Bodyguard star Richard Madden “couldn’t leave his house” because of how famous he became after the BBC1 drama aired.
The show, which starred Madden as the man charged with protecting a controversial home secretary played by Keeley Hawes, became the most-watched drama since records began when its finale attracted 17 million viewers.
Reflecting on the public’s intense reaction to the show, actor Matthew Macfadyen – who is married to Hawes – said: “It was peculiar. Richard Madden couldn’t leave his house! There was a WhatsApp group in his street, with friends saying: ‘It’s bad today, stay in.’”
He told The Guardian: “It was really bonkers.”
In a recent interview with The Sunday Times, Macfadyen also revealed how strange it was to be out in public with Hawes after her character was killed off.
“For a long time, people would shout at Keeley on the street,” he said, explaining that they would yell: “Oi, Keeley, are you dead? Are you dead, Keeley?"
Macfadyen can now be seen The Current War, in cinemas from today, and will reprise his role as try-hard Tom Wamsgans in season two of Succession, which premieres on Sky Atlantic on 12 August 2019.
