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BBC1 arms Mercurio’s Bodyguard

World Productions’ Bodyguard was created by Jed Mercurio

BBC1 in the UK has added a six-part series from Jed Mercurio (Line of Duty) starring Game of Thrones star Richard Madden and Keeley Hawes (The Missing) to its drama slate.

Bodyguard (6×60′) is from ITV-owned World Productions, which is behind BBC drama Line of Duty, and has been created and written by Mercurio.

The show tells the fictional story of a heroic but volatile war veteran working as a specialist protection officer. When he is assigned to protect the UK’s ambitious home secretary, whose politics he despises.

The show tells the story of a heroic but volatile war veteran working as a specialist protection officer. However, he finds himself torn between his duty and his beliefs after being assigned to protect an ambitious home secretary whose politics he despises.

Madden described the show as “a remarkable story that resonates with the very heart of modern-day London and real characters trying to survive in this world.”

Mercurio exec produces with Simon Heath for World Productions and Elizabeth Kilgarriff for BBC1. ITV Studios Global Entertainment will manage international distribution.

In related news, BBC4 has ordered a three-parter featuring musician Nile Rodgers that will guide viewers through his musical legacy.

Nile Rodgers: How To Make It In The Music Business will see the multiple Grammy winner sharing the secrets of his success. It is being made by UK-based 1212 Productions and is set to air later this year.

In related news, the BBC has been cleared of having “systemic gender discrimination” in the way it pays its staff after the results of an independent audit were published.

The audit, overseen by former judge Sir Patrick Elias, was conducted by consultancy firm PwC and legal firm Eversheds and found no bias.

Elias said: “The conclusion in the report that there is no systemic discrimination against women in the BBC’s pay arrangements for these staff is, in my judgment, amply borne out by the statistical evidence and is further supported by the analysis of particular cases carried out by Eversheds.”

The BBC commissioned the equal pay audit of its staff to determine whether there are any systemic issues in how it pays men and women.

A separate review into the BBC’s approach to on-air presenters, editors and correspondents will conclude by the end of the year. It will also look at issues surrounding the breakdown of those paid more than £150,000 (US$200,000).

The BBC has faced renewed pressure to close its gender pay gap after some of the UK pubcaster’s leading female stars called for the corporation to “rectify injustices” by the end of the year.

Those calls came after the UK pubcaster was forced to reveal the pay of anyone earning more than £150,000 a year in July, with the figures highlighting that only a third of its best-paid talent is female. BBC director general Tony Hall has since promised to close the gap by 2020.

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