‘Bodyguard’ first look: ‘The Durrells’ star Keeley Hawes in new BBC thriller series

The BBC has released the first promotional photo for Bodyguard.

Written by Line of Duty creator Jed Mercurio, the new six-part thriller series stars Keeley Hawes (The Durrells in Corfu) and Richard Madden (Game of Thrones, Cinderella).

The cast also includes Gina McKee (Our Friends In The North), Sophie Rundle (Peaky Blinders), Vincent Franklin (Happy Valley) and Rowena King (Trauma).

Creator, writer and executive producer Jed Mercurio commented: “I’m hugely flattered by the superb cast who’ve joined Bodyguard, led by Richard Madden and Keeley Hawes, both of whom I’m delighted to be working with again, and I’m immensely grateful to the BBC and World Productions for their unstinting support for the series.”

Bodyguard tells the fictional story of David Budd (Madden), a heroic but volatile war veteran now working as a Specialist Protection Officer for the Royalty and Specialist Protection Branch of London’s Metropolitan Police Service.

When he is assigned to protect the ambitious and powerful Home Secretary Julia Montague (Hawes), whose politics stand for everything he despises, Budd finds himself torn between his duty and his beliefs. Responsible for her safety, is he actually her biggest threat?

Bodyguard is filming in London now and will air in the UK on BBC One next year.