Bodyguard’s Richard dumped by girlfriend
MILLIONS of hearts have been set a flutter with the news that actor Richard Madden is single again.
The Bodyguard star, 32, and his actress girlfriend Ellie Bamber have broken up, according to reports.
News of the split comes just days after Madden won a Golden Globe for his role in the hit BBC One series.
And much to the surprise of the Scot’s army of female fans, it is understood that it was Ms Bamber who ended the 18-month relationship.
Ms Bamber, 21, was notably absent from the glamorous ceremony in Los Angeles last Sunday.
Playing Cosette in the BBC One adaptation of Les Miserables, she is reportedly at odds with his desire to move to the US and their increasingly different lives.
Madden was with actress Jenna Coleman, star of ITV’s Victoria, for three years. He has also dated model Suki Waterhouse and Love Island host Caroline Flack.
Madden starred as Robb Stark in the hugely popular HBO fantasy series Game Of Thrones.
But it was not until he took on the role of ex-soldier David Budd in Bodyguard that he became a household name.
The nation was gripped by the thriller in which Madden’s troubled police officer was appointed to protect Home Secretary Julia Montague, Bodyguard star Richard Madden and former girlfriend actress Ellie Bamber
played by Keeley Hawes. The finale drew a record-breaking 15.9 million viewers, making it the most-watched episode of any drama since records began 16 years ago.
Creator Jed Mercurio has hinted at a second series, saying: “We feel very privileged and fortunate that there’s been such a response.”
Since the overwhelming international success of the show, Madden has also
been tipped to replace Daniel Craig as James Bond.
Addressing the rumours, he has said: “This is what happens with all these shows, like Tom Hiddleston in The Night Manager.
“Then there’s the next one. I’m the next one. Everyone just loves the rumour mill on that topic. I’m just the current one. There’ll be a different one next week.”