Line of Duty viewers overjoyed as Ted Hastings delivers show’s iconic phrase in episode 2

That’s one to tick off the series six bingo card

Line of Duty fans were left feeling extremely pleased with Ted Hastings in the latest episode.

The second instalment of the BBC drama’s sixth series was broadcast on Sunday (28 March), and saw AC-12 continue to investigate DCI Joanne Davidson (Kelly Macdonald).

One moment saw AC-12 meet a roadblock in their investigation after DCI Kate Fleming tipped off Joanne about the investigation.

Naturally, this angered Superintendant Hastings (Adrian Dunbar), who went straight to the top to see Commissioner Rohan Sindwhani (Ace Bhatti) and Deputy Chief Constable Andrea Wise (Elizabeth Rider).

“I am here because AC-12’s lawful investigation has been unjustly obstructed,” he said during a terse exchange.

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It was here that he uttered what has become an iconic line of dialogue.

After a back-and-forth, in which the pair cast aspersions on AC-12’s decision to investigate the Davidson-led Operation Lighthouse, Hastings delivers the line: “I’m interested in one thing and one thing only, and that’s bent coppers.”

This exchange sparked excitement in viewers, with many posting celebratory memes.

Sanjeev Bhaskar, star of ITV series Unforgotten, wrote: “When Hastings started to utter the trusty ‘bent coppers’ line in @Line_of_duty tonight, I was cheering before he ended the sentence.”

Meanwhile, the episode also revealed a big plot point on a computer screen in the background that hints at a future revelation about DCI Kate Fleming (Vicky McClure).

Line of Duty continues Sundays at 9pm on BBC One. Read our review of the show’s second episode here.