A SECOND face from the past will return to Line of Duty this week, the BBC has confirmed.
Anna Maxwell Martin will reprise her role as Detective Chief Superintendent Patricia Carmichael on Sunday night.
Nemesis of Co Fermanagh actor's Adrian Dunbar's Superintendent Ted Hastings the character appeared in series five of acclaimed BBC One drama Line Of Duty.
She was brought in as an independent investigator amid doubts over the integrity of the AC12 chief and her return comes as Hastings is facing a forced retirement.
It has prompted speculation her no-nonsense character may be slated to succeed him as head of the internal affairs team.
Maxwell Martin, a two-time Bafta TV Award winner indicated she is relishing her return.
""Pat's back, I can't remember what she's doing there, nor would I be allowed to blab, but suffice to say she's got some new clobber and she's ready to bust some balls."
Last week saw the short-lived return of Patrick Baladi as corrupt solicitor Jimmy Lakewell and trailers for the show indicate Keeley Hawes will also return as disgraced policewoman Lindsay Denton, as the team get closer to unravelling the identity of the super villain known only as `H'.
Line Of Duty returned for its sixth series last month, with its first episode the most watched drama episode since 2018.
The last episode of the Jed Mercurio series, which is filmed around Northern Ireland, caused excitement among viewers with the revelation that DCI Joanne Davidson was related to a character from a previous series.
Played by Trainspotting star Kelly Macdonald, fans have been trying to deduce which character from the intricately woven, multiple series-spanning plot - with Scottish series one villain Tommy Hunter among the favourite guesses.
Also adding to the dramatic tension is the imminent exposure DI Steve Arnott's drug and alcohol dependence after being thrown down stairs in series four and the divided loyalties of former AC12 stalwart DI Kate Fleming.
Line Of Duty airs on Sunday nights at 9pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
