming that he had been involved with former officer John Corbett’s widow Steph.
As the team from AC-12 tried to unravel the mystery surrounding journalist Gail Vella’s death, they found a strong box hidden under the floor of the OCG’s workshop.
The box was revealed to contain an array of weapons used in murders investigated by Hastings and his team, including the gun that shot and killed Vella, and the knife that slit the throat of DS John Corbett, who was killed by the OCG in series five.
Social media fans were left far from impressed with the identity of the elusive ‘H’ as the series drew to a close
It was the breakthrough that the team had been waiting for, as the box finally proved that Carl Banks, the violent criminal who also goes by the name ‘Ross Turner’, was responsible for Vella’s murder before being killed by the OCG himself.
After weeks of incessant emails, DI Arnott was finally called in for a meeting with Occupational Health, who noted that while he had not broken the law through his excessive painkiller use, he should take time off from his duties.
It came after the detective was seen ignoring the reminders dropping in his inbox to book an appointment for a routine drugs test.
The officer, who became addicted to painkillers after he was pushed down a flight of stairs during a police operation in series four, refused to step down from his duties but did agree to hand over his fire-arm.
He also came clean to his boss Ted Hastings about his drug use and to his, and the viewers’ surprise, Hastings did not dismiss him, simply saying: ‘I’m glad you’re getting some help.’
Despite fans’ theories that James Nesbitt’s character Marcus Thurwell had to be alive, it was revealed that he was killed in the previous episode, and had actually been dead for several weeks when his body was found after being strangled.
It came after the penultimate episode showed the Guardia Civil police officers storm his Spanish home and find two bodies on the bed.
DC Chloe Bishop, also revealed that any communication involving Thurwell and the OCG had been re-routed through Spain from a device in the UK, meaning the fourth man was definitely still amongst the corruption team.
Viewers were noticeable underwhelmed to learn the identity of the elusive criminal, as the series ended on an ambiguous note
Who is it? It was at least revealed that the so-called fourth man was actually DSU Ian Buckells, who had been originally imprisoned after appearing to have been framed by Davidson
The team from AC-12 found a strong box hidden under the floor of the O CG’s workshop during the nail-biting episode
DI Arnott was finally called in for a meeting with Occupational Health, who noted that while he hadn’t broken the law through his excessive painkiller use, he should take time off from his duties
After being imprisoned for her own corrupt behaviour, police officer Jo Davidson was taken away in a police van under the ruse that she was being interviewed at Hillside Lane.
However after it was made clear that H was involved in the officer being taken away, AC-12 retraced the van in time to rescue Davidson, and vowed to get her into witness protection if she came clean on H’s identity.
Davidson was clearly reluctant to give up the man in charge of the Order who kept her hostage for so many years, and so AC-12 opted to return their investigation to former Chief Superintendent Patrick Fairbank- who was previously jailed for his connections to abuse in the Sands View Boys Home.
However once again Fairbank, claimed he ‘doesn’t remember’ anything related to Davidson or the OCG, with a clearly-frustrated Hastings storming out of the interview.
Proving to be the clue that would crack open this decade-long mystery, Bishop spotted the same ‘definately’ spelling inside a written note found in the records related to Lawrence Christopher’s murder.
The case was being investigated by Vella before she was murdered, having learned that the botched work corrupt police officers meant no one was ever charged with the racially-charged crime.
As AC-12 debated whether to go public with the information, Hastings finally confessed to Kate and Steve about the mystery bag of money he gave to John Corbett’s widow Steph, admitting he gave her the cash as a kind-hearted gesture.
Despite finally uncovering the identity of H through a long paper trail of corrupt officers, fans were surprised to learn the organisation’s powers had been significantly weakened
As the final shot of the AC-12 elevator showed the trio reunited as they travelled down the lift together, viewers were less hopeful on whether they’ll get to see them together again in a seventh series
She’s become one of the show’s most maligned characters, but viewers were left hoping that detective Carmichael had some glimmer of compassion after Hastings decided to make a confession
Line of Duty fans have previously speculated that Philip Osborne (centre) was ‘H, according to a poll by YouGov
Clearly still a lawful man despite years working in corruption, Ted admitted that he did reveal that John Corbett was working undercover in organised crime, indirectly leading to his death
He also fiercely denied revealing Corbett’s identity as an Undercover Officer to the OCG, which eventually lead to his death.
Regardless, the written note finally set the stage for the most important police interview in the show’s history, with the stage set at last for Hastings to confront the criminal H who had caused so much havoc in AC-12.
The episode concluded on an uncertain note, with Hastings coming clean about revealing Corbett’s status as an UCO after vowing to appeal his forced retirement, before leaving with the AC-12 team, and on-screen text noting that their powers to curb wrongdoing in the force had never been weaker.
Davidson entered Witness Protection, while it appeared that if Buckells gained immunity, none of the evidence for corruption would be heard in court, meaning the entire investigation would have been for nothing.
Anticipated: Given the show’s record-breaking viewership, fans hoped that the finale would answer all their burning questions, including the identity of the elusive ‘H
Ahead of the sixth series finale, feared by many to be the show’s last hurrah, fans got a glimpse of the episode through an action-packed trailer, complete with a police standoff, the return of balaclava men and the discovery of a written note with THAT ‘definately’ misspelling.
However, despite the huge success of the BBC show, Martin Compston revealed the BBC drama could be coming to an end sooner than everyone thinks.
Compston – who previously revealed that executive decisions about the series are ‘above his pay grade’ – cast doubt on the show’s future during an appearance on The Jonathan Ross Show.
Speaking on Saturday’s show, the actor said: ‘We won’t come back just for the sake of it. That’s for sure. We’ll come back if there’s a story to tell.
‘If it ends well maybe sometimes it is best to leave it. But genuinely we don’t know.’
The admission came after Compston teased that fans would get some ‘big answers’ during the finale, and admitted he believed it could be the ‘perfect ending’ to the police drama.
An even longer wait: Like many shows, series six was hit by several delays due to the Covid pandemic, with filming in Belfast halted back in March 2020, just days before the UK was plunged into lockdown
‘The perfect ending’: The admission comes after Martin teased that fans will get some ‘big answers’ during the finale, and admitted he believes it could be the ‘perfect ending’ to the police drama
Speaking on the Shrine Of Duty podcast, the actor confessed that he thinks Sunday’s episode could be the best way to wrap up the ‘story arch’ – but he refused to rule out another series.
When quizzed on whether viewers will learn who the illusive ‘H’ is, Martin said: ‘I wouldn’t quite go the Jo Davidson no comment route – but what I will tell you is I think there’s a lot of pay offs coming this Sunday.
‘There’s a lot of big answers and it’s deserved, people have stuck with us for a long time, so there comes a point where the story arch comes to an end.’
Like many shows, series six was hit by several delays due to the Covid pandemic, with filming in Belfast halted back in March 2020, just days before the UK was plunged into lockdown.
Production was finally able to resume in September that year with strict safety guidelines, including the use of studio sets as opposed to real locations, regular testing measures.
Filming for series six finally wrapped in November, with bosses later confirming it would be seven episodes as opposed to the usual six.