Is Blue Lights ending for good? Cast and crew hint the hit BBC drama could be over

Warning, major spoilers for all episodes of Blue Lights season 6 ahead.

Season 4 of Blue Lights has been another absolute knockout. Even with the air of finality that came with the closing moments of episode 6, there was an assumption by fans that such a globally adored, award winning show would definitely be returning.

With further investigation, it appears that might not be the case. Cast member Katherine Devlin (Annie Conlon,) and several members of the team behind the hit police drama, seem to have dropped strong hints that season 4 was the end of the road.

While nothing has been confirmed, Katherine shared a picture of her character Annie to Instagram recently, with the caption, "In life change is inevitable. But there’s the kind we endure and then there’s the kind we make. And I’d like to think that between these walls, we made more than we endured.

Annie- Thank you for the good the bad and the ugly. Thank you for loving her just as much as I did." Well, that seems to be a goodbye message if ever we saw one, and it's not something the actress has ever posted before when a season has come to an end.

Commenters appeared to be equally worried Katherine was signing off from Blue Lights for good, with one writing, "Honestly, Katherine, I’m bereft! Incredible work. Stunning show. I miss all the characters already."

Another added, "I hope this doesn’t mean its the end of Blue Lights," with another saying what Katherine appeared to be implying, and writing, "Why does this feel like goodbye?"

It's not just Katherine who appears to suggest we might not see the show again, as Blue Lights co-creators Declan Lawn and Adam Patterson have confirmed they'll be "stepping back" from the series and will "take a beat" for a while.

In conversation with The Irish Times, Declan says, "Whatever iteration of the show happens afterwards, or whatever decision the BBC makes, great, but there’s a sense in which we definitely want to step back and look at it in the round."

Ominously, Adam steps in to add, "It’s the end of a chapter." He explains, "Declan says every season that it’s the best season, but I might finally agree with him. I think this season is really beautiful in many ways and will give people a lot of satisfaction in the end."

The duo have referred to the show as "quite an oppressive responsibility," and have only been able to film in certain areas on the condition the residents feel comfortable.

Declan says, "Everything we’ve done has had an element of risk. We’ve looked at nationalist gangsters, loyalist gangsters, cartels and the middle classes involved in trafficking and grooming.

Now we’re looking at crime against migrants and what’s behind it. So it’s both a wonderful thing to be able to do and also scary at times."

The pair have now written D Notice, a six-part conspiracy thriller for the BBC, also set in Belfast.

Still not confirming the future of Blue Lights but appearing to nod to other projects away from the show, Declan concludes, "Whatever we do, we have aspirations to keep Belfast as part of the story."

When you give it some consideration, the ending of season 4 was the first time most of the characters had been given complete endings, and story arcs spanning every series were wrapped up with seemingly neat bows.

Stevie and Grace were engaged, and Grace achieved her dream of landing the role of detective for child protection services. Most of the other officers accepted their fate that Blackthorn station was closing and they needed to relocate.

Although Gerry's death wasn't fully avenged, Tina and Mo McIntyre and their long-running saga tied to his shooting came to and, although not one fans were happy about.

Both were offered a new life under witness protection in exchange for helping take down Dana Morgan and the Ginley clan, allowing them to leave Belfast. Lee Thompson, who had turned up sporadically throughout the series, accepted a plea deal in exchange for his help in bringing down the Ginleys.

Dana Morgan was finally arrested, and Ginley operations dismantled after the cartel had managed to evade the police for so long.

We still have hope, but all of that really does seem all very final.

All four seasons of Blue Lights are available to view on BBC iPlayer.