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line of duty jed© Photo: BBC

Line of Duty creator reveals the ONE reason why he hasn't killed off main characters

The Line of Duty trio are safe... for now 

Emmy Griffiths
TV & Film Editor
June 29, 2019
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Jed Mercurio is famously not worried about killing off our favourite characters - see Bodyguard - but he has now opened up about why he has never killed off three main characters of Line of Duty, despite being tempted! Chatting at The South Bank Show, Jed revealed that Steve, Kate and Ted were all safe because the actors all get along so well!

line of duty trio© Photo: BBC

Did you enjoy season five?

He explained: "I mean, they’re really good actors. But of course they get on really well with each other, we all get on very well, and if that hadn’t happened, one of them would have been – you know – killed. In an unexpected way that would propel the story forward... It's always got to be about what’s in the best interests of the series, because it’s not in the best interests of the character to be dead."

READ: Which TV shows has Vicky McClure starred in?

line duty stephen© Photo: BBC

Stephen Graham wasn't so lucky!

He continued: "So the way I would approach it is to look at what new story you get from that. And if the audience has got a real attachment to the character, it means that they’re invested in whether there will be justice for that character – or if it’s a mystery, whether they’ll be invested in finding out what might have actually befallen them." Of course, Jed doesn't hesitate in killing off other characters - which Stephen Graham knows all too well! Speaking to Esquire about starring as John Corbett, an undercover officer, he said: "Of course everyone wants one of those [interrogation] scenes. I think they're brilliant especially with someone like Anna Maxwell Martin – she's unbelievable. But unfortunately it didn't happen. I had my choice, did I want one of them, or do I want a good slice of the throat!"

READ: Line of Duty star reveals regret at season five - find out why

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