Keeley’s extra protection
Hit drama Bodyguard all set for second series, says writer
BODYGUARD has got fans so gripped that its creator is thinking up ideas for another series.
The hit BBC thriller’s opening episode pulled in 10 million viewers – the biggest drama launch since 2006.
Writer Jed Mercurio said: “I have got some ideas for a second series, but it is worth waiting until the run is finished to see which bits worked and which bits didn’t work for the audience.”
BBC insiders say a second series is a “near certainty” with so many gripped by the relationship between Home Secretary Julia Montague (Keeley Hawes) and close protection officer David Budd (Richard Madden).
Speaking about how the series develops, Mercurio said: “I have put in some red herrings, you have to be able to have a number of possible answers in play and that is all about what you let the audience in on and what you keep from them.”
Mercurio is also the creator of hit BBC drama Line Of Duty – and used the same advisers to ensure Bodyguard was authentic. He said: “I went back to the Line Of Duty advisers and used a couple of those. They were great in giving me the right steer on the script. “They also helped find me someone with the highly specialised knowledge of being a protection officer.” Six-part Bodyguard continues on BBC1 tomorrow at 9pm and will end with a 75-minute series finale on September 23.