Line of Duty Fans Spot That Gail Vella's Murder Is Based On Real Life Crime

Fans of crime drama Line of Duty have worked out one significant fact about the latest series - it's based on a true story.

Eagle-eyed fans of the TV show have noticed that the murder of Gail Vella in series six shares some similarities with a real life true crime. And it's a theory that seems to have been confirmed by the show's creator Jed Mercurio.

Viewers picked up on some uncanny resemblances to the murder of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, who was killed in 2017 when a bomb was placed in her car, and it seems that the fictional Line of Duty murder is indeed based on this crime.

One Twitter user asked Mercurio directly about the potential link between the two, pointing out that Gail's car was similar to Caruana Galizia's, and that both could have been killed because of a similar motive.

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They wrote: "@jed_mercurio been wondering, is #LOD6 somewhat inspired from the unresolved murder case of #DaphneCaruanaGalizia? My first hunch was the use of the Maltese surname #Vella. Also, same car model, similar journalism and similar potential motive!"

Twitter

Another user was also quick to point out that the surname Vella was actually Caruana Galizia's maiden name.

And Jed Mercurio had this to say about the possible link: "The Gaffer has been complaining that none of the detectives out there had spotted this clue. He'll probably ask you to join AC-12."

We're shook!

In other Line of Duty news, one of the show's OG actors actually believes Gail Vella could be alive.

Discussing the character on his podcast, Obsessed with Line of Duty, actor Craig Parkinson (who played bent copper Matthew "Dot" Cottan on the show) revealed a shocking theory.

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The murder of Gail Vella (played by Andi Osho) is currently being investigated by the Murder Investigation Team and AC-12 on the show.

Parkinson mentioned the extreme measures that DCI Joanne Davidson was going to in locking up her flat.

"Somebody is in that flat and there's some connection with Gail Vella, the investigative journalist," Parkinson said. "You don't cast someone like Andi Osho and then just have her as little magazine prints and stick them up on a kitchen wall."

Could it be true? We'll have to wait to find out.

Line of Duty airs on BBC One at 9pm on Sunday evenings.

Topics: Entertainment, TV and Film, TV News, Line of Duty

Aneira Davies

Aneira Davies is a freelance lifestyle journalist with a particular interest in interiors and craft. She has written for the Evening Standard, Prima, House Beautiful and Good Housekeeping.

@aneiradavies