‘Bodyguard’ creator Jed Mercurio has dropped a huge hint Keeley Hawes’ character could still be alive – and that Richard Madden’s alter-ego may die.
The 52-year-old writer admitted there is a "grain of truth" in some of the fan theories about the popular drama show, in which Keeley’s fictional home secretary character Julia Montague was killed off halfway through the series after her personal protection officer David Budd (Richard) failed to save her from a bomb.
Jed said: "We are all sitting back and enjoying the speculation.
"It’s great that people have their own theories. Actually I do look at some of bigger theories and it’s interesting that occasionally there’s a grain of truth.
"It’s not like we are standing by going ‘hotter, colder’ as people put forward their theories."
The ‘Line of Duty’ creator confirmed he is in talks with the BBC about a second series of ‘Bodyguard’, but he has hinted Richard’s character David may not survive the series one finale.
He said: "We don’t know yet [about a second series]. We’re just beginning that conversation with the BBC.
"We know people out there are loving series one so there would be an appetite for series two, but we’ll just have to wait and see.
"A lot goes into setting up a production and none of those conversations have taken place yet which would allow us to facilitate that production.
"Richard has done a fantastic job on this and we’re all so proud of what he’s achieved and so pleased for him. He’s such a hard-working actor and such a lovely guy that it’s great he’s getting all the attention that he deserves.
"I guess if that character survives we would have to get into a conversation with Richard about if he would be available to do another series."
This comes despite Jed recently saying Julia is "definitely dead", but he has confirmed there will be a definite conclusion to the dramatic storyline on Sunday night’s (23.09.18) hotly-anticipated finale.
Speaking on ‘This Morning’, he added: "There isn’t an alternative ending. We weren’t in a position where we could commit to do that, shoot it in different ways and edit it in different ways.
"We will definitely have a conclusion and I think at the end of it people will know exactly what they need to know."
One of the fan theories comes from ‘Good Morning Britain’ co-host Piers Morgan, who doesn’t believe Julia is dead because viewers have not seen her corpse.
He recently said: "I think she may not be dead. No body, no death in TV. Jed Mercurio who wrote this has a track record of killing people off, so what better way to really shock people, when the guy who kills them off normally [brings her back from the dead], which he’s never done before?
"He’s a man who likes a surprise, I don’t think she’s dead."
What’s more, ‘Bodyguard’ is set to reach further audiences after Netflix signed a deal with ITV Studios Global Entertainment to premiere the series to its members outside the UK and Ireland and China from October 24th 2018.
Bodyguard creator Jed Mercurio hints Julia is alive but David could die
