Filming wraps on Line of Duty series six, as first images of Kelly Macdonald as DCI Joanne Davidson are revealed

The sixth instalment of Jed Mercurio's hit crime thriller - which resumed filming at the end of August - wrapped yesterday afternoon in Northern Ireland and will air on BBC One in 2021.

To mark the news, two images of Kelly Macdonald as Line of Duty's next guest series lead have been released. The pictures show Macdonald as Detective Chief Inspector Joanne Davidson, the senior investigating officer on an unsolved murder case whose unconventional conduct attracts the attention of AC-12.

Line of Duty showrunner Jed Mercurio says: "Thanks so much to our brilliant cast and crew who applied rigorous Covid safety measures to deliver Line of Duty six to our wonderful fans. We're all immensely grateful to World Productions and the BBC for the unswerving support they've given us in a time of unprecedented challenges to UK television production."

Simon Heath, executive producer for World Productions says: "Huge praise has to go to Jed, Kelly, Vicky, Martin, Adrian and the brilliant Line of Duty cast and crew who completed filming on series six yesterday, after five months of lockdown and three more of shooting under the most trying of circumstances. The audience is in for a treat next year"

A premiere date for the new series will be announced in due course. Series one to five of Line of Duty are available to stream in the UK exclusively on BBC iPlayer.