BBC1’s political thriller Bodyguard drew nearly 7million viewers on its first night – with many quick to point out the number of women in key roles.
The debut episode of the Keeley Hawes drama on Sunday attracted an audience of 6.8million, compared with 4.7million who watched the return of Poldark in June.
And the decision to cast women as high-profile characters won praise from viewers. The programme was applauded for the ‘bold change’ and the ‘exposure of women in traditional male roles’.
Many of the 7million viewers who watched the debut episode of BBC drama Bodyguard on Sunday night were quick to praise the number of women in key roles
One viewer wrote on social media: ‘I admire the BBC for the blatant exposure of women in traditional male roles during Bodyguard intro.’ Gina McKee (pictured) portrays the head of the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command
The main female character, Home Secretary Julia Montague, is played by The Durrells star Miss Hawes.
Gina McKee portrays the head of the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command and Pippa Haywood is the chief superintendent who is the boss of the titular bodyguard.
Other actresses take traditionally male roles such as police firearms officers, a bomb disposal agent and even a train guard.
One viewer wrote on social media: ‘I admire the BBC for the blatant exposure of women in traditional male roles during Bodyguard intro.
‘Yes it looks and feels weird, but it’s a bold change of direction which I hope they maintain. Each time they do, the women will seem a little less ridiculous to people.’
A second said: ‘Great to see women taking most of the senior roles in Bodyguard.’
A third added: ‘I really loved Bodyguard with women running the country.’
The debut episode of the Keeley Hawes drama on Sunday attracted an audience of 6.8million, compared with 4.7million who watched the return of Poldark in June
Not everyone was pleased with the casting. One person wrote on Twitter: ‘Shame it had to be spoiled by BBC PC brigade.’ Pictured is a female sniper aiming at the terror suspect bodyguard David Budd, played by Richard Madden, is trying to talk down
But not all viewers were as happy, with one writing on Twitter: ‘Shame it had to be spoiled by BBC PC brigade. Female heads of just about everything… and I am female… PC gone mad.’
Last night’s second episode saw Miss Hawes’s character and her bodyguard David Budd, played by Game Of Thrones star Richard Madden, rip their clothes off for two steamy trysts.
Following an attempted assassination on the Home Secretary, as her car was repeatedly shot at by a sniper on the roof of an office building, the pair were then given adjoining rooms for security reasons.
Budd entered the Home Secretary’s room, swiftly took off his shirt and removed her trousers while kissing her neck in an intimate embrace. As the passion continued, Miss Montague said: ‘Your job and my job, it just makes things complicated.’
‘Nothing complicates my job, it’s to protect you,’ Budd responded. Despite the intimate scenes, it is still unclear what will happen between the duo, as Budd secretly holds a political grudge against her because of his time as a soldier serving in Afghanistan.
Last nights episode saw Home Secretary Julia Montague get steamy with her bodyguard following an attempted assassination attempt
Monday’s episode portrayed a horrifying attack on a primary school in South London attended by Budd’s two young children
The episode also portrayed a horrifying attack on a primary school in South London attended by Budd’s two children.
Two terrorists try to drive a white van towards the gates but heavily armed officers open fire as it approaches.
While the driver is killed instantly, the other assailant is still conscious.
Unknown to the police the van contains explosives which are then detonated, killing five people at the scene.
As the van explodes, children are seen screaming and running into a classroom to take cover as windows shatter and teachers try to shield them.
The scenes were shown less than two weeks after a car was driven at cyclists in Westminster, and a year after eight people died in the London Bridge terror attack.
The drama’s creator Jed Mercurio has said of such scenes: ‘It’s very contemporary and obviously we want to handle that in the most sensitive way, but also in a way that does feel authentic.’