Keeley Hawes stars in the BBC crime thriller Bodyguard, which aired in 2018 and continues to receive high praise from viewers. One fan described the series as a "masterpiece" and "underrated."
What is Bodyguard About?
Bodyguard is a British political thriller created by Jed Mercurio and produced by World Productions for the BBC. The series stars Richard Madden as war veteran David Budd, a police sergeant in London's Metropolitan Police Service assigned to protect Home Secretary Julia Montague MP, played by Keeley Hawes. Montague is a controversial politician planning to introduce invasive surveillance powers, and Budd—struggling with physical and psychological scars from Afghanistan—finds himself torn between his duty and his beliefs.
Critical Acclaim and Awards
The series achieved the highest viewing figures for a new BBC drama in the multichannel era and the highest BBC viewing figures since 2008. It received critical acclaim, particularly for Madden's performance. Bodyguard earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Television Series – Drama, and Madden won the Golden Globe for Best Actor – Television Series Drama. At the 71st Primetime Emmy Awards, the series was nominated for Outstanding Drama Series.
Rotten Tomatoes Rating and Fan Reactions
Bodyguard holds an impressive 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The critics' consensus states: "Bodyguard maintains a palpable tension throughout its pulpy proceedings to create an absorbing and addictive psychological thriller."
One audience reviewer called it a "masterpiece," adding: "Due to a tremendous plot, it was catchy throughout all episodes. And a brilliant performance was given by Richard Madden, showing every emotion in detail." Another said: "Best action conspiracy thriller series I've ever watched. It impressed me in the first seven minutes of episode one, and the finale was the best thing that I saw. Best series ever made. Watch it without any doubt. It's still underrated." A third fan commented: "Well written, highly engaging, and a wild ride from start to finish. I couldn't stop talking about this one for weeks."
Where to Watch
Bodyguard is available to stream now on BBC iPlayer and Netflix.
