Line Of Duty is back! 5 reasons we're so glad the BBC crime drama has returned

In the gritty crime drama, he plays the leader of an armed response unit whose unpredictable behaviour becomes a threat to colleagues and suspects.

Fictional anti-corruption police unit AC-12 are sent in to investigate.

Daniel Mays in BBC Two’s Line Of Duty (Steffan Hill/BBC/World Productions)

Returning favourites include Martin Compston as Detective Sergeant Steve Arnott, Vicky McClure as Detective Constable Kate Fleming and Adrian Dunbar as Superintendent Ted Hastings.

All eyes will be on the Essex-born star who will attempt to live up to Keeley Hawes’s acclaimed performance as Detective Inspector Lindsay Denton in series two. She made the 2014 incarnation of Line Of Duty one of BBC Two’s most watched shows that year.

Lennie James’s turn as troubled Detective Chief Inspector Tony Gates in 2012 saw the crime thriller emerge as one of BBC Two’s best performing dramas in 10 years.

But Daniel is undaunted by pressure to live up to what has gone before. Instead, he promised fans “a different show”.

He told the Radio Times: “This one is so much more high-octane, action-packed and edge-of-the-seat than the others.”

Daniel Mays (Steffan Hill/BBC/World Productions)

Writer and director Jed Mercurio is back at the helm of the acclaimed cop series. Daniel said he has delivered “a thrilling and emotionally raw script”.

Here are five reasons we’re so glad Line Of Duty is back.

1. Daniel is a top-notch actor

Daniel Mays in Line Of Duty (Steffan Hill/BBC/World Productions)

The 37-year-old son of an electrician has enjoyed roles in productions including Red Riding, Ashes To Ashes and Made In Dagenham, to name a few. He got his star turn as train robber Ronnie Biggs in ITV drama Mrs Biggs, alongside Sheridan Smith, and hasn’t looked back.

A superb character actor, his most recent project was the big-screen version of BBC sitcom Dad’s Army, playing Private Walker. We can’t wait to see what he does in Line Of Duty.

2. Vicky McClure lights up the screen

Vicky McClure (Steffan Hill/BBC/World Productions)

If you’re a fan of This Is England, you’ll already appreciate how much conviction the Bafta award-winning actress pours into every role she plays. As Line Of Duty’s Kate, the 32-year-old gives the watching millions a searing portrayal of a very human police officer.

3. Line Of Duty is always arresting

Adrian Dunbar, Martin Compston and Vicky McClure (Steffan Hill/BBC/World Productions)

Kudos to writer Jed for crafting a drama that is so much more than just a story of corrupt or amoral cops. From a seemingly simple premise, we’ve watched over two nail-biting series as those who are sworn to uphold the law invariably break it and lose their moral centre.

Each series has upped the stakes involved and built the tension to an unbearable level.

4. The characters convince

Martin Compston (Steffan Hill/BBC/World Productions)

Good cop and bad cop can be over-familiar television archetypes, but in the world of Line Of Duty, they’re far from being cartoonish stereotypes.

This is a collection of living, breathing, believable supporting characterisations convincingly portrayed by terrific actors. They’re a real tribute to the genius writing.

5. Hello, Will Mellor!

Will Mellor (Steffan Hill/BBC/World Productions)

Like his Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps co-star Sheridan Smith, Will has come a long way.

For those who can’t get past his portrayal of Gaz Wilkinson in BBC Three’s bawdy comedy (or even his nine-year stint as Hollyoaks’ Jambo Bolton), we urge you to watch Will in Jimmy McGovern’s The Street.

He was first-rate as a laddish builder who happened to be gay. We reckon he’ll be fantastic in Line Of Duty.

Line Of Duty is broadcast tonight on BBC Two.