Bodyguard ‘confirmed for season 2 with Richard Madden to return’

The BBC has reportedly started the process of bringing back the hugely popular drama.

Richard Madden looks set to be returning as Police Sergeant David Budd feature in the second series of Bodyguard. The show became the most watched programme of the year when it was aired in 2018, and is one of the BBC's most successful ever with 11 million people tuning in for the final episode and a further six million watching on iPlayer. The series also received critical acclaim and was nominated for a number of awards, with Madden picking up a Golden Globe for his performance in the show. But since then fans have had to be very patient for a second series, with both Madden and series writer Jed Mercurio preoccupied with other commitments. Mercurio has been tight-lipped about the prospects of a second series, but considering the number of unanswered questions that were left hanging at the conclusion of the first series, it has seemed unthinkable that a second series wasn't in the works. And it seems that, with the conclusion of Line of Duty's sixth series earlier this year, Mercurio is now ready to focus on Bodyguard and the wheels are in motion for another series. A TV insider told the Sun: "The drama is the most eagerly-anticipated in the world of TV and all the stars are finally aligning. "Mercurio has always been too preoccupied with Line of Duty to apply himself to Bodyguard II, and after the show’s success, Madden was snapped up by Hollywood. "Now with both men available, the creative process has kicked off and the BBC are thrilled it could materialise within the next two years." Related links: Only Fools and Horses star John Challis dies aged 79 Jodie Comer and Stephen Graham tipped for Bafta wins after Covid drama