Warning! This article contains Line Of Duty spoilers of the highest order. 

Line Of Duty star Anna Maxwell Martin has weighed in on the reaction to the divisive series finale, revealing she approved of the unmasking of the so-called “fourth man”. 

The conclusion of the sixth series of the hit BBC cop drama split fans when DSU Ian Buckells was unveiled as the senior police officer who had been in league with organised crime, at the climax of a storyline that had spanned over the previous two seasons. 

While many felt disappointed and confused as to how the seemingly incompetent officer was capable (despite repeated explanations from Jed and actor Nigel Boyle), Anna was more of a fan of the outcome. 

Speaking to Grazia magazine, she said: “My friends were quite mixed, some of them loved the ending because they felt it was open for new stuff. I liked that it was Nigel [Boyle, who played Buckells], I’ve always thought he’s hilarious.”

However, she admitted she hadn’t actually watched the finale herself yet as she has been away filming and the “TV in my hotel doesn’t work”. 

Anna was also asked if she would be returning as the devious AC-3 boss DCS Patricia Carmichael in a possible seventh series. 

“I wouldn’t know and I would never be told,” she insisted. 

“Until I was in the car and popped on the plane to Belfast [where it’s filmed], I wouldn’t know… I’m not in with the in-crowd there and I’m not sure the in-crowd even knows.”

While the long-running “H” storyline might have wrapped up, there were plenty of questions that remained unanswered at the end of the last series. 

Writer and creator Jed Mercurio previously revealed there’s potential to explore Chief Constable Philip Osborne, should Line Of Duty return. 

Speaking to Den Of Geek, he said: ”[Osborne]’s someone who retains high office who is an outright liar and has been involved in corruption in the past in terms of the Karim Ali case and the Lawrence Christopher case.

“Clearly there would be potential there if we wanted to explore it, but it’s too early to say whether we ever would.”

The entire Line Of Duty boxset is available to stream on BBC iPlayer. Read the full interview with Anna in this week’s issue of Grazia magazine, on sale now.