Bodyguard fans rejoice (maybe). A second series of the hit BBC drama could be on the way. With the emphasis on could.
The show’s writer and creator Jed Mercurio has confirmed talks are taking place, and not much else – but as this is Bodyguard, we’re officially excited.
Speaking at a media conference in Canada, Jed revealed: “We’re in talks. We’re going through the logistics of it. There’s no real update now.”
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the showrunner, who also created Line of Duty, also confirmed that the BBC have yet to officially give the green light for a second series.
He added: “I know there’s an adage that your failure should be surprising. But the level of success was surprising.”
Bodyguard was a huge ratings success for the BBC, with 38 million views on iPlayer and continues to be a huge hit on Netflix globally.
Richard Madden, who won a Golden Globe and a National Television Award for his portrayal of Bodyguard David Budd, has previously said that a second series is very likely – but insisted the drama needs a bit of space to breathe before it is revisited.
“You cannot jump into it,” he told PA. “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.”
He added: “Me and Jed both agree that there’s something much more interesting in ‘let’s catch up with him 18 months later, two years later after this has happened and say ‘where is he now? What’s happened to him?’.”
Richard also revealed that the experience of making Bodyguard almost pushed him to quit acting.
“It really took it out of me,” he recalled. “I didn’t get to see my friends, my family, do anything. It’s a relentless job, it’s an unhappy place.
“At the end of filming I had just gone, ‘What am I doing this for? I’m supposed to be doing the thing I love.’
“I had to take a break for a couple of months and get myself back.”