It's been 6 years since Bodyguard aired and fans are still waiting on a 2nd series
It was a huge show for the BBC!
Bodyguard captivated audiences from the get-go. With its dramatic storyline, cliffhangers and, of course, the VERY handsome Richard Madden playing lead character David Budd, we couldn't get enough of the show!
The series finale of Bodyguard had a whopping 17 million people tune in, which everybody thought meant a second series would be basically guaranteed - however, six years on from the show airing, there's still been no follow-up!
When did Bodyguard air in the UK?
After weeks of teasers being shared online by the BBC, Bodyguard finally aired on BBC One in August 2018 where the first episode threw viewers into a nail-biting stand-off featuring former military man Budd and a potential suicide bomber.
The first episode aired on 26th August 2018.
Will there be a second series?
Following the success of series one, Jed Mercurio, who is also the mastermind behind Line Of Duty, seemed to pretty much confirm the news in various interviews.
Check out everything that's been said about a potential second series below:
November 2019:
Jed jokingly confirmed Bodyguard Series 2 with a tweet in November 2019, writing: 'What’s really holding up development of #Bodyguard Series 2 is the quest for any dramatically sympathetic reason not to kill off the cabinet minister in the first five minutes.' (sic)
Meanwhile Richard Madden said in an interview with Lorraine Kelly at the NTA's in 2019: "It is going to come back. I think we can safely say Bodyguard is coming back. He’s definitely going to be there."
May 2019:
In May 2019, actor Richard also told The Hollywood Reporter: "We've been talking about it and I spoke to Jed about a month after the show had finished airing over in the UK and we sat and decided, 'Let's give it at least a year while we work out how to do something better'.
"You cannot jump into it. David Budd definitely needs a vacation after that. He's not going to go back to work, is he? And also he's the most famous man in London because of what happens at the end of episode six. He couldn't just go straight back into work.
"When we did the show, it was just going to be a one-off, it's own thing, because Jed was still writing the show as we were doing it, but the show's engaged with so many people, and it's engaged with me, because I'm fascinated by that character. I'm fascinated by a man who's gone through so much, and I'm very keen to see what happens to him two years later.
"Where will this man be, in terms of his mental health, in terms of his wife and children, in terms of his career? He's not going to sit back and retire, and he's not going to pick a normal job. He's going to be engaged in something interesting. So I'm very keen to work with Jed and work out how to move on the next bit of the story. But we decided we're not going to rush it and shoot something this year.
"We're going to give it a breath and do it justice. If we come back to do another one, I want to do something as different as the first series was, and not just repeat the cycle, repeat the formula. I want to do something totally different and I'm excited to see what Jed comes up with in that way."
August 2020:
In August 2020, Jed replied to a tweet from fan of the show and singer Richard Marx who'd been asking about the future of the show.
Jed revealed that a second series of the show has not even been confirmed yet, saying: 'Hi, Richard, thanks for asking about #Bodyguard. We’d love to reward our amazing fans all over the world with a second season but no final decision has been made yet.' (sic)
Jed then addressed rumours again in 2020, telling The Guardian: "If you read the websites of certain major newspapers, there's some sort of announcement every week. But when you read the article, you realise they have no factual content whatsoever.
"There's a bit of a feeding frenzy around certain programmes. Having the opportunity to publicly correct misleading pieces is extremely helpful. If someone's made an honest mistake, that's fine. If someone's being a piece of s**t, then you need to just call them all out."
2023:
Asked about the show's return by extratv in late 2023, Richard said: "I don't know if there's a space for it, but we've always left the door open... I'm not really sure where I take that character, but as the years go by, I think that's what might make it interesting... to pick up with David Budd, you know maybe 6-7 years later and see what's happened in his life since."
2024:
Although there's still been no official confirmation of a second series, it's understood the BBC are keen and committed to making it happen at some point.
When is Bodyguard series 2 on TV?
We don't yet have a confirmation of a second season, or an air date.
How many episodes of the Bodyguard were there in season one?
There were six episodes in the first series.
Where was Bodyguard filmed?
It was mostly filmed on location in London, using the Whittington Estate in London as David's flat and Battersea for where Julia lived. The bomb scenes were reportedly shot at CityPoint near Moorgate and Woburn Square in Bloomsbury, with the train scenes taking place on the Mid-Norfolk Railway.
Climactic moments were filmed in public spaces throughout the capital. Southwark and Camden residents observed climactic scenes involving police patrol cars and armed police. In the show, Richard Madden’s character David lives on the Stoneleigh Terrace Estate in Camden. At one point in the series, with a bomb vest strapped to him, police escort David back to his flat. We bet that was SO exciting for residents to see!
With anxiety over the threat of terror attacks in the capital, the real Met police had to inform locals of the filming and be present at all times avoid any panic situations.
Is there a Bodyguard trailer?
The first trailer for Bodyguard season one was released back in June 2018 on Twitter from the official BBC One account along with the caption: 'The threat is closer than you think... Bodyguard. Coming soon to BBC One.'
Is Bodyguard based on a true story?
No, Bodyguard is a fictional story based on a very real 'political world'. However, the show is not based on any current British politics.
Bodyguard is based on the real specialist operations in the UK under the direction of London’s Metropolitan Police who have branches looking after politicians, diplomats and royalty.
The Royalty and Specialist Protection (RaSP) provides protection to the Royal Family, government officials and diplomats whereas the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection (PaDP) protects government buildings, estates and foreign missions. The titles of the characters are all legitimate titles that exist in the organisation.
Who are the creators of Bodyguard?
Bodyguard was created by none other than Jed Mercurio, who also was the mastermind behind the hit franchise Line Of Duty.
Jed Mercurio said to BBC's Newsnight: “It was just something that started out of the desire to do something that was set in the political world and find a different way into that and with my experience on Line of Duty I was kind of aware of the different specialisations within the police.”
Who is Richard Madden?
Scottish heartthrob Richard Madden burst back onto British screens as Iraq and Afghanistan war veteran David Budd in the BBC's hit show Bodyguard. Richard is perhaps best known for his role as Robb Stark in HBO's Game of Thrones series, where he was the eldest son in the Stark family.
He was a principle member of the cast in series one to three until he, his pregnant wife Talisa and mother Catelyn were murdered during the most shocking TV episode of 2013, 'The Red Wedding', which left viewers in shock for weeks.
Has Richard Madden starred in any films?
Richard's first film success came in 2015, where he starred alongside actress Lily James in the Disney live action remake of Cinderella, playing Prince Charming, Kit. He then went on to star in the 2016 drama film Bastille Day with Idris Elba and had other TV roles in Lady Chatterley's Lover, Medici: Masters of Florence and Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams.
In recent years, Richard has appeared in Rocketman and 1917.
Cast of the Bodyguard: Who played the bodyguard?
With Richard Madden cast as the war veteran David Budd and Keeley Hawes as Home Secretary Julia Montague in BBC One's Bodyguard, fans knew the show was going to be a hit.
Keeley's had her fair share of starring credits, notably the BBC's Ashes to Ashes alongside Philip Glenister where she played DI Alex Drake who mysteriously goes back in time to the 1980s after she's shot in the present day. She's also starred in the BBC's Line Of Duty, the same team who created Bodyguard, and ITV's The Durrells.
Other faces you might recognise from Bodyguard are Budd's wife Vicky, played by Sophie Rundle. She starred in the BBC's hit series Peaky Blinders as lead character Tommy Shelby's mischievous little sister Ada.
Budd's boss Lorraine Craddock (and "inside man' in the Met) is played by Pippa Haywood, known for starring in the Brittas Empire, Prisoners' Wives and Scott & Bailey.
Head of MI5 Stephen Hunter-Dunn was played by Stuart Bowman, who is also known for his portrayal of Alexandre Bontemps in the drama series Versailles which aired on the BBC in the UK.
Have a look at our gallery of the Bodyguard cast:
Richard Madden
Heartthrob Richard Madden starred as the Home Secretary's bodyguard David Budd. Sergeant David Budd serves as a Principal Protection Officer (PPO) in the Royal and Specialist Protection Command of London's Metropolitan Police (RaSP).
Keeley Hawes
Home Secretary Julia Montague was played by Keeley Hawes. Ambitious, smart and undaunted by opposition, Julia is pushing a controversial new counter-terrorism bill through parliament which would give the security services unprecedented powers of surveillance. Some of her colleagues believe Julia is on course to challenge the PM for party leadership.
Pippa Haywood
Pippa Haywood played Chief Superintendent Lorraine Craddock, David Budd's commanding officer at RaSP (Royalty and Specialist Protection).
She purposefully assigns David to protect the Home Secretary, Julia Montague, due to his military experience. Always on the side of her officers, Craddock backs David up when he comes under suspicion from other quarters. But we soon learn that she can't be trusted!
Sophie Rundle
Peaky Blinders star Sophie Rundle plays the wife of police officer PS David Budd, Vicky. They are separated due to his unpredictable moods and issues with PTSD since he returned from the Afghanistan war. While she still loves and cares for David, she also wants to move on with her life.
Ash Tandon
Ash Tandon played DCI Deepak Sharma - a senior detective in the Metropolitan Police's Counter-Terrorism Command (SO15). He leads the investigation into the recent spate of terror events and reports directly to the branch's Commander, Anne Sampson.
Nina Toussaint-White
Detective Sergeant Louise Rayburn was played by Nina Toussaint-White. Her character was a Counter Terrorism officer with SO15. Tenacious and sharp, she investigates the recent spate of bomb attacks.
Stuart Bowman
Stuart Bowman played Director General of the Security Service (MI-5) Stephen Hunter-Dunn. His private meetings with Home Secretary Julia Montague start to raise suspicions within Julia's team.
Gina McKee
Gina McKee played Commander Anna Sampson, a woman of seemingly unimpeachable professional standards. Sampson is horrified when Julia threatens to move the investigation into recent terror events over to the Security Service. Caught between policing and politics, Sampson must find a way to cut through the machinations of those around her and get to the truth.
Nicholas Gleaves
Nicholas played the Rt. Hon. Roger Penhaligon, MP is the Government Chief Whip and former husband of Julia Montague.
Tom Brooke
Like PS David Budd, Andy Apsted is another veteran of the Afghanistan war with the scars to prove it.
Anjli Mohindra
Anjli plays Islamic State terrorist Nadia who befriends David Budd in order to draw the suspicion away from her. She later reveals to detectives that she is the mastermind behind the Home Secretary's death, having manufactured the bomb that killed her.
How did Keeley Hawes' character Julia Montague die in Bodyguard?
Home Secretary Julia Montague was giving a speech in an auditorium, which bodyguard David Budd said was safe to do despite the threat to her being raised to critical. During the speech, Budd noticed a suspicious person backstage and pursued, but found nothing in the man's suitcase. When he emerged back into the auditorium, he realised he'd been set up and a bomb was detonated in the audience, wiping out half of the attendees.
Julia was blown from her podium despite Budd running through the venue trying to warn her of the danger, and she was rushed to hospital where she later died.
Is Julia Montague really dead?
In episode three of the show, viewers saw David Budd being told the Home Secretary had been killed but he was not allowed to see her body. As a result, many viewers were convinced that Julia Montague was still alive and would make a shock return.
Convinced he was being framed for Julia’s death and shut out of the investigation, he headed to the Home Secretary’s home where he found a tablet which contains information about the Prime Minister which could put him in a compromising position.
However, the tablet’s hidden location could have been part of a plan put in place by the Home Secretary. Fans remembered that in a previous instalment, David could be seen looking at the image with Julia, where she told him, “That was us plotting the death star.”
Later, when Julia went for a secret meeting about the information on the tablet, she told David: “If I don’t come back, go to the death star.” The “death star” Julia is referring to was revealed to be the photograph she hid the tablet behind.
Is this confirmation that Julia is really dead and she knew she was a target once she learned the Prime Minister’s secrets? We'll have to wait and see!
What happened in the season finale of Bodyguard?
At the beginning of the finale, it started to look like the Met Police’s Counter Terrorism boss Anne Sampson (Gina McKee) was Luke Aitkin's (the mysterious crime lord) “inside man” who had been protecting him from criminal charges all these years. She certainly wasn’t keen for DCI Deepak Sharma (Ash Tandon) to investigate Luke as a possible suspect and seemed super shifty about the whole thing.
But no! While Anne’s weird relationship with Luke was never properly explained, the actual “inside man” in this case was… David’s SO15 boss Lorraine Craddock!
It turned out that Nadia (the scared woman who backed out of setting off her suicide vest at the start of the series), Luke (the criminal) and Lorraine (David's boss) were involved in the death of Home Secretary Julia Montague. Nadia still managed a lot of damage without having to blow herself up.
Before she was imprisoned, she built a bunch of explosive devices, including the one used in the school truck attack, the bomb planted at St Matthew’s College, and – last but not least – David Budd’s suicide vest in the final episode.
After a tense standoff with David in his suicide vest, he was able to prove he was telling the truth by “revealing” where he had hidden the tablet as bait for Richard Longcross, leading the security service man to his flat and setting off the booby trap which proved Longcross’s involvement in Julia's murder.
Despite proving his innocence, the police were still going to kill David (with encouragement of Lorraine of course), but his wife Vicky ran to his side to protect him, as she knew they wouldn't shoot him and risk killing her.
Unbelievably, David was allowed to walk all the way across London to his flat, where Vicky helped him dig up the tablet and the blanks which he’d stashed in the nearby cemetery. Having earned the trust of the police, our troubled hero then disabled his own suicide vest under the instruction of the bomb disposal expert. Go David!
But that wasn’t all. David bolted across the capital to prove his innocence once again, broke into Chanel’s flat, used her to get to Luke, and then identified Lorraine Craddock as the “inside woman” by confronting her at her own home. All in a day’s work!
How can I re-watch season one of Bodyguard?
If you can't get enough of the hit show and need to watch it again, you can watch all six episodes of series one on BBC iPlayer.
Is Bodyguard on Netflix?
In an attempt to rock the boat across the Atlantic, the BBC struck up a deal with the online streaming service Netflix in the hopes of Bodyguard - so if you've got a subscription, you can watch it.
Now check out all of the TV crime dramas to binge:
Red Eye (ITVX)
Starring Richard Armitage and Jing Lusi, ITV/STV's adrenaline-filled drama Red Eye is set on an overnight flight from London to Beijing and the corridors of power within Whitehall. Fans were quick to binge the six-part drama when it aired in April 2024.
Kin (BBC iPlayer)
Series one of Irish drama Kin landed on BBC iPlayer in 2023 and viewers have been hooked since! Starring Charlie Cox, Clare Dunne and Emmett J. Scanlan, the drama tells the story of a fictional Dublin family embroiled in gangland war and speaks to the enduring unbreakable bonds of blood and family. Series two is also now available on BBC iPlayer.
Vigil (BBC iPlayer)
It was the BBC's most-watched new drama of 2021, so you don't want to miss out on Vigil, starring Suranne Jones and Martin Compston. Series two was released in December 2023, with all episodes now available to binge.
Love & Death (ITVX and STV Player)
Starring Elizabeth Olsen and Jesse Plemons, Love & Death is a mini-series which follows the real-life story of the murder case surrounding Candy Montgomery, who killed her friend Betty Gore, following an affair with her husband Allan.
The Tourist (BBC iPlayer)
Viewers were hooked on BBC series The Tourist in early 2022, starring Northern Irish actor Jamie Dornan. Series two landed on New Year's Day in 2024, with all episode available to binge now.
Mr Bates vs The Post Office (ITVX and STV Player)
Arriving in early 2024, Mr Bates vs The Post Office is a four-part series based on the real-life story of postmaster Alan Bates, who led the campaign to expose what is considered the most widespread miscarriage of justice in British history. Toby Jones, Katherine Kelly, Will Mellor, and Julie Hesmondhalgh all appear.
After the Flood (ITVX and STV Player)
Landing on ITV/STV in the first few weeks of January 2024, After the Flood stars Peaky Blinders actress Sophie Rundle as PC Joanna Marshall. The six-part series follows Joanna leading an investigation after she finds an identified man dead in a lift in a underground car park after a devastating flood.
Trigger Point (ITVX and STV Player)
Vicky McClure plays the role of EXPO officer Lana Washington in high octane drama Trigger Point. All six episodes from series one are available to watch now, with series two also now out on ITVX and STV Player.
Blue Lights (BBC iPlayer)
Set and filmed in Northern Ireland, Blue Lights follows three rookie police officers working in Belfast. All episodes of series one are available to stream, as is series two which was released in April 2024.
The Long Shadow (ITVX and STV Player)
The Long Shadow follows the five-year manhunt for the serial killer Peter Sutcliffe, commonly referred to as The Yorkshire Ripper. The seven-part drama stars the likes of Katherine Kelly, Charley Webb, Mark Stobbart, Liz White and Toby Jones.
Inside Man (BBC iPlayer)
Starring David Tennant and Stanley Tucci, BBC drama Inside Man has left viewers on the edge of their seats with lots of twists and turns.
The Suspect (ITVX and STV Player)
Aidan Turner stars clinical psychologist Dr Joe O'Loughlin in ITV/STV drama The Suspect.
The Capture (BBC iPlayer)
After series one aired in 2019, the BBC released series two of hit drama The Capture in 2022, featuring Holliday Grainger, Ron Perlman and Lia Williams.
You can watch both series now on BBC iPlayer.
Karen Pirie (ITVX and STV Player)
Debuting in early September, drama Karen Pirie has been a massive hit with fans, as Karen and her team must overcome the judgement of her superiors and find the culprit in time.
Crossfire (BBC iPlayer)
Keeley Hawes stars in BBC drama Crossfire which sees a holiday turn from heaven to hell with a gunshot - and the consequences will linger long after the final bullets are fired.
The Responder (BBC iPlayer)
Another new BBC crime drama for 2022 is Martin Freeman's The Responder. The drama follows Martin's character, a night-shift copper under stress in Liverpool, as he pairs up with the local rookie.
All five episodes are available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
Happy Valley (BBC iPlayer)
Now the third and final series has come to an end, you can watch series one-three on the BBC iPlayer now.
Manhunt: The Night Stalker (ITVX and STV Player)
Martin Clunes plays the role of Detective Chief Inspector Colin Sutton as he portrays the real-life investigation into the serial burglar and rapist who terrorised South London for 17 years.
Time (BBC iPlayer)
Originally airing on the BBC in June 2021, fans were loving this drama featuring Sean Bean and Stephen Graham. In 2023, a second series landed, this time taking place in an all-female prison, starring Jodie Whittaker, Bella Ramsay, and Siobhan Finneran.
All episodes from both series are now available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
Marcella (ITVX and STV Player)
Following the cliffhanger ending to series three of ITV's hit drama Marcella, fans are crying out for a fourth series. Although nothing has been confirmed just yet, you can re-watch series three on ITVX/STV Player.
The Fall (BBC iPlayer)
Despite originally airing in 2013, The Fall, starring Gillian Anderson and Jamie Dornan, became a big hit again during lockdown in 2020, and now all three series of the hit show are available to binge on the BBC iPlayer.
Coma (Channel 5)
Hitting our screens in March 2024, Coma is a four-part thriller which concerns a family man whose life is changed after making one split-second decision. Jason Watkins and Claire Skinner star in the series.
Deadwater Fell (All4)
Channel 4 delighted us with dark crime thriller Deadwater Fell in 2020, starring David Tennant, Cush Jumbo, Matthew McNulty and Anna Madeley. Series one is available to watch on All4.
The Bay (ITVX and STV Player)
There's so far been four successful series of The Bay! All episodes are now available on ITVX and STV Player.
Bloodlands (BBC iPlayer)
Created by Line of Duty writer Jed Mercurio and starring Northern Irish actor James Nesbitt, Bloodlands was a big hit at the start of 2021. All episodes from series one are available on the BBC iPlayer now.
The Missing (BBC iPlayer)
Another hit crime drama by the talented brothers Harry and Jack Williams. The Missing first aired in 2014, with series 2 landing two years later. Despite both series following different stories, a number of characters remain the same, including Tchéky Karyo as investigator Julien Baptiste. Both series are now available on the BBC iPlayer.
Luther (BBC iPlayer)
As we wait for any more series of hit crime drama Luther, re-watch all six series with actor Idris Elba playing the role of DCI John Luther.
Unforgotten (ITVX and STV Player)
You can catch up on all five previous series of crime drama Unforgotten, before series six lands later in the year!
The Bridge (BBC iPlayer)
Originally released back in 2011 in Sweden and Denmark, all four series of The Bridge are now available on the BBC iPlayer.
The Pembrokeshire Murders (ITVX and STV Player)
Featuring popular actor Luke Evans as Detective Superintendent Steve Wilkins, this three-part miniseries based on the real life Pembrokeshire murders by Welsh serial killer John Cooper is available to watch now.
The Investigation (BBC iPlayer)
Originally from Denmark, series 1 of BBC drama The Investigation is based on the real-life murder case of Swedish journalist Kim Wall in 2017. All six episodes are available now on the BBC iPlayer.
Vera (ITVX and STV Player)
Fans catch catch Brenda Blethyn as DCI Vera Stanhope in all 13 series.
Silent Witness (BBC iPlayer)
If you are looking for something to keep you going for a while, Silent Witness is certainly a good shout! A massive 23 series of the hit show are available to watch on the BBC iPlayer.
Line of Duty (BBC iPlayer)
If you fancy re-watching the previous series of Jed Mercurio's Line of Duty, you can binge series one-six on the BBC iPlayer now!
Better (BBC iPlayer)
Debuting on the BBC in February 2023, Leeds-based drama Better is 'a thrilling redemption story' featuring Leila Farzad as DCI Lou Slack, and Andrew Buchan as Col McHugh.
Litvinenko (ITVX and STV Player)
Starring David Tennant, this four-part ITVX/STV Player drama documents the story of the murder of Former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko.
Love Rat (Channel 5)
Sally Lindsay and Neil Morrissey appear in Channel 5 drama Love Rat, which first aired in March 2024. All four episodes are available to binge now.
Red Eye (ITVX and STV Player)
Debuting in April 2024, Richard Armitage and Jing Lusi star in Red Eye, an adrenaline-filled drama which is set on an overnight flight from London to Beijing. All six episodes are available to stream now.
Now read:
All of the TV shows we can't wait for the return of
Line of Duty: Everything you need to know about season 6
Sex Education: Everything you need to know about the Netflix show