Given the number of costumes Boris Johnson has been papped in, it was only a matter of time before he dressed up as a police officer.
But sadly for the prime minister, he’s one bent copper who wouldn’t make it into Chief Constable Philip Osborne’s force as part of the Line of Duty cast.
The writer of the hit police show, Jed Mercurio retweeted one of the pictures of Johnson clad in police garb along with the message: “Thank you for submitting your audition for the next series of #LineofDuty but we’re looking for a character with at least one redeeming moral principle and a performance that places even just a scintilla of doubt in the audience’s mind that he might not be totally bent.”
Oof. That’s potentially the most sophisticated shade we’ve seen all year.
Thank you for submitting your audition for the next series of #LineofDuty but we’re looking for a character with at least one redeeming moral principle and a performance that places even just a scintilla of doubt in the audience’s mind that he might not be totally bent pic.twitter.com/3jnJL74c5f
— Jed Mercurio (@jed_mercurio) December 6, 2021
Pictures of Johnson in a police officer costume circulated around the internet this morning after he joined an early morning Merseyside Police raid as part of a crackdown on county lines drug deals.
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Despite looking the part, he sadly won’t be bagging a part in the UK’s most-watched TV drama of the century.
People loved Mercurio’s shade towards the prime minister and responded with jokes and memes:
— Tiger Milk Mushroom (@MoniMoniOnse) December 6, 2021
— Matty Duggan (@mattyduggan) December 6, 2021
— commissioned kingo (@Richard19110171) December 6, 2021
This is why @jed_mercurio writes some of the best TV drama for years. He puts into words exactly what the rest of us are thinking, but could never express so well! https://t.co/bpRjI74zIK
— Andrew Foulsham 🔶 #FBPE #LibDem (@andyfoulsham) December 6, 2021
— Misanthropic Fox 👨👧🦊🌹 (@CentristMelt) December 6, 2021
— Overmars 🇦🇺 🇭🇰 💉💉 (@BBearJ) December 6, 2021
I can't cope 🥲🥲🥲
— Heather Basten CDG (@HeatherBCasting) December 6, 2021
@Magic_mal pic.twitter.com/omAMaoec5P
— sean (@SeanToBeWlLD) December 6, 2021
#LineOfDuty #BorisJohnson pic.twitter.com/ZlShpiaurz
— Paul Snowdon (@67Snowy) December 6, 2021
Too easy to spot the villain, should be a one off but this series just keeps running... https://t.co/skuGoZvJt1
— Stephen Lloyd True Blue Latic (@roaminglatic) December 6, 2021
The remark was also hailed as “tweet of the year” by some:
Tweet of the year pic.twitter.com/BUawfAQEsf
— gemmagould (@gemmagould) December 6, 2021
Tweet of 2021. 😂
— Martin Delaney (@1MartinDelaney) December 6, 2021
Twitter - Take the rest of the day off. It’s just peaked early.
— Greg Scott (@GregScottTV) December 6, 2021
If there was an Oscar for best tweet...#JedMercurio pic.twitter.com/skiAz5nAAG
— 💙KT *pro-PR* PARKER 🇫🇷🇬🇧🇪🇸 (@lunaperla) December 6, 2021
Tweet of the week. It's only Monday, but it's a done deal. pic.twitter.com/r438updDa8
— Snigdha (@snigskitchen) December 6, 2021
However some picked up on how Mercurio said “the next series”, exciting fans of the show:
Hoping this means there will be another series! And yes. https://t.co/sh3mgJBQow
— Karen McAtamney (@kmcatamney) December 6, 2021
1, This is funny.
— Gordon Johnston 💙 (@GordonAJohnston) December 6, 2021
2. Jed said "the next series". I'll repeat that. The Next Series! #LineOfDuty https://t.co/D60SB8CRok
Given Johnson is no stranger to having the c-word thrown in his direction, he could be an asset to the show’s AC-12’s (Anti-Corruption Unit 12)...
As a common derogatory term for copper is “pig”, we have a feeling Boris would very much enjoy being part of a gammon garrison due to his admiration of Peppa Pig.
