Northern Ireland

Line of Duty stars film dramatic police chase in Belfast city centre

Vicky McClure on Bedford Street in Belfast during filming of the new series of hit BBC drama Line Of Duty
Vicky McClure on Bedford Street in Belfast during filming of the new series of hit BBC drama Line Of Duty Vicky McClure on Bedford Street in Belfast during filming of the new series of hit BBC drama Line Of Duty

STARS of hit BBC drama Line of Duty were in Belfast city centre at the weekend to film a dramatic high-speed police chase.

Crowds of fans and bemused shoppers watched from a distance as actress Vicky McClure jumped into a police car and sped off.

Hollywood star Thandie Newton also made an appearance on the city centre set as crews filmed scenes for series four of the crime thriller.

Bedford Street near the City Hall was closed off for several hours on Saturday morning as the filming got under way, with stunt vehicles used for the high-speed chase.

By coincidence, the street also had to be cordoned off that afternoon after glass from a broken window fell from Bedford House onto the street below.

The road remained closed until about 6.30pm, but there were no reports of any injuries.

Line of Duty has become BBC Two's best-performing drama in a decade since its premiere in 2012.

The gritty series, which focuses on police anti-corruption unit AC-12, also stars Martin Compston and Co Fermanagh actor Adrian Dunbar.

Newton, who has starred in Crash and Mission: Impossible II, has joined the latest series as the main antagonist, DCI Roz Huntley.