Line of Duty fans left bemused by Steve Arnott’s awkward sex scene with ex girlfriend Sam

Line of Duty fans only have one more episode of series five to go after a nail-biting penultimate airing on Sunday.

And while much of the focus was on Ted Hasting’s rogue antics, ending with his interrogation and arrest, fans were left scratching their heads over Steve Arnott’s awkward sex scene with his ex Sam Railston.

In the middle of a massive surveillance operation on the OCG, DS Steve was seen on a date with Sam before heading to the bedroom. 

But as things started to heat up, Steve struggled with erectile dysfunction as a result of the attack in series four which left him temporarily wheelchair bound.

As he cried in the bathroom a sympathetic Sam tried her best to reassure him, but ultimately ended up leaving when he refused to come out of the room.  

Fans were full of worry for the BBC show’s lead, with one tweeting:  ‘Poor Steve, the guy can’t catch a break anywhere…I feel like he’s going to end up back in a wheelchair ☹️ #LineOfDuty.’

Reconnecting: In the middle of a massive surveillance operation on the OCG, DS Steve was seen on a date with Sam before heading to the bedroom

Bedroom: As things started to heat up, Steve struggled with erectile dysfunction as a result of the attack in series four which left him temporarily wheelchair bound

Others humorously used the show’s famous acronyms, with one fan quipping:  ‘All the stress from the OCG means Steve is having a FTE (failure to erect). #lineofduty.’ 

Steve’s iconic waistcoats were also a source of amusement as one fan tweeted:   ‘See what happens when you take Steve’s waistcoat off. He can’t get it up!!’ 

But some fans were left convinced the scene was more than just two exes trying to reconnect, and part of a bigger storyline.

It’s OK Steve: As he cried in the bathroom a sympathetic Sam tried her best to reassure him, but ultimately ended up leaving when he refused to come out of the room

Sympathy: Fans were full of worry for the BBC show’s lead, with one tweeting: ‘Poor Steve, the guy can’t catch a break anywhere’

One quizzical fan tweeted a theory that AC-12 pro Steve was back to his undercover antics, but is being cautious about getting too close to his subject after previously bedding fellow copper Lindsay Denton in series two.

‘Steve is running an undercover against his girlfriend Sam, hence not having relations with her (he’s been caught out by this before with Lindsay Denton) #lineofduty,’ wondered the viewer.

Another was convinced there is more to Sam’s character, as well as Steve’s AC-12 partner Kate Fleming (Vicky McClure), tweeting:

His superpower?Steve’s famous waistcoats were also a source of amusement as one fan tweeted: ‘See what happens when you take Steve’s waistcoat off’

‘Starting to think Kate @Vicky_McClure & Sam have more to do with this. Kate always comes away from all incidents without a scratch. Can see Steve @martin_compston being devastated here.’ 

The fifth episode of series five focused on AC-12 boss Ted Hastings’ unravelling as he went undercover to meet with the OCG without informing his team, leading to the arrest of Lisa McQueen.

Lisa told Steve and Kate in her interview that the gang had been informed there was a rat in their numbers thanks to a tip off from inside Blackthorn Prison – the very same prison Hastings had visited to talk with OCG member Lee Banks.

After undercover copper John Corbett’s remains were discovered, Kate and Steve felt they had no choice but to inform the top brass about Hastings rogue antics, and the fact he may have been responsible for breaking Corbett’s cover and therefore his murder.

Undercover? But some fans were left convinced the scene was more than just two exes trying to reconnect, and part of a bigger storyline

Bent coppers? Another fan was convinced there is more to Sam’s character, as well as Steve’s AC-12 partner Kate Fleming (Vicky McClure, pictured)