Line of Duty: viewers stunned by shocking episode as major character is killed off

The British crime drama has cemented its reputation for making bold plot moves
Shocking: DI Matthew 'Dot' Cottan did something very, very bad in the latest Line of Duty
BBC/World Productions/Steffan Hill
Ben Travis22 April 2016

While Game of Thrones has a huge reputation for killing off major characters at the drop of a hat, British crime drama Line of Duty is forging a similar one for its huge shocks.

The third series of Jed Mercurio’s show has seen some huge twists and turns in its latest run – and in the penultimate episode saw one key player killed off.

SPOILER WARNING: if you’re not caught up, come back after you’ve seen Episode 5

In a final scene which left viewers stunned, AC-12’s ‘Dot’ Cottan confronted Keeley Hawes’ character Lindsay Denton after she uncovered his link to paedophile Tommy Hunter.

After declining Cottan’s offer of £100,000 to stay silent, Denton was shot and killed – but not before she’d sent an email to the Superintendent leaking the secret.

Denton’s sudden death caused an outpouring on social media as viewers tried to get their head around the latest surprise.

Line of Duty Series 3

1/8

Keeley Hawes paid tribute to her character and show creator Jed Mercurio on Twitter, saying: “I will miss #LindsayDenton more than I can say...”

As if we weren’t already excited enough about the 90-minute finale, it’s anyone’s guess how this is all going to end up.

BBC Two, 9pm

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