Bodyguard: Series finale expected to draw one of biggest TV audiences this decade

BBC's political thriller has had audiences gripped from the beginning

Bodyguard fans will finally learn the identity of the killer in one of the biggest TV whodunits of the year, when Jed Mercurio's political thriller comes to its conclusion on Sunday night.

Audiences have been gripped by the BBC series about controversial Home Secretary Julia Montague, played by Keeley Hawes, and her PTSD-suffering protection officer David Budd (Richard Madden).

The drama, written by Line Of Duty creator Mercurio, focuses on Afghanistan war veteran Budd and his personal battles, and Montague, whose decision to hand the investigation of recent terror events to the Security Service ruffles feathers.

Montague is also widely criticised for pushing a new counter-terrorism bill through Parliament, which would give the security services the power of mass surveillance.

Fans are waiting eagerly to find out who was behind the bomb that killed her during a high-profile speech in a shock twist, and have watched as Budd tries to unravel the mystery around her death.

However, in a trailer for the final episode – which will last for an extended 75 minutes, Budd appears to be at the centre of the manhunt himself.

There has also been speculation that Montague may still be alive, fuelled by Mercurio himself.

The highly anticipated final episode is likely to attract one of the biggest TV audiences for a drama series this decade, as the hit thriller has seen a steady increase in viewers since it began in late August.

The latest available figures are for episode four (shown on September 9), which had a consolidated audience of 11.1 million.

This makes Bodyguard the eighth most-watched drama of the decade, in a list that also contains blockbusters such as Doctor Who and Sherlock.

Mercurio revealed in a recent interview that conversations have begun with the BBC about a second series, saying: “We know that people out there are loving series one and there would be an appetite for series two. We'll just have to wait and see.

“A lot goes into setting up a production. None of those conversations have taken place yet which would allow us to facilitate that production.

Teasing what viewers can look forward to as the series reaches its conclusion, he added: “I can tell you that the episode returns to some of the very tense action style sequences of the first two.

“There's lots of action in the last episode and lots of answers to questions that have been in people's minds these last few weeks. I'm really very optimistic that people will get a lot out of the episode and they'll get the answers that they're looking for.”

Bodyguard will come to a conclusion at 9pm on Sunday on BBC One.

Press Association