Line Of Duty season one facts
Line Of Duty creator Jed Mercurio took to Twitter last night to share some juicy season one facts.
While season six of the hit series is currently on pause, BBC One are currently airing the drama from the very beginning.
In the first in a series of tweets Mercurio revealed he once made a cameo in the show.
The writer drove Gina McKee aka Jackie Laverty in season one episode one.
Tony Gates played by Lennie James was meant to be driving, instead he followed behind and was filmed in a separate car!
My only cameo appearance in #LineofDuty was invisible. I'm driving the grey Golf in front of @RealLennieJames and Gina McKee. No one on set knew the route we'd recce'd so Lennie followed me through the streets of Birmingham while they filmed the scene in the car behind. pic.twitter.com/WeHP19DypN
— Jed Mercurio (@jed_mercurio) August 4, 2020
In another car related fact Mercurio talked about his favourite scenes to film.
He directed Lennie James and Martin Compston (Steve Arnott) from the backseat of their cars during season one episode two.
'Both as good at the wheel as they are at acting.'
Personal highlights from #LineofDuty Series 1 Episode 2: sitting in the backseat and directing @RealLennieJames and @martin_compston while we drove round the back roads of Selly Oak and off Broad Street. Both as good at the wheel as they are at acting. pic.twitter.com/MfzwjiPI0T
— Jed Mercurio (@jed_mercurio) August 9, 2020
Next he revealed that fan favourite Ted Hastings played by Adrian Dunbar initially had a supporting role.
However, Dunbar's character had such a big impact that Mercurio wrote him in as lead in season two.
Some viewers may be surprised that in #LineofDuty Series 1 Superintendent Ted Hastings appears in a supporting role. Adrian Dunbar's performance had such a big impact, the character broke out to become a lead in future series. Like Happy Days, The Gaffer was The Fonz! pic.twitter.com/YE59ityLWK
— Jed Mercurio (@jed_mercurio) August 10, 2020
Mercurio went on to reveal the first Line Of Duty scene every shot.
It features in season one episode three where Tony Gates disposes of some suspicious evidence.
Thanks to everyone who watched last night #LineofDuty Series 1 Episode 3. The scene where DCI Tony Gates attempts to dispose of evidence was the very first scene we shot, very early morning in Sutton Park. It's where the journey began. pic.twitter.com/kAPWy4s0mE
— Jed Mercurio (@jed_mercurio) August 11, 2020
Speaking of firsts, Neil Morrissey was the first actor cast for the series.
He plays bent copper Nigel Morton.
Tonight 9.00 pm @BBCOne #LineofDuty Series 1 Episode 4: AC-12 put Gates's team under the spotlight, never suspecting how nasty Nigel can get. Neil Morrissey was the first actor we cast for the series and he was a revelation in the role. pic.twitter.com/gXYeUkMqxL
— Jed Mercurio (@jed_mercurio) August 11, 2020
Finally, and this one is very interesting!
Mercurio told his Twitter fans that Lennie James' character wasn't always called Tony Gates.
'The actors re-voiced their lines in postproduction and we had to hide their mouths delivering the original name.'
#LineofDuty S1 E3 Last night's episode featured the first ever clandestine meeting between Steve and undercover Kate, filmed in Paradise Circus, Birmingham. Sharp-eyed viewers may have spotted that you never see their faces when they say "Tony Gates". That's because ... 1/2 pic.twitter.com/rqgmkLVVEv
— Jed Mercurio (@jed_mercurio) August 11, 2020
Martin Compston this week revealed plans for season six to be wrapped by Christmas
Read that interview here.
