'Line Of Duty' creator Jed Mercurio receives OBE for services to TV drama

Line of Duty creator Jed Mercurio is among a number of high achievers being recognised with royal honours, months after he was appointed an OBE in the Queen's New Year Honours.

The Prince of Wales and Princess Royal are to hand out medals at two investiture ceremonies held at Windsor Castle on Tuesday, one of which will see Mercurio honoured for his services to TV drama.

Mercurio, whose hit shows also include the political thriller Bodyguard and medical drama Bodies, enjoyed great success in 2021 after the sixth and final series of Line of Duty bowed out to record-breaking ratings.

Read more: 'Line Of Duty' creator Jed Mercurio snaps at reporter over future of show

Over 12 million viewers tuned in to see H finally unmasked in the season finale about a police anti-corruption unit, making it the UK’s most-watched drama series of the 21st century so far

Elsewhere, Mercurio’s latest series Trigger Point recently debuted to rave reviews as viewers praised the six-part thriller about a terrorist summer campaign.

After being appointed an OBE in the Queen's New Year Honours, Mercurio tweeted about his honour at receiving such acknowledgements.

Jed wrote: "I'm honoured to received an OBE, and humbled to have been included in the New Year's Honours List alongside recipients who've achieved so much more, in particular for their charity work and in the Covid pandemic".

Since Line of Duty came to an end, many fans have been curious as whether the show will return.

So far, neither Mercurio nor the cast – led by Vicky McClure, Martin Compston and Adrian Dunbar – have said whether it will return for a seventh series.

Read more: 'Trigger Point': Vicky McClure and Jed Mercurio return with another tense crime thriller

Despite passionate responses to the show's ending seemingly indicating a return would be unlikely, Mercurio went on to share internal BBC data on Twitter that he said proved it was much less divisive among viewers than had been suggested.

“It felt like a certain assumption was becoming factual, when the data was showing, that, actually, it wasn’t," he said. "It was something that was developing into quite profound disinformation.”

In the Twitter fallout that followed the series, the showrunner also came under fire for labelling one journalist who questioned his data a "f***ing prick" – with similar comments aimed at viewers.

Watch: New Year Honours - Tony Blair awarded knighthood as Team GB stars and celebrities recognised