Currently the watercooler topic of conversation in the UK, Jed Mercurio’s Bodyguard drama series which reaches its conclusion on the BBC next weekend, is now bound for a global release with SVOD leader Netflix.
Produced by ITV Studios company World Productions, Bodyguard tells the fictional story of David Budd (Richard Madden; Game Of Thrones), a heroic but volatile war veteran now working as a Specialist Protection Officer for the Royalty and Specialist Branch of London’s Metropolitan Police Service. When he is assigned to protect the ambitious and powerful Home Secretary Julia Montague (Keeley Hawes; Line of Duty, The Durrells, The Missing), Budd finds himself torn between his duty and his beliefs. Responsible for her safety, could he become her biggest threat?
The series is executive produced by Mercurio (Line of Duty, Bodies), Simon Heath (Line of Duty, Save Me, The Great Train Robbery) for World Productions and Elizabeth Kilgarriff for BBC. It is directed by Thomas Vincent and John Strickland, and produced by Eric Coulter and Priscilla Parish.
Bodyguard is currently the most watched new drama launch of 2018 in the UK racking up viewing figures of around 10 million. Episode one received a consolidated figure of 10.4 million viewers, with a 40.9% share on BBC One. This is the highest launch figure for any new drama across all UK channels in a decade. Netflix, which picked up the series at script stage, will premiere the series to its members globally outside of the UK and Ireland and China from 24 October 2018.
Commenting on the drama’s arrival on Netflix, Maria Kyriacou, president international, ITV Studios said: “Bodyguard has gripped the nation with its twists and turns. It's a perfect example of a show produced locally which has huge global appeal. Through our partnership with Netflix, we can’t wait for audiences around the world to enjoy the show as much as audiences here in the UK.”
The series is executive produced by Mercurio (Line of Duty, Bodies), Simon Heath (Line of Duty, Save Me, The Great Train Robbery) for World Productions and Elizabeth Kilgarriff for BBC. It is directed by Thomas Vincent and John Strickland, and produced by Eric Coulter and Priscilla Parish.
Bodyguard is currently the most watched new drama launch of 2018 in the UK racking up viewing figures of around 10 million. Episode one received a consolidated figure of 10.4 million viewers, with a 40.9% share on BBC One. This is the highest launch figure for any new drama across all UK channels in a decade. Netflix, which picked up the series at script stage, will premiere the series to its members globally outside of the UK and Ireland and China from 24 October 2018.
Commenting on the drama’s arrival on Netflix, Maria Kyriacou, president international, ITV Studios said: “Bodyguard has gripped the nation with its twists and turns. It's a perfect example of a show produced locally which has huge global appeal. Through our partnership with Netflix, we can’t wait for audiences around the world to enjoy the show as much as audiences here in the UK.”
