Line of Duty: BBC cleverly conceals Kate Fleming’s fate as fans fear for character’s survival

Viewers have been combing through the next episode’s cast list for clues

Fans have poured over the BBC website for clues following a dramatic cliffhanger at the end of last Sunday’s (18 April) episode of Line of Duty.

Spoilers follow for Line of Duty series six, episode five...

At the conclusion of the episode, DI Kate Fleming (Vicky McClure) was lured into a trap by DSI Jo Davidson (Kelly Macdonald).

After meeting with Davidson, Fleming engaged in an armed standoff with the OCG-linked police officer Ryan Pilkington (Gregory Piper).

The screen then cuts to black, and two gunshots are heard, but the fate of all three characters is unclear.

Several Line of Duty fans had spotted that McClure’s name was not included on the cast list for episode six, fearing that the omission could spell grave news for the character’s future.

“Mother of god. Vicky McClure isn’t on the castlist in next week’s episode on Radio Times. That doesn’t bode well,” wrote one viewer.

“She’s a goner isn’t she,” wrote someone else. “Castlist suggests so.”

Kate Fleming (Vicky McClure) at the end of Line of Duty, series six, episode five (BBC)

“I feel sick,” wrote another fan.

Alongside McClure, however, the cast list is also missing Macdonald and Piper’s names, suggesting that the BBC is simply playing its cards close to its chest and refusing to give viewers any clear hints via the cast listing.

Some fans, meanwhile, are convinced that Fleming will survive the shoot-out, based on an as-yet-unseen clip of the character which was featured in a trailer for the series.

However, it’s possible that the clip was included in the trailer as a deliberate mislead.

You can read a full recap of the biggest talking points from Line of Duty’s latest episode here, including the revelation that Davidson’s mystery blood relative is none other than Tommy Hunter.

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