BBC’s Bodyguard most popular since Downton
TV’s British invasion has a new member: Netflix’s Bodyguard.
The popularity of the sixepisode BBC drama, which premièred globally this week, is reflected in its ratings on BBC One in England, where it finished its run in September drawing comparisons to Downton Abbey and Doctor Who.
Netflix could be forgiven for its Anglophile tendencies, as it has enjoyed success with recent British imports, including The Crown (Season 3 is due next year) and The Great British Baking Show (Season 6 arrives Nov. 9).
Bodyguard stars Richard Madden (who played the late, great Robb Stark from Game of Thrones) as David Budd, “a heroic but volatile war veteran” who’s providing police protection to British Home Secretary Julia Montague (Keeley Hawes, The Durrells in Corfu).
Torn between his duty and beliefs, Budd could become the biggest threat to the woman he’s protecting.
The September season finale drew 11 million viewers on BBC One, accounting for nearly half the audience watching TV, according to Variety.
The series ranks as Britain’s most popular drama since Downton Abbey, and the finale was the biggest BBC drama since a 2008 episode of Doctor Who, the industry news outlet says.
Bodyguard has also pleased critics, earning a perfect 100 per cent rating on the Rotten Tomatoes aggregation site and a morethan-satisfactory 79 on Metacritic.
Variety’s Daniel D’Addario rates Bodyguard as binge-worthy. “Both juicy in its delving into character psychology and rippingly ready to tear up its playbook as it goes, it’s a sixepisode ride that demands, and rewards, a quick binge, and one that is as likely as any of Netflix’s overseas imports to find a breakout audience.”
Madden gets the ultimate English compliment from Collider’s Allison Keene.
“Bodyguard is an exhilarating ride that truly showcases Madden as a major talent, one who is capable of not just leading Winterfell’s bannermen in Game of Thrones, but leading this breakout series and others — or even a certain movie franchise.”
Hint: Think 007.