Line Of Duty: Ted Hastings Theory Could Explain AC-12's Investigation Into Gail Vella's Murder

Line Of Duty may have only been back on screens for three weeks, and already we've got a whole stack of theories about just what's going on.

Season six of the BBC's compelling cop show has revealed AC-12 is now in tatters, with DI Kate Fleming (Vicky McClure) having left the anti-corruption squad to join The Hill's Murder Investigations Team, headed up by Joanne Davidson (Kelly Macdonald).

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However, the ongoing investigation into the death of journalist Gail Vella (Andi Osho) has alerted the suspicions of AC-12, with Joanne now being tracked by Steve Arnott (Martin Compston) and Ted Hastings (Adrian Dunbar).

In last week's episode, Steve uncovered that Gail was releasing a podcast into police corruption, and was speaking to a number of informants to make the series before she was killed.

And now, one quick thinking Line Of Duty fan believes that the top dog himself, Ted Hastings, may have been one of Gail's informants.

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Hold on to your hats, folks, as this is where it gets interesting.

Posting their theory on Reddit, user 'Darth Gruffalo' pointed out Ted destroyed a laptop in season five - which could have had stacks of information he passed onto Gail.

"He is one of the high ranking police officers who was sneaking her info, mainly due to the fact that he was being stopped from investigating the OCG/police corruption links by PCC (Police Crime Commissioner)," they explain.

" I believe he has asked Kate to take the mother of all undercover jobs: actually transferring to MIT and feeding Ted information all along."

This would certainly explain why Kate suddenly moved to a new team - with the frosty atmosphere between the two a cover-up for the real reason why she's now working for Joanne Davidson.

The theory continues: " This because Vella's murder was going unsolved and Ted knew that there was information that could have been the reason for the murder, as he was working alongside her ever since Pear Tree (the investigation into police links to crime) found 'no institutional corruption.'"

While Ted repeatedly talks about "catching bent coppers" and following things to the "absolute letter of the law", Dark Gruffalo's theory would also explain Ted's slightly dodgier dealings this series.

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Steve has spotted Ted talking to Steph Corbett (Amy De Bhrun), and has confirmed something that was hinted at in the last series - Ted gave Steph the hidden £50,000 in the wake of John Corbett's (Stephen Graham) death. Should Steve dob in his gaffer, it most certainly would mean the end of Ted Hastings.

And actor Adrian Dunbar has since implied Ted's days at AC-12 are numbered.

"Let's face it -time is running out a bit for Ted; the age he is, whether he can stay in the force, is he useful enough, is he a bit of a dinosaur?" he said.

"He's up against quite a bit. His personal life is not in great shape."

Mother of God, don't say Ted could be leaving?

Line of Duty continues Sundays at 9pm on BBC One.

Topics: Drama, Entertainment News, BBC, TV News, TV & Film, Line of Duty

Kimberley Bond

Kim is a journalist at Tyla, and has previously worked at the Evening Standard, Radio Times as well as several national newspapers. A showbiz obsessive and a television fanatic, Kim is particularly interested in celebrity gossip, A-list events and the latest releases on either the big or small screen. Contact her at [email protected]

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