First look at Robert Carlyle as he joins Line of Duty as rifle officer for series seven

Robert Carlyle as Shaun Massie in the new series for the BBC1 drama series, Line of Duty. | Peter Marley/World Productions/BBC/Press Association

placeholder image — Robert Carlyle as Shaun Massie in the new series for the BBC1 drama series, Line of Duty. | Peter Marley/World Productions/BBC/Press Association

The Scottish actor joins the new series of the hugely successful show as a “gruff loner”marksman

Scottish actor Robert Carlyle has stepped into the world of Line Of Duty for the first time as a specialist rifle officer.

The 65-year-old, known for roles in hit movies Trainspotting and The Full Monty, plays Detective Constable Shaun Massie, a guest lead role in the upcoming seventh series of the BBC show.

Newly released images show Carlyle armed and in police uniform as part of tactical operations unit 7 (TO-7).

Carlyle’s character Massie, a veteran marksman described as a “gruff loner”, will be tasked with taking down organised crime groups – however everything changes when his boss, DI Dominic Gough, is accused of being a sexual predator.

Laura Aikman as Paula Beckman and Robert Carlyle as Shaun Massie in the new series for the BBC1 drama series, Line of Duty. | Peter Marley/World Productions/BBC/Press Association

Gough is played by series newcomer Tom Weston-Jones, who is best known for starring in Warrior and Sanditon.

The TO-7 unit also comprises of This City Is Ours actress Laura Aikman as DC Paula Beckman, This Town’s Levi Brown as DC Luke Tobin, and You actress Amy-Leigh Hickman as DC Nira Rashid.

Martin Compston, Vicky McClure and Adrian Dunbar all reprise their roles as anti-corruption unit AC-12 officers Steve Arnott, Kate Fleming and Ted Hastings respectively, in Jed Mercurio’s hit crime thriller.

The new series will follow the unit after it was disbanded and rebranded the Inspectorate of Police Standards, as the team are assigned their most sensitive case so far.

The series will also see Mark Bonnar return as former Deputy Chief Constable Mike Dryden, while Owen Teale will reprise his role as Chief Constable Philip Osborne.

Perry Fitzpatrick will return as DS Chris Lomax in the upcoming series, along with Christina Chong as DI Nicky Rogerson.

Carlyle follows in the footsteps of previous Line Of Duty guest series leads including Trainspotting co-star Kelly Macdonald, Adolescence actor Stephen Graham and Westworld actress Thandiwe Newton.

Line Of Duty series seven will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the new year.