Jed Mercurio’s Bodyguard is heading to mainland China after ITV Studios, owners of series producers World Productions, struck a deal with local broadcaster Huanxi Media Group.
Bodyguard tells the fictional story of David Budd (Richard Madden), a heroic but volatile war veteran now working as a Specialist Protection Officer for the Royalty and Specialist Branch (RasP) of London’s Metropolitan Police Service.
When he is assigned to protect the ambitious and powerful Home Secretary Julia Montague (Keeley Hawes), Budd finds himself torn between his duty and his beliefs.
The series will be available on Huanxi’s streaming service platform, huanxi.com, which offers viewers a mix of films and scripted TV dramas produced domestically and from abroad.
Bodyguard was created and written by Jed Mercurio and proved a major hit when it aired in the UK on BBC One, with the final episode watched by over 17 million people.
Netflix holds the international rights to the series outside of China.
Ruth Berry, Managing Director, ITV Studios Global Entertainment, said: “We are delighted that viewers in China will be able to enjoy Bodyguard.
“It is a show that epitomises the strength and international appeal of our world class, award-winning scripted content, and this deal means it will now be available across the world in 2019.”