Keeley Hawes and Richard Madden are joining forces for new six-part BBC drama Bodyguard.
The 41-year-old actress will team up once again with Line of Duty creator Jed Mercurio for the series, in which she will be playing a home secretary called Julia Montague, while former Game of Thrones star Richard will star as her police protection officer.
Of her new gig, Keeley said in a statement: “I’m delighted to be working with Richard Madden and once again with Jed Mercurio, and the hugely talented team behind Line Of Duty. Bodyguard is such an exciting project. I can’t wait to get started.”
While the political drama will see Keeley and Jed working together again, it will also be the second time he has worked with Richard, having previously directed the 2015 TV adaptation of Lady Chatterley’s Lover, in which Richard starred as Oliver Mellors.
“I’m hugely flattered by the superb cast who’ve joined Bodyguard, led by Richard Madden and Keeley Hawes, both of whom I’m delighted to be working with again,” Jed said.
Richard is perhaps most well known for playing Robb Stark on Game of Thrones between 2011 and 2013, while he also made his romantic lead debut opposite Lily James in 2015’s Cinderella.
In Bodyguard, his character is described as a “heroic – but volatile – war veteran”. Speaking about his new role, Richard said: “I’m very excited to be working with Jed Mercurio again and thrilled to be working with Keeley Hawes for the first time. Jed has created a remarkable story that resonates with the very heart of modern day London and real characters trying to survive in this world.”
Gina McKee, who also starred alongside Keeley in Line of Duty, is also part of the cast for Bodyguard, which has already begun filming in London.
