'Line of Duty' star Nigel Boyle reveals unlikely sex symbol status after show finale

Line of Duty star Nigel Boyle has revealed an unusual side effect of being revealed as shadowy corrupt policeman H — he's now a sex symbol.

Buckells was unmasked as "the fourth man" — the last senior member of a network of bent coppers working with organised crime — in the divisive final episode of the Jed Mercurio show's sixth series last week.

Read more: Unanswered questions after Line of Duty finale

Now, Boyle has told the Mirror that the reveal has brought him to the attention of a rather different group of fans, who are surprised that he doesn't always look like his character.

He said: "One of the funniest things my mate spotted on a fan group was someone saying: ‘Oh, my God he looks nothing like Buckells’ and ‘I wouldn’t kick him out of bed...'"

Watch: Jed Mercurio reveals H hint in first Line of Duty series

Boyle added: “Another wrote: ‘God, he looks quite dishy doesn’t he?’

“It’s just really funny. I’ve got this beard and my hair is different. Who’d want to look like Buckells in real life?"

Read more: Jed Mercurio reveals clue to H identity back in series one

The star said it was a "huge weight off my shoulders" when he was finally able to tell the world that his character was the fourth man, even if viewers weren't entirely satisfied.

"I can understand the frustrations but Jed hit the nail on the head," he said.

"Buckells isn’t a criminal mastermind and that’s the point this series was ­making. He was easily bought. The real masterminds are the OCGs [organised crime groups] pulling the strings.

“I don’t take it personally that some people think H is a huge disappointment.

"I prefer to think of it more, as someone said to me, that I’ve become one of the biggest TV baddies of all time.”

Read more: Line of Duty cast reveal tattoo pact if show got 12m viewers

Despite mixed reaction from fans and critics, Line of Duty became one of the most watched TV dramas of all time when 12.8m people tuned in for the finale.

Mercurio also defended his creation on social media, saying the majority of the audience rated the episode very highly according to research.

It was heavily suggested in the marketing that this would be the final series of the show, but Mercurio has dropped hints that it could continue in some form.

Watch: Jed Mercurio and James Nesbitt schemed to hide Line of Duty reveal