'Line of Duty' fans think subtle misspelling uncovers H's identity

Another day, another Line of Duty theory: This time fans think a subtle misspelling during the latest episode could be the giveaway for the mysterious identity of H.

In Sunday’s episode, we saw Joanne Davidson, played by Kelly MacDonald, messaging with an anonymous OCG (Organised Crime Group) member via a laptop.

At one point in the blunt exchange, the mysterious user — shown as ‘unknown’ on the screen — misspells the word definitely as “definately.”

Read: Line of Duty viewers spot disturbing new detail about Jo Davidson's family history

Now, this misspelling comes as no surprise to hardcore fans of the show as we saw that same misspelling in the previous series, made by AC-12’s very own superintendent Ted Hastings (Adrian Dunbar).

In series five, the unknown ‘H’ misspelt the word the same way when he was communicating with John Corbett, played by Stephen Graham and Lisa McQueen, played by Rochenda Sandall.

In an attempt to uncover ‘H’s’ identity once and for all, AC-12 hacked into the villain's laptop to impersonate ‘H’ by misspelling 'definitely' in what he told the team, was a well-rehearsed attempt to mimic ‘H’s’ language.

The reappearance of the misspelling has many viewers convinced that Hastings has been the so-called “fourth man” all along.

Fans have also paralleled this with other clues that they believe, point the blame towards Hastings.

Earlier on in this series we saw Steve Arnott, played by Martin Compston, illegally conduct a search of Steph Corbett’s (Amy De Bhrún) house during which he found a huge envelope of cash in the loft. He later finds out that the money is OCG money that Hastings gave to Corbett after her husbands death.

Read more: Adrian Dunbar: Fans have figured out Line of Duty cliffhanger already

Compston flags his findings to Kate Fleming, played by Vicky McClure, telling her that he suspects he knows the real reason why Hastings handed Corbett the money.

Furthermore, despite having caught PC Ryan Pilkington, played by Gregory Piper, on camera appearing to tip off an OCG about a police raid, from a burner phone he retrieved from inside his sock, after phones were confiscated, Hastings undermines the entire sting operation by arguing against arresting “bent copper” Pilkington claiming that it would be more beneficial to keep him under surveillance.

This surveillance we later find out has been pulled, along with all other AC-12 surveillance operations, by Hastings’ replacement Patricia Carmichael, played by Anna Maxwell Martin.

Arnott reminds Fleming afterwards that this was the second time Hastings had opposed Pilkington’s arrest.

Finally, we also saw Arnott speak to Lee Banks, played by Alastair Natkiel in prison who revealed that it was in fact Hastings who alerted him to the fact that John Corbett was the “rat” in the OCG which led to his murder.

Fans have mixed reactions to the potential identity of H falling upon Hastings, with many claiming that “it would be too obvious.”

It also leads us to question why Hastings is so persistent in his quest to solve the mystery of ‘H’, if it is himself?

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