The BBC has experienced one of its “lowest-ever” ratings for a prime-time finale following the ending of Michael Sheen’s controversial drama, The Way, it's been reported.
The series tells the story of a government crackdown causing Welsh people to become refugees while English fascists threaten their safety.
Sheen directed the drama which follows one family trying to escape the UK. According to The Telegraph, only 697,000 tuned into the final episode.
The programme’s debut only saw 1.7 million viewers and faced its fair share of criticism just minutes in - including one viewer who posted on X during the premiere: "I wanted to like a pro-Wales, anti-establishment TV show more than anything, but #TheWay is just absolutely boring s****."
Taking to social media, it was clear what viewers thought of the series as they blasted the plot during Monday's finale.
Plenty of them flooded X, formerly Twitter, with complaints about the "woke" tone of the series while many also slammed the seemingly “incomplete” storyline.
Michael Sheen (pictured) was behind the Way
BBC
One penned: “Lefty woke nonsense, didn’t have a clue what was going on. NEXT! #TheWay.”
“#TheWay #BBC #WOKE Had every cliche in the book. Ended up with #IamSpartacus,” a second viewer fumed.
“@BBC it was terrible #theway not to provide a drama! @michaelsheen,” another shared.
A fourth commented: “#TheWay on BBC ONE, well that was three hours wasted. Was hoping it would improve as I stayed with it but unfortunately not. P*** poor.”
The drama tells the story of a Welsh family fleeing the UK
BBC
“1st episode of #theway bbc was really engaging and decent telly episode 2 it just falls off a cliff it was dreadful and it felt like I'd missed an episode - what happened!” another asked before different X user wrote: “Finished watching #TheWay. Felt after that ending, we needed another 10 minutes (never a fan of incomplete storylines)!”
However, there were some who were quick to jump to show's defence, including one fan who argued: "#TheWay is amazing! All the surrealism in it scratches my brain just right. Let @michaelsheen direct anything he wants!"
And a second echoed: "So that was #theway. I really adored this series with it’s cracking soundtrack, thought-provoking plot and it’s downright brilliant weirdness. Well done @michaelsheen on your TV directorial debut and your love letter to Port Talbot, You should be so, so proud." (sic)
The BBC similarly defended the series amid the backlash a spokesperson stated to GB News: “The Way has been available to view in full on BBC iPlayer for more than a fortnight.
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The drama has been one of the broadcaster's biggest flops according to figures
BBC
“Overnight ratings no longer provide a full picture of all of those who have watched in an on-demand world.”
Speaking to Buzz Magazine ahead of the show’s launch, Sheen delved into why he decided to pursue the project
He said: “The idea I came to [producer] Bethan Jones with was a British family being uprooted, having to flee their home, go on a journey through Britain and then eventually cross the Channel.
“You wouldn’t know why it was happening to them.”