Will Mellor, Arsher Ali & Leanne Best join Armed Response Unit

Will Mellor (Broadchurch), Arsher Ali (The Missing) and Leanne Best (Ripper Street) have joined the cast of Line Of Duty Series 3, BBC Two has confirmed.

Written and created by Jed Mecurio, the new additions see Will Mellor play PC Rod Kennedy, Arsher Ali as PC Harinderpal ‘Hari’ Bains and Leanne Best as WPC Jackie Bickford, as officers in the Armed Response Unit headed up by previously announced Daniel Mays (Mrs Biggs, Public Enemies) as Sergeant Danny Waldron – who is described as AC-12’s most dangerous adversary yet.

Series regulars Martin Compston, Vicky McClure and Adrian Dunbar will be reprising their roles DS Steve Arnott, DC Kate Fleming and DSI Ted Hastings respectively.

Jed Mercurio, says: “Sergeant Danny Waldron appears to run a team of crack firearms officers, but hidden tensions simmer beneath the surface. We’re all hugely excited that Will Mellor, Arsher Ali and Leanne Best have agreed to play these pivotal roles.”

Line Of Duty is made by World Productions. The executive producers are Jed Mercurio and Simon Heath and Stephen Wright for BBC Northern Ireland. Michael Keillor (Critical) will direct episodes one to three and John Strickland (Bodies) will direct episodes four to six.

Filming of Line Of Duty Series 3 is currently underway in Belfast.