Bodyguard gets KILLER ratings as it adds another million viewers!

Richard Madden as troubled security officer David Budd
(Image credit: BBC/World Productions/Sophie Mut)

Jed Mercurio’s edge-of-your-seat thriller continues to pull in huge ratings. Contains spoilers if you've not watched last night's episode!

Bodyguard has continued to grow in popularity, as the drama drew an additional million viewers with its penultimate episode.

Sunday night’s episode of the BBC1 series had an average of eight million tune in, with a peak of 8.3 million, according to overnight ratings.

The hour-long programme had an audience share of 38.2%.

Bodyguard photo call – London

Keeley Hawes and Richard Madden (Isabel Infantes/PA)

Last week’s episode of the political thriller, starring Richard Madden and Keeley Hawes, was watched by an average of seven million viewers, with a peak of 7.2 million and share of 34%.

This was an increase on the previous week’s average audience of 6.6 million in overnight ratings.

Bodyguard has been hailed as the biggest new drama on British television in more than a decade, achieving consolidated viewing figures (which includes recordings) of 10.4 million for its first episode.

The series, written by Line Of Duty’s Jed Mercurio, sees Richard Madden playing protection officer David Budd, who is assigned to controversial Home Secretary Julia Montague (Keeley Hawes).

Viewers were left stunned earlier in the series when Julia died after being targeted by a bomb during a speech, leaving a troubled David to try to find her killer.

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Following Sunday’s episode, some fans now believe that Julia may be alive, due to her having a small, private funeral.

Some viewers also suggested that Julia may still be alive because David discovers a tablet containing sensitive information hidden behind a picture at her apartment.

Fans on Twitter said that it implied Julia had left it for him – and that she was therefore alive.

The finale of Bodyguard airs on Sunday September 23.

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