Martin Compston admits he’s on strict diet ahead of filming Line of Duty
Line of Duty star Martin Compston has revealed that he’s begun dieting ahead of his return to the hit BBC crime drama.
Martin, 41, plays Anti-Corruption Unit Detective Inspector Steve Arnott – best known for his choice of tight-fitting waistcoats on the show.
After years of speculation, it was recently announced that Line of Duty would be returning for a seventh series with all principal members of the cast.
Martin will reprise his role alongside Vicky McClure and Adrian Dunbar as AC-12’s top cops, with filming set to begin this Spring.
The actor has already begun preparing for the new series by undergoing a strict diet, under the supervision of his wife, Tianna Chanel Flynn.
This involves cutting out all sugar, and sticking to a strict menu of organic food.
Speaking to The Times newspaper, Martin said: ‘I’m filming series seven of Line of Duty in the Spring, and before I start a new project I do this thing called the Whole30 organic diet, orchestrated by my wife, who, unlike me, is a phenomenal cook, where you totally cut out sugar.’
Martin and actress Tiana have been married for ten years, after meeting at a bar in a Los Angeles hotel, and now share one son together.
Describing his new diet, he continued: ‘Yesterday she made chicken wings, asparagus, cabbage and a miso sauce for lunch, which all helps me fit nicely into my Steve Arnott waistcoat.’
Martin didn’t share whether or not she’s cooking these meals with gas.
The core AC-12 team will be joined by series newcomer Robert Carlyle as its guest lead, Detective Constable Shaun Massie.
The Trainspotting and Once Upon a Time star will follow in the footsteps of previous guest stars Lennie James, Keeley Hawes and Daniel Mays, all of whom played corrupt coppers investigated by the gang.
On joining the series, Robert said: ‘The scripts for the series are excellent and will absolutely maintain the quality that the audience have come to expect from this fantastic show.’
‘DC Massie is an extraordinary character and I look forward to bringing him to life,’ he added.
The BBC has shared a few details of what to expect from the plot of season seven, which begins with AC-12 disbanded and rebranded.
Now designated the Inspectorate of Police Standards, the team come together when the commanding officer of a Tactical Operations Unit is accused of being a sexual predator.
How this ties in to the divisive ending to series six remains to be seen, but we’d wager that there’s more to the tale than meets the eye.
Indeed, a TV insider has suggested that the show will revisit its biggest dangling thread when it does return – the identity of enigmatic crime boss ‘H.’
H was revealed to be bumbling Ian Buckells at the end of season six, although many fans weren’t thrilled about how the mystery was resolved.
An insider told The Sun: ‘There was genuine anger about the way series six ended and that was part of the reason that a seventh outing was ordered.
‘But this is the first time that there’s been any news on whether they’ll bring back the “H” storyline – and devotees will be thrilled to hear Jed will be giving them just what they want.’
The source said there was ‘still likely to be a new villain introduced into the new season’, just as with every series since the show was launched.
‘But the incoming baddie’s storyline is likely to be intertwined with that of H in a sensational double-whammy,’ the added.
While season seven is believed to begin filming in Spring 2026, its release date has yet to be confirmed.
What we do know is that the show will return to BBC iPlayer and BBC One at some point next year.
Line of Duty is available to stream now on BBC iPlayer.
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