SPOILER ALERT: Ten million Line of Duty fans tune in to learn truth about Supt. Ted Hastings as criminal mastermind H's secrets are revealed in series finale of drama that's gripped the nation

  • SPOILER ALERT: 
  • DS Steve Arnott examined Dot's deathbed confession - which appeared to suggest first name began with 'H' 
  • He noticed that Dot, who was unable to speak after being shot, was tapping out morse code with his fingers 
  • While three have been revealed, that means there is still one bent copper inside the force to be discovered 
  • Fans were reeling after tonight's finale, which was estimated to have a huge audience of more than 10million 

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Viewers of Line of Duty have been left reeling after the series five finale revealed that 'H' is not just one crooked policeman but instead a group of four bent people within the force.

In an unexpected twist the audience discovers that cop lawyer Gill Biggeloe had been working alongside previously brought-down Dot Cottan and ACC Hilton while a fourth member is still at large.

Tonight's episode was estimated to have a huge audience of more than 10million - with the first four shows of this series attracting larger viewers than any other programme on UK television this year.  

Yet many fans who expected to discover who 'H' was were left disappointed and complained about the programme's finale leaving them with more 'questions than answers'.

Reaction: Viewers of Line of Duty have been left reeling after the series five finale revealed the secret behind crooked policeman 'H'

Reaction: Viewers of Line of Duty have been left reeling after the series five finale revealed the secret behind crooked policeman 'H'

All the drama! Tonight's episode was estimated to have a huge audience of more than 10million with the first four shows of this series attracting larger viewers than any other programme on UK television this year

All the drama! Tonight's episode was estimated to have a huge audience of more than 10million with the first four shows of this series attracting larger viewers than any other programme on UK television this year

One said: 'Line of Duty left me with more questions than answers, thanks guys.'

And another viewer said: 'A tad disappointed in Line of Duty there. Milking it a bit. Kept my interest, but in all honest that is because of the previous series, as a stand alone, pretty disappointing series overall.' 

'That was a very good, exciting episode but a disappointing ending to the whole saga. It feels like there should be one more episode to the series,' one social media user wrote.

Another unimpressed viewer added: 'Well unless there's a spectacular twist I've wasted 6+ hours of my life...#LineOfDuty.' 

Yet it wasn't all disappointment as some viewers felt the finale set up the TV show perfectly for the next series. 

Following the end of the series, fans took to Twitter to share their feelings about the finale

Following the end of the series, fans took to Twitter to share their feelings about the finale

The broadcaster confirmed the show will return for a sixth series but is yet to announce which cast members will feature in any forthcoming series.

One social media user said: 'Mother of God... that was superb! TV at its very best. Roll on series 6!' 

'Just when you think everything has been solved, they throw a spanner in the works. There is another corrupt officer', one excited viewer explained. 

'Mother of God. There is no H. Roll on season 6 for joining the dots #LineOfDuty', another social media user said. 

Fans of the show have been following it avidly to discover the identity of the bent copper ever since murdered Dot's deathbed confession - which appeared to suggest their first name began with a 'H'. 

Fans who expected to discover who that might be were left reeling, as they took to Twitter to express their thoughts on how the show ended

Fans who expected to discover who that might be were left reeling, as they took to Twitter to express their thoughts on how the show ended

However, in tonight's 90 minute series finale, DS Steve Arnott re-watched the moment - and noticed that Dot, who was unable to speak after being shot, was tapping out morse code with his fingers.

The dying copper tapped out four figures suggesting there were in fact four crooked cops in the force.

And with three uncovered so far, the nation is gripped for series 6, so they can find out who is the fourth. 

After a harrowing interview period at the start of the programme, it seemed that every possibility pointed towards Superintendent Ted Hastings being so-called 'H'.

It was revealed that Gill Biggeloe had been desperately trying to pin John Corbett's murder onto Hastings

It was revealed that Gill Biggeloe had been desperately trying to pin John Corbett's murder onto Hastings 

But DS Steve Arnott managed to spot something in Dot's deathbed confession which made him realise there could be more corruption to come

But DS Steve Arnott managed to spot something in Dot's deathbed confession which made him realise there could be more corruption to come 

But his quick-thinking colleagues DS Steve Arnott and DI Kate Fleming continued to have faith in the policeman, and were determined to clear his name.

Fans began to suspect after last week's episode that Gill Biggeloe had something more to do with it.

Some even suggested she was 'H' and that Dot had attempted to blink on hearing the letter 'G'.

And tonight's episode revealed she was a villain - and was trying desperately to frame Ted with conspiracy to murder undercover copper John Corbett.  

Viewers discovered the secrets behind Dot's deathbed confession as Steve realised they'd missed a key clue

Viewers discovered the secrets behind Dot's deathbed confession as Steve realised they'd missed a key clue

Fans of the show have been following it avidly to discover the identity of the bent copper ever since murdered Dot's deathbed confession - which appeared to suggest their first name began with a 'H'

Fans of the show have been following it avidly to discover the identity of the bent copper ever since murdered Dot's deathbed confession - which appeared to suggest their first name began with a 'H'

They uncovered evidence which suggested that Gill Biggeloe had met John Corbett long before Operation Peartree, and had stoked the undercover copper to work for the force.

She sought incriminating evidence on Hastings, and then used it to try to convince John Corbett that Ted was H, saying: 'We're setting up an undercover operation to prove he's bent.' 

But while Gill turned out to be corrupt, it was clear that she wasn't 'H', and she was taken into custody.

Tina assured the team she'll look after the bent copper, telling her: 'I'm afraid I'm going to have to cuff you. You might want to do a loo break now.'

It was revealed that Gill Biggoloe was corrupt - but that she was just one of four corrupt coppers working in the force

It was revealed that Gill Biggoloe was corrupt - but that she was just one of four corrupt coppers working in the force  

Kate and Steve broke the news to Hastings, and left fans reeling because they realised they'd discovered the secret behind 'H' - but still had no idea who the fourth corrupt copper in the force is

Kate and Steve broke the news to Hastings, and left fans reeling because they realised they'd discovered the secret behind 'H' - but still had no idea who the fourth corrupt copper in the force is 

But when she tried to go to the bathroom, Tina attacked her with a knife, stabbing her in the hand and the two began to tussle.  

As Gill screamed for help, Kate and Steve rushed into the bathroom with the DS shooting Tina in the chest.

Steve believed she was sent in order to stop Gill from talking and revealing the secrets behind the corrupt organisation. 

With Ted back in his police uniform, he joined Steve and Kate to re-examine Dot's dying interview.

Ted was stunned by the revelation and the work of his team in order to free him from the murder investigation

Ted was stunned by the revelation and the work of his team in order to free him from the murder investigation 

Steve re-examined Dot's dying testimony, and discovered the morse code puzzle pointed to a fourth officer still working in the force

Steve re-examined Dot's dying testimony, and discovered the morse code puzzle pointed to a fourth officer still working in the force 

Steve said: 'The frame it was frozen on made me realise something we've all missed. Look at Dot's left hand.'

He went on: 'Dot was trying to tell us something before he lost consciousness. 

'He couldn't speak due to the gunshot wound to his chest but he could move his hand.'

The officers counted out four dots, before Steve revealed to Ted: 'The letter H in morse code is four dots. H is not an initial. Four dots. Four caddies. Four police staff on leave for organised crime.'

Meanwhile, Kate pointed out the three caddies discovered so far: 'Dot. Hilton. Gill. Plus one more.' 

The character of Dot died in season three after being shot while Derek Hilton was killed in series four, when viewers realised he too was linked to organised crime.

Line of Duty's Rochenda Sandall says sex with Stephen Graham would have been ‘boring’

Line of Duty's Rochenda Sandall and Stephen Graham decided their characters would not be romantically involved in the show - because sex storylines are 'boring'. 

Sandall joined the cast in the latest series of the Jed Mercurio police show as Lisa McQueen, a member of an organised crime group, alongside Graham as undercover officer John Corbett. 

Sandall said: 'We talked about (a relationship) and we said no, it cannot be that way.

'He loves his wife and that's evidently clear to the text, so to make it about sex would have been rubbish.

'It was always on the cards that sex wasn't a thing because sex is really boring. Everybody does it, we'll leave it to Game of Thrones - they seem quite good at that.' 

On playing a strong female lead, she said: 'It's really important for me, the character itself is a very rare gem of a character.

'Women don't often get to play those parts, and if they do there's some kind of sex involved or sexual allure about the character.

'Lisa didn't have that. I think there was one line where Miroslav says "are them two s******* or what?", but me and Stephen decided that that would be nothing to do with it at all.

'And that it was a friendship and an admiration and an adoration of power and leadership.

'The power play between the two of us, of who's actually in charge, was fascinating to play, because it's never obvious. When we killed him off, people were massively surprised by the fact that Lisa had okayed that.' 

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Finally, this series unveiled Gill as the third piece of the puzzle - but there still remains one corrupt copper in the Line of Duty force.  

Tonight's episode was estimated to have a huge audience, with previous shows of this series averaging 10.6million viewers in seven-day four-screen consolidated figures.

Last Sunday's show got the highest overnight figure for Line Of Duty ever - peaking at 8.3million and averaging at 7.9million.

Line Of Duty showrunner, Jed Mercurio, said of the new figures: 'We're thrilled and flattered by the amazing response to this series of Line Of Duty.'

'On behalf of the whole production, I want to thank our viewers for their fantastic loyalty, and World Productions and the BBC for their unstinting support.'

Simon Heath, executive producer for World Productions, says: 'It's testament to Jed's brilliant writing and the best cast on British TV that the audience for Line of Duty has grown bigger with every series.'

'A huge thanks to the BBC who took a chance on a small show in Birmingham back in 2011 and to everyone who's supported us since' 

 

Line Of Duty: Fans are left convinced there's a bigger connection between Ted Hastings and John Corbett as series five comes to dramatic end

ByJoanna Crawley For Mailonline 

Line Of Duty left fans with more questions than answers as the series five finale aired on Sunday night.

As the identity of H was shrouded in more mystery, when it was revealed there are four corrupt coppers, fans were also left wondering about the connection between AC-12 gaffer Ted Hastings (Adrian Dunbar) and the OCG undercover cop John Corbett (Stephen Graham).

The final episode of series five saw viewers discover that Ted was close to John's mother while serving in Northern Ireland, with a suggestion that the two had an affair.

Father? Line Of Duty left fans with more questions than answers as the series five finale aired on Sunday night with a depper connection between AC-12 gaffer Ted Hastings (Adrian Dunbar) and the OCG undercover cop John Corbett (Stephen Graham) hinted at

Father? Line Of Duty left fans with more questions than answers as the series five finale aired on Sunday night with a depper connection between AC-12 gaffer Ted Hastings (Adrian Dunbar) and the OCG undercover cop John Corbett (Stephen Graham) hinted at

John's mother Anne-Marie worked as an informant, with Hastings being the last person to see her alive before she was murdered.

The superintendent discovered this information during his interrogation by Patricia Carmichael, and had no idea John was Anne-Marie's son.

The mention of an affair had many viewers suggesting that John, who was murdered by the OCG in the middle of series five, was actually Ted's son.    

Ted was seen breaking down in tears during the interrogation while the close of the episode saw him approaching John's wife at his graveside, with £50,000 in his hand.   

Hastings' son? The final episode of series five saw viewers discover that Ted was close to John's mother while serving in Northern Ireland, with a suggestion that the two had an affair

Hastings' son? The final episode of series five saw viewers discover that Ted was close to John's mother while serving in Northern Ireland, with a suggestion that the two had an affair

Taking to Twitter to speculate, one fan tweeted: 'Could Hastings be John Corbett's dad? #LineOfDuty #LineOfDutyFinale"  

'I’m calling it.... (could be wrong) John Corbett was ted Hastings son from an affair with his mother although the laptop disposal still doesn’t add up #LineofDutyFinale,' agreed another.

'So John Corbett was Ted's son by Anne-Marie? Year matches up, his grief and giving £50k to his grandchildren at the graveyard,' added one more fan. 

The series finale saw another big mystery left unsolved as the identity of bent copper H wasn't revealed, in full at least.

Past: The mention of an affair had many viewers suggesting that John, who was murdered by the OCG in the middle of series five, was actually Ted's son

Past: The mention of an affair had many viewers suggesting that John, who was murdered by the OCG in the middle of series five, was actually Ted's son

Graveside: The close of the episode saw Ted approaching John's wife at his graveside, with £50,000 in his hand

Graveside: The close of the episode saw Ted approaching John's wife at his graveside, with £50,000 in his hand

Fans of the show have been following it avidly to discover the identity of H ever since murdered Dot's deathbed confession.

In the 90 minute series finale, DS Steve Arnott re-watched the moment - and noticed that Dot, who was unable to speak after being shot, was tapping out morse code with his fingers.

The dying copper tapped out four figures suggesting there were in fact four crooked cops in the force.

And with three uncovered so far, the nation is gripped for series 6, so they can find out who is the fourth. 

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