Written by Shona Smith on Feb 19, 2020. Posted in Production News

Line of Duty series six begins filming in Belfast

Principal production has begun on police corruption drama Line of Duty series six. The BBC One series has been filmed on location in Northern Ireland since the second series, moving from Birmingham to Belfast.

Series six is set a year and a half after the climactic series five finale which garnered 13.7 million viewers across all TV and online viewers in the first 28 days of its release and was BBC One's most watched programme of 2019.

A brand new case occupies AC-12 anti-corruption unit in series six, focusing on an enigmatic Detective Chief Inspector. Kelly Macdonald (Giri/Haji, Boardwalk Empire) guest stars and the senior investigating officer of an unsolved murder whose unconventional conduct raises suspicions. Writer and creator Jed Mercurio (Bodyguard, Critical) says "We're honoured that Kelly Macdonald will join Martin, Vicky and Adrian in series six of Line Of Duty. DCI Joanne Davidson will prove the most enigmatic adversary AC-12 have ever faced."

Series leads Vicky McClure (Broadchurch, This is England), Martin Compston (Mary Queen of Scots, Victoria) and Adrian Dunbar (Broken, Death in Paradise) are all returning, and the new series is set to return to BBC One in 2020.

Filming on location takes place across Belfast with past series using city spots including the BT Tower, Invest NI, Telegraph Building, Fitzrovia Mansions, Odyssey Pavillion, Belfast City Hall, First Trust Bank- Custom House Square and East Belfast Yacht Club.

In addition to UK’s 25% high end TV and film tax rebates, productions shooting in Northern Ireland can apply for the Northern Ireland Film Fund which offers up to 25% funding support to national, foreign an co-produced theatrical feature film and feature documentaries, TV series or documentaries.

World Productions, the production company behind Line of Duty, regularly base productions in the UK's nations and regions. Two dramas, recently commissioned by the BBC and ITV are set to shoot in Scotland and Wales with support from respective regional governments. Vigil, set and filmed in Scotland is a timely drama following the disappearance of a Scottish fishing trawler and a death aboard a Trident submaring which brings the police into conflict with the Navy and security services. The Pembrokeshire Murders is a true crime mini-series about the pursuit of a cold blooded killer in 1980’s Wales.

Belfast itself is one of the UK’s growing production hubs. In February, 2020 Belfast Harbour Studios submitted a planning application for the development of six new purpose-built film and television studios, an investment of GBP45 million which is estimated to generate over two hundred construction jobs and around one thousand creative industry jobs. Joe O’Neill Belfast Harbour’s CEO, said: “In recent years Belfast has established itself as one of the UK’s top media production hubs. In 2017 we invested £20m to provide brand new studio facilities but with record levels of demand for studio space globally we are confident the time is right to progress with phase two of the development”.

Photo Credits: World Productions

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