An average of 10.4 million viewers tuned into the Bodyguard finale, the BBC have said.
The drama reached a peak of 11 million viewers (47.9% share) on BBC1, drawing the highest average and peak of the entire series. Creator Jed Mercurio thanked viewers “for a fantastic response to the series”.
The Independent’s critic, Sean O’Grady, praised the episode and wrote: “Bodyguard was compelling viewing, smashing records. It made Sunday night TV great again. Bonnets and breeches were banished to the costume drama warehouses whence they sprung.”
“Jed Mercurio’s topical, breathtaking, lively script was matched by peerless performances. A hard act to follow, Bodyguard, even for Mercurio himself.”
While the culprits behind the plot to assassinate Home Secretary Julia Montague (Keeley Hawes) were finally unmasked, there’s still so much of the story left to tell, with the terrorist cell responsible still active. Fans will likely be hoping for a second outing.
Mercurio has said that he would “absolutely” do a second series, but has worries over whether he’ll get one. “Some shows do nosedive at the end, or some piece of content could become incredibly controversial and affect the way the show is seen,” he told the Radio Times before the finale aired. “In the end, you have to accept that the broadcaster holds all the cards.”
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