Line of Duty actor Daniel Mays 'still in shock' over series 3 twist

The opening episode of Jed Mercurio's latest crime procedural ended with a surprise death

Line of Duty became BBC Two's most-watched original drama in ten years when it first aired in 2012.

The show follows AC-12, a squad focused on anti-corruption within the police force comprised of DS Steve Arnott (Martin Compston), DC Kate Fleming (Vicky McClure) and Superintendant Ted Hastings (Adrian Dunbar).

Each series places a new suspected individual at the forefront of their investigation with the first two focusing on Lennie James' DCI Tony Gates and Keeley Hawes' DI Lindsay Denton.

Daniel Mays was named as the lead for the show's third series which began last month.

However, In a shock that left viewers reeling, episode one's closing moments saw his character Sgt. Danny Waldron killed off after a gunshot to the neck - a turn of events that Mays is still struggling to comprehend.

"It was strange because the script came in on the premise that Danny was the new protagonist," Mays told Digital Spy. "It was a weird position - I had to put on an acting performance in front of the press and pretend I was in the whole series."

"I can't complain because it's possibly the best part I've had to date," he continued. "Jed's script is so great - you're gutted you can't carry the character on. It was one of the best reads I've ever sat through."

Line of Duty's third series draws to a close on Thursday evening (28 April) with a fourth already commissioned.