Bodyguard BBC: Creator Jed Mercurio clears confusion over train times in opening scene
BODYGUARD has gained a huge response from audiences of the BBC action thriller, but not all comments have been positive, with some eagle-eyed viewers pointing out a few inaccuracies.
Bodyguard: PC David Budd suspicious of activity on train
The BBC drama premiered on Sunday night with a heart stopping opening scene on a train in which Richard Madden’s character foiled a terrorist plot.
As an ex-military officer, David Budd (played by Richard Madden) picked up on some unusual and worrying behaviour by one of the passengers boarding the train.
However amongst the drama on the train, some viewers pointed out that the train leaving the station on time was unrealistic.
Bodyguard creator Jed Mercurio has cleared up the confusion, stating it came down to a matter of graphical complications.
It just makes the graphics more complicated and busier
"We had to put the time on the boards and decide whether the train would leave on time or would be delayed,” Jed told the Press Association.
Explaining further, he said: “In the end, it was just that the graphics were more complicated saying it was late because then usually there's something telling you what time it's expected.”
“It just makes the graphics more complicated and busier and it wasn't really about that,” the creator explained.
The Line Of Duty writer went on to state that the drama was of a higher importance: "It just felt like it wasn't really relevant to the drama whether the train was on time or not.”
Following on from the first episode, the creator took to Twitter to address another filming error, which meant the opening scene had to be reworked at the last moment.
Originally, the train in question was meat to depart from Waterloo station but due to filming permission laws, the scene had to be pulled.
Instead, the scene unfolded at a railway station in Norfolk with the creator thanking the station for letting the production film on the premises.
Addressing the quick resolve to the issue, Jed said: “It put us in a very difficult position. We coped with it obviously. But everything had to be rethought and replanned.”
No matter the filming issues, the action packed thriller gripped audiences over the bank holiday weekend.
Viewing figures have shown that an average of 6.7 million people tuned in to watch the debut episode.
Audiences were blown away, taking to Twitter to voice their praise for the new six-part drama series.
One wrote: “Opening 20 minutes most tense drama this year,” referring to the foiled terror plot on the train.
“Richard Madden is immense and Keeley Hawes is as excellent as ever,” another added.
A third stated: “Bodyguard was brilliant!! Literally on the edge of my seat!!”
The action thriller will follow David as he takes on a new role of a bodyguard for Home Secretary Julia Montague (Keeley Hawes) having left his military past behind him.
However, David’s home life isn’t as structured as his profession with marital problems and the ghosts of is past playing on his mind.
How far will the bodyguard go to protect his principal?
Bodyguard continues on Sunday at 9pm on BBC One.