Line Of Duty fans were put on red alert as Adrian Dunbar slipped into character on Monday – sadly for them his latest project has nothing to do with the beloved BBC drama.
The actor was on set as he filmed scenes for a forthcoming episode of Ridley, an ITV police procedural co-starring former Hollyoaks actress Bronagh Waugh.
Dressed in Ripley’s brown leather jacket and corduroy trousers, Dunbar, 65, mingled with members of the production team while waiting for cameras to roll.
Joining the Irish star, best known for his role as straight-talking Superintendent Ted Hastings in Line Of Duty, Waugh, 41, prepared for her own scenes as DI Carol Farman.
Ridley debuted last summer on ITV and was created by Paul Matthew Thompson. who is also behind crime drama Vera.
Adrian Dunbar (left) was back at work on Monday as he filmed scenes for a new episode of Ridley, an ITV police procedural co-starring ex-Hollyoaks actress Bronagh Waugh (right)
Line Of Duty fans were put on red alert as Dunbar slipped into character on Monday – sadly for them his latest project has nothing to do with the beloved BBC drama
After a second series was announced in June of this year, Dunbar said in a statement: ‘I don’t think I’ve ever headed into a production with more excitement and enthusiasm.’
The series follows DI Ridley, a widowed homicide officer who is unwillingly made redundant following a mental breakdown.
His situation is made worse when his replacement on the force is revealed to be former protégée Farman.
However, Acting DI Farman soon enlists Ridley for help with a complicated murder case and he is once again right back in the thick of it, where he belongs.
A keen musician and singer, Dunbar told Yours how he took opportunity to add this part of himself to his character.
‘I’ve been interested in music all my life.’ He said. ‘I used to play bass, but I just sing now.
‘When I was putting the character of Ridley together, I thought it would be really nice if we could incorporate a musical element. So, we decided that he should run this jazz club.’
Dunbar is known for starring in several crime dramas, and won a legion of fans as Superintendent Ted Hastings in Line Of Duty.
Dressed in Ripley’s brown leather jacket and corduroy trousers, Dunbar mingled with members of the production team while waiting for cameras to roll
Dunbar is pictured with Martin Compston and Vicky McClure in Line of Duty. He played Superintendent Ted Hastings in the BBC drama
The BBC drama followed DS Steve Arnott, played by Martin Compston, a firearms officer who transferred to anti-police corruption unit AC-12 to work under Hastings.
During its first series, Line of Duty had an average viewership of just under four million. However, by its last series, viewership surpassed 15 million.
Creator Jed Mercurio said the show was inspired by from the Metropolitan Police’s anti-corruption unit named A-10.
Though it aired for nine years, Line of Duty had just 36 episodes but its impact was huge. It won the Royal Television Society award for best drama and is consistently listed among the greatest British dramas of all time.
