Line of Duty series 6: Vicky McClure missing from episode 6 cast list after Kate Fleming shootout with Ryan Pilkington…

*Warning: This article contains major spoilers for Line of Duty series 6 episode 5.

Following the agonising cliffhanger from Line of Duty’s latest episode, fans have been scrambling to find evidence of Kate Fleming’s fate in the next instalment ahead.

However, many got an unpleasant surprise when they looked at the episode six cast list to find Vicky McClure was missing.

Line of Duty closed on Sunday night with Kate and Ryan pointing their guns at each other, threatening to pull the trigger with first look photos of episode six revealing a shaken Steve Arnott arriving at the scene. The episode ended with a gun shot but we have no idea which direction the bullet was fired.

The now deleted trailer released ahead of series six appeared to show Kate and DSI Joanne Davidson – who lured Kate into a trap – holding their hands up in a scene yet to air, suggesting both officers are still alive.

Not according to the cast list for this week’s episode though, which is noticeably missing Vicky, Kelly Macdonald and Gregory Piper, who star as Kate Fleming, Jo Davidson and Ryan Pilkington respectively.

It seems implausible none of the actors will appear in the next instalment at least in some capacity – even from a hospital bed – and creator Jed Mercurio was never going to let slip the fate of Kate, Ryan or Jo on a casting sheet.

We smell a red herring…

Speaking about the dramatic cliffhanger, Vicky remained frustratingly tight-lipped when quizzed on the Obsessed With Line of Duty podcast, presented by former Line of Duty star Craig Parkinson who starred as Matthew ‘Dot’ Cottan until series three.

‘Well you know, every episode of Line of Duty history is terrifying, and Jed is always there to serve the story, and it’s exactly what happened with Dot.

‘Dot’s time came when it was time to serve the story and that’s what Jed will always do, so I don’t wanna put anything out there, but Jed serves the story.’

Helpful.

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

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