ITV Secret Service viewers 'switch off' minutes into new Gemma Arterton's drama
ITV's new spy drama Secret Service, starring Gemma Arterton, has sparked mixed reactions just minutes into the first episode
Secret Service viewers have been left unimpressed with ITV's latest spy drama.
The channel's much-anticipated thriller made its debut on our screens this evening (April 27) with Gemma Arterton taking the lead role.
The programme follows her character, senior MI6 officer Kate Henderson, who uncovers intelligence suggesting a high-ranking British politician is collaborating with Russia.
Kate refuses to allow them to escape justice for their betrayal, so she decides to risk everything to hunt down the traitor. During the opening episode, viewers at home were first introduced to Kate's personal life as it began with her at home alongside her family.
It seemed to be a typical hectic morning in her household as her children prepared for school and her husband Stuart, who serves as political adviser to the home secretary, readied himself for work.
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Kate then left her ordinary life behind as she immersed herself in her demanding job and travelled to Malta to meet asset Lena. She proved crucial to the investigation as she worked in close proximity to their target as the family nanny, reports The Mirror.
Lena had a vital task to complete as Kate instructed her to smuggle a listening device into the villa of Igor Borodin, head of the Russian secret service.
With the device successfully positioned, Kate overhears an explosive conversation that alters everything - a British politician has cancer and is about to resign.
Despite all the drama unfolding, viewers were left underwhelmed as they claimed to "switch off" just minutes into the opening episode. One viewer wrote: "This is losing me in 10 mins. Does it get better? I'm bored. #SecretService." Meanwhile another said: "Hmmmm....Not feeling it so far #SecretService."
A third fumed: "This is a bit dull #SecretService." One baffled fan wrote: "I already don't understand what's going on #SecretService." Another agreed: "20 mins in and still no clue what the hell is going on." One said: "I have given up, and turned it off #SecretService."
Yet not everybody was in agreement, with a number of viewers appearing to thoroughly enjoy the programme. One wrote: "Interesting. Love spy drama #SecretService." Meanwhile another added: “Binging #secretservice on ITV. Not bad so far. On Episode 3.”
Secret Service is available to stream on ITVX now
