Bodyguard proved to be a huge ratings hit for BBC One, pulling in tens of millions every week.
The opening episode was the biggest new drama launch in the UK this year, the first series overall was the most-watched BBC drama in a decade, while the finale – incredibly – became the most-watched piece of TV drama since records began, with an audience 17.1 million.
It followed David Budd (Richard Madden) – a war veteran-turned-Specialist Protection Officer – as he was assigned as a bodyguard to Julia Montague (Keeley Hawes), the ambitious and powerful Home Secretary.
Following Montague’s death in a terrorist bombing, Budd was framed for her murder and was forced to unravel a complex conspiracy involving police corruption and organised crime to clear his name.
Given the rave reviews and record-breaking numbers, Bodyguard seems set to follow in the footsteps of creator Jed Mercurio’s other hit show Line of Duty in becoming a long-runner… so what can we expect from the second series?
Bodyguard season 2: Is it happening?
In September 2018, Mercurio confirmed that he was “just beginning” talks with the BBC about a possible second series.
Madden gave us an update in November, revealing that he’d arranged to meet with Mercurio to discuss the show’s future.” I’m going to meet Jed in a couple of weeks, to have a chat and see what’s in his brilliant brain,” he told Deadline.
“So I’m like, what can happen next? You know, with David. Because he had a hell of a couple months there. Where do you go with this guy?”
Though we’re still waiting on the (inevitable) official announcement of a follow-up, Mercurio hinted that he could actually imagine Bodyguard running for as many as four series.
“It’s probably fair to say we would probably approach any thoughts of a second series with the idea that it would create an opportunity for a third or fourth,” he said. “We do feel very privileged and fortunate that there’s been such a response that it gives us that opportunity to at least think about doing more.”
Bodyguard series 2 cast: Who will return for more episodes?
Given that he survived the first series (mostly) intact, it’s a safe bet that Richard Madden will return as David Budd.
In fact, writer Mercurio has suggested that the second series could see Budd back on duty, but protecting a member of the royal family or a foreign dignitary, rather than another politician.
Other probable returnees include:
– Gina McKee as Cmdr. Anne Sampson
– Sophie Rundle as Vicky Budd
– Nina Toussaint-White as DS Louise Rayburn
– Ash Tandon as DCI Deepak Sharma.
© BBC/World Productions/Sophie Mutevelian
Given how the first series panned out (see below), the following characters seem less likely to reappear. But you never know when it comes to Jed Mercurio…
– Paul Ready as Rob MacDonald
– Vincent Franklin as Mike Travis
– Richard Riddell as Tom Fenton
– Michael Schaeffer as “Richard Longcross”
– David Westhead as John Vosler, the Prime Minister
– Stuart Bowman as Stephen Hunter-Dunn
– Stephanie Hyam as Chanel Dyson
– Matt Stokoe as Luke Aikens
– Pippa Haywood as Chief Superintendent Lorraine Craddock
– Nicholas Gleaves as Roger Penhaligon
The following characters, meanwhile, can be definitively ruled out from appearing in a second series. Mostly because they’re all dead.
– Keeley Hawes as Julia Montague (Sorry, conspiracy theorists!)
© BBC/World Productions/Sophie Mutevelian
– Tom Brooke as Andy Apsted
– Shubham Saraf as Tahir Mahmood
– Claire-Louise Cordwell as Kim Knowles
Anjli Mohindra, who played the deceitful bomber Nadia Ali, has also suggested that she won’t be back for more Bodyguard. “I would return if I was asked, but I don’t feel Nadia has any more of a journey to explore,” she told Radio Times.
Indeed, Mercurio’s implied that, like Line of Duty, Bodyguard might feature a new supporting cast every year, with only a few regular characters continuing from series-to-series. “We certainly weren’t the first [show] to rotate casts…but Line of Duty established that it works very well,” he again told Radio Times.
Bodyguard series 2 release date: When can we expect it?
Line of Duty series 5 – which is now in production – was delayed because of Bodyguard‘s first series, so odds are it’ll be the reverse for series 2, with Mercurio too busy to start work on it until after production finishes on the new Line of Duty.
That likely means the earliest that we can expect the return of the show – should it get renewed – is in 2020, perhaps in the March slot previously occupied by Line of Duty.
(The good news for US viewers eager to see what all the fuss is about is that the first series of Bodyguard will be available internationally on Netflix from October 24.)
Bodyguard series 2 spoilers: What will it be about?
The first series of Bodyguard revealed that Julia Montague was killed by Luke Aitkens (Matt Stokoe) and his goons.
Aitkens’ motive? To prevent her from becoming Prime Minister and transferring greater powers to the security services, which would’ve allowed MI5 to wash the sort of dodgy dealings that made the crime lord his money.
© BBC / World Productions
His actions were eventually exposed and Aitkens was jailed, along with Budd’s Lorraine Craddock – a bent copper who’d provided Aitkens with Julia’s itineraries, and details of her security precautions, in return for cash.
It was also revealed would-be train bomber Nadia was not actually a helpless victim, but a conniving bomb-maker. Again, Nadia and her terrorist cohorts worked with Luke Aitkens for money – to build more bombs and further their cause.
Cleared of any involvement in Julia’s death, David Budd sought help for his mental health issues and repaired his relationship with Vicky and their two children.
© BBC / World Productions
The end? It’s possible that a second Bodyguard could revisit certain of the first series’ characters and wrap up a few loose ends…
After Anne Sampson leaked the Kompromat containing scandalous information about the Prime Minister, the country’s leader was forced to resign, as was MI5 boss Stephen Hunter-Dunn (Stuart Bowman).
But the shifty MI5 grunt going by the alias “Richard Longcross” – who was involved in attempting to cover up Julia and MI5’s plot to overthrow the PM – was able to escape police custody. Could he return?
© BBC / World Productions
Likewise, Mike Travis ended up holding on to his job as Montague’s replacement, staying on to make sure that her controversial bill RIPA ’18 – which would’ve allowed the government greater powers to monitor communications in the UK – is torn up.
As loyal supporters of the Prime Minister, Mike and the Chief Whip – also Julia’s ex-husband – Roger Penhaligon (Nicholas Gleaves) had previously hatched a plan plot to undermine Julia. Could their scheming have further consequences?
All very possible, though Jed Mercurio insists he didn’t intentionally plant seeds in the first six episodes of Bodyguard to follow up in future series. “I think it’s very hard to do that, particularly because there are no guarantees that something will get recommissioned,” he told Digital Spy.
“You just don’t know, so it ends up being something that is best done, in my view, retrospectively. If you find yourself in the fortunate position where you’ve got a second series, or a third, or whatever it is, and there is stuff from the past that can serve a function, then I think that’s the best way to do it.”
Richard Madden has suggested, though, that the very public events of the first series will inevitably impact on Budd’s future. “David Budd, he walks about London with a bomb on – I mean, everyone definitely knows his face now,” Madden said. “He can’t really slip back into police work again. [So] what’s his life like after that?”
Good question… all we know is, we can’t wait to find out!
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