Filming on Luther series five officially began in early January for a new four-part series from Emmy-nominated writer Neil Cross.

All that was confirmed in the announcement was that Idris Elba was back as DCI John Luther alongside Dermot Crowley, Michael Smiley and Patrick Malahide, while new cast member Wunmi Mosaku would play DS Catherine Halliday.

But now we've had the most exciting reveal yet – if you want to keep spoiler-free, don't look past the GIF.

Fans were left wondering where the f**k was Alice Morgan in series four, but she's BACK in series five, with Ruth Wilson seen filming alongside Elba this week.

WENN

WENN

Wilson's commitment to award-winning US drama The Affair left her unable to take part in Luther's two-part fourth series, so her psychotic but seductive Alice was 'killed' off-screen – drowned by the murderous Megan (Laura Haddock).

However, it wasn't clear whether Megan really did the deed, with Cross having wanted to address Alice's absence but keep the door ajar for a comeback.

And while Wilson has been filming on series five, this doesn't confirm that Alice is necessarily alive. For all we know, it's a flashback scene or Luther hallucinating her – if anyone would hallucinate someone pointing a gun at them, it'd be Luther.

WENN

We remain hopeful, though, that this isn't a mere one-scene treat for fans, especially as surely they wouldn't have been shooting it on the streets if it was just a cameo?

The official series five synopsis did state that Luther would have to "face the ghosts of his own past" and there's no doubt Alice is one of the biggest ghosts.

Luther returns to BBC One in late 2018.

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