Line Of Duty fans unearth clues from secret QR code in action-packed trailer for series 6

Line Of Duty fans have unearthed a collection of cryptic clues after the BBC released a full-length trailer for series six on Tuesday.

The gripping Jed Mercurio police series returns on Sunday March 21 and eagle-eyed viewers have already shared their theories ahead of the start date.

Taking to Twitter and Reddit on Tuesday, after the action-packed trailer was released, fans spotted a hidden QR code in the opening scenes on the front of a magazine which led to a series of clues. 

CLUE NUMBER ONE: QR CODE  

Viewers revealed that if you scan the QR code, it takes you to a ‘highly confidential’ PDF file called ‘operation Easter egg hunt’. 

The secret document is a letter between Chief Constable Philip Osborne, played by Owen Teale, addressed to DCC Andrea Wise, played by Elizabeth Rider, where he shares his concerns over Superintendent Ted Hastings, played by Adrian Dunbar.  

CLUE NUMBER TWO: CHIEF CONSTABLE PHILIP OSBORNE’S LETTER 

In the document, Osborne’s letter warns: ‘I think it is high time we had a much closer look at AC-12. I’m beginning to question whether this department is fit for purpose especially under its current – and let’s be frank – extremely difficult leadership.

‘Ted Hastings doesn’t lead investigations, more commit to a crusade. He is oblivious to the politics of the situation which creates problems for me and problems for you because policing is politics.

‘And should AC-12 even be led by someone who himself has been accused of corruption? The question is what to do next. Is it time for a leadership change? What role should Ted Hastings have in this organisation – if any at all?’ 

Eagle-eyed fans then discovered a link secretly hidden in the word ‘next’ which takes them to another clue.  

CLUE NUMBER THREE: DS STEVE ARNOTT’S PRESCRIPTION 

After clicking on the word ‘next’ it takes fans to a fake prescription for DS Steve Arnott, played by Martin Compston.

The document has a list of medication prescribed for the character with a warning of ‘addiction’. 

Within the medical document, viewers then spotted a secret message written in Morse Code which takes fans to a YouTube video of a news conference. 

CLUE NUMBER FOUR: MORSE CODE TO A SECRET NEWS CONFERENCE VIDEO ON YOUTUBE

In the clip, it shows a report featuring Crime Commissioner Rohan Sindhwani, played by Ace Bhatti, as he responds to ‘allegations of corruption’. 

During the interview it goes to a news reporter, Gail Vella, where eagle-eyed fans spotted a cryptic code at the bottom of the video, with the equation ‘(Hx6)+?.xyz’.  

While there is also a secret link called ‘got a story?’ which directs people to Birmingham’s Green Lane on Google maps. 

CLUE NUMBER FIVE: EQUATION TO A CLIP OF SOMEONE DELETING MESSAGES AND LINK TO GOOGLE MAPS   

Fans discovered that the equation asks whether there is a fourth person who could be H and to replace the question mark with four and add the letter H six times.

After typing hhhhhh4.xyz into the Internet, eagle-eyed viewers discovered a secret video clip of someone deleting messages.    

While fans also discovered that the link at the bottom of the press conference video, which said ‘got a story?’ takes them to Birmingham’s Green Lane on Google maps.  

CLUE NUMBER SIX: FILLING IN MISSING NUMBERS TO ANOTHER SECRET VIDEO CLIP 

After typing in hhhhhh4.xyz into the Internet, it shows an officer deleting messages such as ‘coppers get a special reception behind bars’.

One cryptic message says: ‘This goes right to the top’ while another adds: ‘If you don’t make everything add up…’ a website link with missing numbers then appears.

Fans discovered that if you add up everything at the top of the phone, such as the signal bars, it comes in as the number 66.

Upon adding the number 66 to the broken website link shown in the messages, which is bit.ly/ph66hzb, it takes viewers to a new secret video on Vimeo.

CLUE NUMBER SEVEN: MUG SHOTS AND DS STEVE ARNOTT

In the new Vimeo clip, it sees DS Steve Arnott asked whether he still believes their is a ‘fourth man out there’, which appears to be a nod at H. 

Arnott cryptically replies with: ‘Man or woman?’ to which Detective Inspector Kate Fleming turns around.

During the video, it pans onto a board of police officer mugshots where eagle-eyed fans again spotted a post-it note with a code on it.  

In the short clip, it briefly buffers where the word ‘OCG’, organised crime, is replaced by ‘bbc.in’.

By entering the number on the post-it note with the link, bbc.in/3uZ7Ldt, it takes fans to one final clue ahead of the sixth series.  

CLUE NUMBER EIGHT: ‘WELL DONE, YOU’VE CRACKED IT!’

The final clue takes fans to a BBC iPlayer link with Superintendent Ted Hastings taking a phone call, he says: ‘Well done, you’ve cracked it!’

Hastings then adds that the mystery caller could teach Arnott and Fleming ‘a thing or two’. 

Before signing off the call, he concludes: ‘Before you get back to the coal face, sit back, relax, and take a look at this…’

CLUE NUMBER NINE: ONE FINAL SECRET TRAILER WITH DS STEVE ARNOTT   

The final clue in the ‘operation Easter egg hunt’ mission is a new trailer video with Arnott and his love interest DS Nicola Rogerson, played by Christina Chong.

During the meeting, Arnott admits he wants to transfer to her unit and he says: ‘Strictly off the record I’ve reached the end of the line in anti-corruption. I’ve stuck it out, I’m bored mate. I’m ready for a new challenge.’

It then cuts to an action-packed scene with Fleming taking part in an armed raid at a betting shop with DCI Joanne Davidson, played by Kelly MacDonald. 

Taking to Twitter after spotting the collection of clues, which are still ongoing and appear to hint at what viewers can expect during series six, fans shared their amazement. 

One person said: ‘Very interesting easter egg on the Line of Duty series 6 trailer if you scan the QR code.’

A different fan joked: ‘So I followed the QR code in the #LineofDuty trailer to the letter, then found the prescription which took me to the video and then found a link to a google streetview of Green Lane in Birmingham. Stuck now… #LINEOFDUTY6.’ 

Another follower commented: ‘*possible spoilers* On the new trailer, QR code Easter egg leads to this printed statement and a clickable link #LINEOFDUTY6 #LineofDuty I’ve always hated Osborne.’ (sic)

While a different account added: ‘The hidden QR code in the #LineofDuty trailer @BBCiPlayer @Line_of_duty #AC12 @PCDoris1’ followed by shocked emojis.

Line Of Duty is back on March 21 and in anticipation of the sixth series, the BBC released a full-length trailer on Tuesday.

The action-packed teaser shows AC-12’s Superintendent Ted Hastings, Detective Inspector Kate Fleming and Detective Sergeant Steve Arnott investigating the ‘force’s highest profile murder’.

A cloud of suspicion is raised over whether police corruption has contributed to the unsolved murder of Gail Vella, with the integrity of guest lead Detective Chief Inspector Joanne Davidson (Kelly Macdonald) questioned. 

Davidson is assigned as the senior investigating officer on the unsolved murder case, but her suspicious conduct attracts the attention of the anti-corruption team. 

The trailer starts with S.I. Ted Hastings (Adrian Dunbar) addressing AC-12, telling them: ‘Gail Vella’s murder is this force’s highest profile investigation.  

‘It will be our job to detect whether to police corruption has contributed to this murder remaining unsolved.’

Murder victim Gail (Andi Osho) appears to be a television journalist who was present at a press briefing where Central Police’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Rohan Sindwhani (Ace Bhatti) said: ‘There is no corruption in this police force.’

But S.I. Hastings reveals the PCC’s statement couldn’t be further from the truth as he shouts in another scene: ‘A bare-faced liar promoted to our highest office.’ 

DCI Davidson tells Detective Inspector Kate Fleming (Vicky McClure) of Gail’s murder: ‘Her life got cut short and whoever did it has got away with it.’ 

With excitement building over who is the elusive villain H, it appears writer Jed Mercurio will tie the storyline of organised crime in with this series.

Detective Sergeant Steve Arnott (Martin Compston) says in the trailer during a police briefing ‘I’m going to draw your attention to organised crime and corrupt police officers.’  

Further aspersions are thrown over DCI Joanne Davidson’s character. 

She tells Steve: ‘you should investigate’ to which he looks at her suspiciously and replies: ‘Believe me, we will.’

And new addition to the AC-12 team DC Chloe Bishop (Shalom Brune-Franklin) says over the phone: ‘You have no idea what she’s capable of,’ in reference to Davidson.

As the team discover that line of enquiries have been deliberately suppressed to protect organised crime, they hone in on Davidson, who tells the team: ‘I had nothing to do with it’.

DC Chloe Bishop is also questioned but pleads: ‘I’m being framed.’

It looks like there will be plenty of drama in store with viewers as snippets of crashes, shoot outs and Steve lying on the floor in pain are included in the teaser.  

At the end of the trailer the poignant words: ‘Lies cost lives’ appear on screen, before a stern Ted Hastings concludes: ‘When did we stop caring about honesty and integrity?’  

Creator Jed has been tight-lipped on details surrounding the upcoming sixth series, but has hinted that fans will learn more about H’s identity.

Fans were floored to learn in series five that after years of waiting to discover the identity of the villainous H, it was actually an organisation. 

Steve Arnott discovered the vital clue when a clip of DI Matthew ‘Dot’ Cottan’s dying declaration was played during AC-12 boss Ted Hasting’s interrogation with Patricia Carmichael (Anna Maxwell-Martin). 

And Irish actor Adrian, 62, said that the first episode will also be a ‘head-wreck’ for fans of the show.   

Speaking on the Graham Norton Show last week, he said: ‘18 months have passed so the landscape has completely changed. 

‘We are starting from a place that the audience will probably find a bit shocking at first. 

‘Things and people have been moved around so the first episode is going to be one of those ‘head-wrecks’ for the audience.’ 

Adrian appeared on the chat show alongside one of the drama’s other stars Vicky. 

The actress, 37, spoke about the success of the show and the 13 million viewers that tuned in for the last series. 

She said: ‘It’s mad! It was a slow burn. The first series was great, but we didn’t know we would get a second one. 

‘Then we got a second one and halfway through that suddenly the numbers built and since then it’s just taken off – it’s big and the anticipation is massive. It’s intense.’  

Mercurio left fans speculating he had revealed the identity of bent copper H when he dropped another major clue about series six in February 2020.

He whipped up a social media storm with viewers of the smash-hit BBC show when he shared a photo of Australian chocolate biscuits TimTams with the caption #LineofDuty Series 6 Plot Clue No. 1.’

Manufactured by Arnott’s – the same surname as AC-12 guru DS Steve Arnott – the cryptic snap sent viewers into a frenzy, with theories ranging from a move to Australia to Steve breaking up with his girlfriend.

After filming for series six kicked off in February 2020, Jed shared a more on-the-nose snap from filming of a passed-out Ted Hastings lies slumped on a chair between stars Martin and Vicky. 

Earlier this week Jed also confirmed he plans to write a seventh series of Line Of Duty, after its fifth instalment became the most-watched yet.

Speaking on the Out To Lunch podcast, he said: ‘What I do know is that season six proves there is much more ground for us still to cover and then in terms of other projects. I really want to carry on with Line of Duty as I think it still got some ground to cover. 

‘I am in a fortunate position as a writer. To dream of getting to the point where people watch your work in such larger numbers and you get a little bit of name recognition as well.’

Line of Duty will return on Sunday 21 March at 9pm on BBC One.