Why the BBC initially rejected the gritty police drama that became a ratings hit
In short: When Jed Mercurio pitched his vision for a revisionist police drama, the BBC initially balked, fearing the dark, complex narrative was too problematic for mainstream viewers. Yet, the resulting series, Line of Duty, defied expectations, becoming one of the highest-rated programmes on BBC Two and earning widespread critical acclaim.
Created by Jed Mercurio and produced by World Productions, the first series of Line of Duty debuted on BBC Two in 2012. The show centers on the fictional Anti-Corruption Unit 12 (AC-12), led by Superintendent Ted Hastings, as they investigate the morally ambiguous DCI Tony Gates. Mercurio intended the programme to serve as a revisionist commentary on 21st-century policing, deliberately avoiding the tropes of existing police procedurals. The production, which filmed in Birmingham over 11 weeks in 2011, was initially pitched to BBC One, but executives there redirected it to BBC Two, deeming the content potentially too difficult for a broad audience.
The series is noted for its intense, claustrophobic atmosphere and a narrative style that prioritizes a journalistic approach with minimal backstory. While critics like Rhik Samadder found the pacing jarring, others praised the show's challenging plot and the compelling, morally grey performance of Lennie James as Gates. Despite the positive reception, the production faced controversy regarding its duty of care. Ofcom censured the BBC after a 13-year-old actor, Gregory Piper, was exposed to sexually explicit language and adult themes on set without the required psychological support, despite the network having parental permission.
The show's success was significant, finishing as the fifth highest-rated series on BBC Two since 2002 with a 15.7% audience share. This performance secured a second series, which was commissioned on 25 July 2012, just one day after the first series concluded. The show's influence eventually expanded globally, reaching audiences in the United States via Hulu, Acorn TV, and BritBox, and finding homes on Netflix in Canada and Australia. Even years later, its impact remained visible, with the BBC re-broadcasting the series in 2020 to fill gaps left by pandemic-related production delays.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Line of Duty series 1
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