'Line of Duty' cast thrilled as Stephen King compares show to 'The Wire': 'One of the best police series I've ever seen'

The BBC's Line of Duty has found an unlikely fan in the shape of best-selling author Stephen King.

The writer behind Carrie, The Shining, and IT shared his love for Jed Mercurio's cop show on Twitter calling it "one of the best police series I've ever seen".

King added that it's "impossible not to binge", comparing it to the award-winning HBO crime show The Wire. Quoting a line from the Guardian's review of the show's series four finale King added: "This is less like watching TV, and more like being abducted by it, cuffed, then dragged along."

The show, which recently wrapped up its sixth season with record-breaking ratings, has recently become available to stream in the US via Britbox.

Read more: Questions that still need answers after Line of Duty S6

Mercurio was quick to respond, reciprocating the praise back saying it was 'an incredible honour' to receive King's recognition, citing the author's non-fiction book On Writing as an influence on his own work.

Actor Vicky McClure, who plays DI Kate Fleming on the show, also responded saying "Wow!!!!! What incredible high praise."

Despite smashing its ratings record with the season six finale — up 3.5m viewers on season five — the last episode was criticised in some quarters for for being an anti-climax.

The identity of the mysterious H — the criminal mastermind at the heart of the show's long-running investigation — was revealed to be a relatively minor character.

However Mercurio has teased a possible seventh season prompting speculation that the reveal may be another piece of classic Line of Duty misdirection.

Read more: Line of Duty finale 'not that divisive' says Mercurio

One thing's for sure, if there is another season, master of the macabre Stephen King looks likely to be tuning in.

All six seasons of Line of Duty are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

Watch: The Queen is also a Line of Duty fan