Is Bodyguard cliffhanger all that it seems?
Writer explains twist that shocked fans of Beeb hit
BODYGUARD creator Jed Mercurio says he killed off major character Julia Montague halfway through the series to “alter the dynamic”.
out of Line of Duty. Asked if the star, 42, had commented on it, he told Radio Times: “Yes. But she did it, as she usually does, with good humour.
“I think, for her, it’s about the work as a whole, and the role.”
Mercurio also said it could be tricky to book Richard Madden, 32, as David Budd for a second series of the BBC hit now he is in the frame for bigger roles – including being the next James Bond.
Around 7.2 million were watching on Sunday when it was revealed the Home Secretary, played by Keeley Hawes, had died in a bomb blast.
She was not seen in the episode – meaning she was only in the first three of the six-parter. Mercurio, 52, said: with Bodyguard I wanted to have this event mid-series that would completely alter the dynamic.”
The writer, above, was killing actress Hawes off a second time, having also written her character Lindsay Denton “There’s a certain expectation with series TV that it will always orbit around an equilibrium, nothing much changes for the main stars.
“But, with my work, I like to try to do things that move the story on, and
Snipers with semi-automatic rifles are firing. A bomb has exploded and the smoke is blocking our path to safety. After reaching the refuge of a burnt-out truck, I grope around in darkness, realising I am alone.
It took four episodes of the BBC’s Bodyguard for Sergeant David Budd’s Home Secretary to be killed. Mine is dead within 20 seconds. While most politicians won’t face the same intensity of threat that Budd, played by Richard Madden, had to defend Keeley Hawes’ character Julia Montague from, bodyguards face danger every day.
So I went to join Lee Sansum in a warehouse outside Glasgow to find out what the role takes.
He rose through the ranks of the Royal Military Police before moving into close protection work in 1995, going on to work for celebrities including Tom Cruise, Sylvester Stallone and Jean-Claude Van Damme. He has also served EU diplomats in Libya, worked in Northern Ireland during the Troubles and guarded Princess Diana and sons William and Harry just months before her death. Now, with security service Horizon, Lee trains potential bodyguards in close protection work. And his 17-day course is not for the faint-hearted. “We’ve had people who worked in Iraq and Afghanistan who haven’t been able to complete this course,” Lee, 56, says as he straps on my bullet-proof vest. “The routine we will practice today has left people in tears.” No pressure then, as Lee casually lobs a huge rifle around my neck. On my right hip rests a Glock pistol, on the left my ammunition magazines and a first-aid kit and the rifle hang over my
shoulder. The heavy bullet-roof vest is packed with extra ammo.
First, Lee walks me through the centre and we pass bullet-riddled cars and ransacked rooms filled with shattered glass in his mock-up of Tripoli.
Today, I am protecting business administrator Colette Owens, 36, aka my Home Secretary on a diplomatic mission, whom Lee refers to as my VIP.
I am wondering how will I, a 5ft 3in woman, protect her?
But Lee says it’s not uncommon for female bodyguards to protect women VIPs – and height is irrelevant.
“It’s all about mindset,” he tells me. “Think about it like you’re looking after a kid. In the Army, you’re trained to kill. A bodyguard is trained to protect, that’s their one job.”
But despite Lee’s guidance, I fail spectacularly at my one job... Before I am fully kitted out, Lee runs me through the use of a Glock, similar to the one Budd used in Bodyguard. I had never fired a gun before – even one like this firing BB pellets – and it is a bizarre feeling. At one stage, Lee even shouts at me for accidentally shooting at him.
When I’m looking out for danger I must always stand behind Colette’s right shoulder, to keep my right hand free. Lee also shows me how to reload but I drop the extra magazines several times, meaning the VIP and I would be dead. At least I finally kill sniper Lee, by shooting indiscriminately. 2 Next, we run through different protection drills. Hiding behind a rusty metal barrel, Lee fires at Colette and I must decide how to protect her. Ducking behind a bullet-riddled car, I can try grabbing her with my left hand and thrust her behind me as I fire the Glock with my right hand. But I struggle to hold on to her and take too long whipping out my gun.
Or I can try the “split” method, throwing Colette to one side while I run to the other, confusing the shooter. But then I’ve lost Colette. 3 We try the same drills again, with full kit. Despite the extra armour, having let Colette get shot twice does not fill me with confidence. Lee shows me how I must let Colette hold back as she exits her ministerial car, looking around to assess any potential danger.
He explains how much preparation would have gone into our visit, saying: “Routine is dangerous. Change your route and behaviour all the time.”
This is why Budd was so insistent on changing routes to Montague’s house, much to her annoyance.
That makes the attempted assassination in Bodyguard’s second episode, with Montague left in the target car covered in the blood of her dead driver, an unlikely scenario, says Lee – unless there had been a leak.
“She would have been bundled into a back-up vehicle and driven away in real life,” he explains. “And even bulletproof glass smashes eventually, so there is no way her head would have still been bobbing around the windows. But that wouldn’t make great telly, would it?” 4 Next, Lee introduces some fake bombs. I am taught how to properly hold and fire the semi-automatic and we huddle behind boxes as a bomb goes off, waiting until the smoke clears before I clumsily attempt to get my Home Secretary to the door again.
Another bomb goes off and Lee starts shooting. Again, I crash down, my knees and shoulder bruised from the impact, while trying to pull Colette down behind me, attempting to reassure her, and firing back at Lee.
I fire a few shots but the impact loosens my grip and the gun hits me in the forehead – and Colette has to start reassuring and protecting me.
I am dead and the Home Secretary is dead for a third time.
Not bad for a day’s work...