WITH the gripping finale of Line of Duty just days away, bookmakers have identified a clear favourite to be corrupt police officer 'H'.
It remains one of the biggest mysteries of the popular BBC One crime drama and fans are hoping H will finally be exposed on Sunday night.
Speculation is rife about who the 'bent' copper could be with the trailer for the season finale suggesting viewers will learn the identity of the infamous 'fourth man'.
A host of possible candidates are in the frame as the shady character codenamed H with villain Detective Chief Superintendent Patricia Carmichael leading the way as the 5/2 favourite.
Following her suspicious behaviour in last week's episode and eagle eyed fans also spotting her tapping out the letter H in Morse Code with her pen during the interview with Joanne Davidson, Carmichael - played by Anna Maxwell Martin - has become the red hot favourite.
Bookmakers BoyleSports says Chief Constable Phillip Osborne is also a prominent candidate at 7/2, amid questions surrounding his connections to the OCG (organised crime gang) and possibly a broader corruption plot within the Central Police.
However, the prospect of a dramatic twist is also on the cards with AC-12 chief Ted Hastings, played by Co Fermanagh actor Adrian Dunbar, also among the bookies' favourites, after being gambled down to 6/1 from 10/1.
Other candidates include Deputy Chief Constable Andrea Wise (8/1) and former detective Marcus Thurwell (9/1), who is played by James Nesbitt.
Detective Superintendent Davidson, who last week admitted during the AC-12 interrogation that she was being controlled by the OCG, which relied on corrupt officers to help them carry out their dirty work, is also among the contenders at 11/1.
Even Kate Fleming, played by Vicky McClure, is rated as a likely contender at 16/1, more than her former AC-12 sidekick Steve Arnott, played by Martin Compston, who is a 100/1 outsider.
Lawrence Lyons from BoyleSports said: "We may well be getting closer to solving the mystery that has been on everybody's lips and punters clearly think they're on to something.
"Patricia Carmichael and Chief Constable Osborne are prime suspects, but we’ve taken a few bets this week on Ted Hastings and he’s made a move into 6/1 from 10/1 to deliver a bombshell this Sunday."
