WARNING: Spoilers ahead.
Line Of Duty star Gregory Piper has bid a fond farewell to the show after the fate of his character Ryan Pilkington was revealed in the latest episode.
Pilkington was revealed to have been shot dead by DI Kate Fleming, after the pairâs armed stand-off last week left viewers with an agonising wait to find out whoâd survived.
Following Sunday nightâs episode, Gregory shared a lengthy post on social media paying tribute to the cast and crew, alongside some photos from his time on the show.
![Ryan Pilkington has been killed off in Line Of Duty](https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/60866d9c260000f435b41860.jpeg?cache=U2NnHsCVhG&ops=scalefit_720_noupscale)
Admitting that Pilkington â a member of the organised crime group whoâd embedded himself in the police force â âhad it comingâ, Gregory wrote: âWhat a privilege itâs been to work on this show. Every day I was still as mind blown and excited as I was when I was 13 in series 1.
âThe nicest and most welcoming group of people I have ever met. I had the most fun and itâs something Iâll never forget. I know itâs cliche but I wouldnât say it if it wasnât true, theyâre like a family to me now.â
He continued: âThe whole crew off camera are the glue that holds us all together. The talent both on and off screen is what makes this show so good. And the support from everyone, through each department, is what makes the experience so special. Itâs a well oiled, hard working and talent machine and that was only emphasised when we filmed through the pandemic.
âWhat an experience. Itâs not lost on me how lucky I am.â
Thanking the showâs creator and writer Jed Mercurio for giving him âan absolute giftâ with Ryan, Gregory continued: âHis scenes and character journey have been the stuff of dreams and Iâm so grateful. To have acted in scenes with the absolute power houses of actors that I have has been a masterclass. Along with the incredible directors across S1, 5 & 6. The loveliest, most support and funny bunch youâll ever meet. I have so many amazing memories.
âThis show has meant so much to me and has changed my life and if I could go back and tell little Greg what his life had in store his mind would explode.
âThank you to everyone whoâs watched and supported. Iâm completely overwhelmed by the response and couldnât be more proud of the whole team.â
Gregory also thanked fans of the show, who he joked âmake brilliant detectivesâ and teased that they are âin for an absolute corker of a last episode next weekâ.
Referencing his debut appearance in Line Of Dutyâs first series when he was a teenager, Gregory signed off: âIf only theyâd have gotten him that Big Mac⌠Ryan âthe bent bastardâ Pilkington. Over and out.â
![Pilkington did not survive his armed stand-off with DI Fleming](https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/6080318e1e00008e350ffcd9.png?ops=crop_319_67_2437_1549%2Cscalefit_720_noupscale)
Sunday nightâs episode saw DCI Joanne Davidson take the rap for shooting Pilkington, as she faced interrogation from AC-12 over her involvement with the OCG.
While the Crown Prosecution Service were â in DCS Patricia Carmichaelâs words â âgullible enoughâ to believe her, the smug superintendent knows that forensic evidence points to Fleming being the real perpetrator.
Pilkington was not the only character to be killed off in the episode, as the much-discussed Marcus Thurwell was found dead at his home in Spain, before actor James Nesbitt had even made his first proper appearance in the show.
However, thereâs evidence to suggest that all might not be what it seems with his death...
Line Of Duty concludes on Sunday at 9pm on BBC One.