The BBC’s top cop drama Line of Duty is back on our screens and viewers couldn’t help noticing how one of their favourite characters has become like inept broadcaster Alan Partridge.
Returning last night (March 31) for a fifth series, the show delivered a thrilling opener by thrusting fans into AC-12’s ongoing investigation into the corrupt police officers embedded in an expansive network of organised crime.
Read more: Line Of Duty’s new villain is “most dangerous” yet
Three coppers were killed when vans carrying seized heroin were intercepted in an ambush orchestrated by new villain John Corbett (Stephen Graham).
DI Kate Fleming (Vicky McClure) and DS Steve Arnott (Martin Compston) went after the insider who led the gang to the convoy and stumbled upon Operation Peartree – a secretive investigation that had an officer deep undercover.
As expected it was all very serious, and yet the name of the sting got viewers thinking about Steve Coogan’s alter-ego Alan Partridge.
And when a clearly strapped-for-cash Ted Hastings (Adrian Dunbar) was seen to be living in a shabby budget hotel, Twitter exploded with fans drawing attention to the similarities between him and everyone’s favourite fictional broadcaster, who famously spent time living in Linton Travel Tavern.
One wrote: “Ted Hastings in Alan Partridge’s Travel Tavern is heartbreaking.”
Another said: “Is Ted staying in the same Travel Tavern as Alan Partridge?”
A third commented: “Ted in a Travel Tavern? Operation Peartree? Did Jed Mercurio binge I’m Alan Partridge before writing this series of #LineOfDuty ?
Someone else pointed out: “Operation Peartree? That’s gonna drive the Alan Partridge conspiracy theorists nuts.”
A fifth said: “So Hastings is living the Alan Partridge lifestyle?”
Ted Hastings in Alan Partridge’s Travel Tavern is heartbreaking. #LineofDuty
— 🏳️🌈 Paul 🏳️🌈 (@PJN74) March 31, 2019
#LineofDuty Is Ted staying in the same travel tavern as Alan Partridge
— Grenville Williams (@TrentBridge1) March 31, 2019
Ted in a Travel Tavern? Operation Pear Tree? Did Jed Mercurio binge I'm Alan Partridge before writing this series of #LineOfDuty ?
— Rob Cromwell (@RobCromwell) March 31, 2019
Operation Peartree? That's gonna drive the Alan Partridge conspiracy theorists nuts #LineOfDuty
— Not Al Lloyd (@alan_mackie) March 31, 2019
So Hastings is living the Alan Partridge lifestyle? #LineOfDuty
— Richard Cardall (@Hum_Con) March 31, 2019
The big reveal of the episode was that John Corbett is, in fact, the undercover operative sent to work from within the organised crime gang.
Read more: Line Of Duty’s Adrian Dunbar drops Hastings plot twist
But viewers have no idea if the character’s gone rogue and officially turned baddie, or if he’s still working undercover and simply taken things a bit too far, having been involved in some series crimes.
– Line of Duty continues Sunday (April 7) at 9pm on BBC One.
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