Mark Bonnar returning to Line of Duty amid a slew of new cast members
Mark Bonnar was last seen as the villainous Deputy Chief Constable Mike Dryden in Line of Duty series two, which aired in 2014.
Mark Bonnar is making a surprise return to Line of Duty.
The 57-year-old actor's villainous character, former Deputy Chief Constable Mike Dryden, was last seen serving a suspended sentence for perverting the course of justice in the BBC crime drama's second series, which aired in 2014.
But Mike will not be the only baddie on the scene in Line of Duty series seven as Detective Inspector Dominic Gough - played by Tom Weston-Jones - will be introduced as the leader of Tactical Operations Unit 7 (TO-7).
Although the "charismatic" officer has "won plaudits for a string of takedowns of organised crime", Dominic is "accused of abusing his position of trust to act as a sexual predator".
However, it remains to be seen if Dominic's case is a "deliberate distraction from a bigger threat still operating in the shadows".
Alongside Gough and the previously announced Robert Carlyle as Specialist Rifle Officer, DC Shaun Massie, TO-7 will also feature newcomers, Gavin and Stacey alum Laura Aikman (DC Paula Beckman), This Town's Levi Brown (DC Luke Tobin) and Ackley Bridge star Amy Leigh Hickman (DC Nira Rashid).
Further new cast members include Rivals' David Calder, Prisoner star Steven Elder, and Killing Eve actor Dominic Mafham.
Rocks' Sarah Andre White, Art Detectives actress Aimee Powell and Under Salt Marsh alum Naomi Yang are also new signings for Line of Duty series seven.
Owen Teale (Chief Constable Philip Osborne), Perry Fitzpatrick (DS Chris Lomax) and Christina Chong (DI Nicky Rogerson) are returning.
They will appear alongside the crime drama's key players, Vicky McClure (DI Kate Fleming), Martin Compston (DS Steve Arnott) and Adrian Dunbar (Supt Ted Hastings).
Line of Duty's writer-and-creator Jed Mercurio, is thrilled with the cast of series seven - of which filming begins in Belfast in the spring.
He said: "I'm honoured to be working with our brilliant new cast members, and I know the audience will be thrilled to see some much-loved old faces returning from previous seasons."
Simon Heath, World Productions’ CEO and creative director, added: "We’re delighted to be able to welcome such a great new cast to join so many well-loved actors from the history of the show."
Line of Duty follows a team inside Anti-Corruption Unit 12 (AC-12) - led by Hastings - as they investigate police corruption.
In series seven, AC-12 have been disbanded and rebranded the Inspectorate of Police Standards.
Anticorruption work has never been more difficult, and in this challenging climate, Arnott, Fleming and Hastings are assigned their most sensitive case so far.
Line of Duty series seven will air next year, with an exact broadcast date yet to be confirmed.
