A number of BBC viewers have issued a scathing verdict on the broadcaster's new sitcom starring Dawn French, Can You Keep A Secret.
The dark comedy aired on Wednesday evening, but prompted some to regret tuning in, with complaints about the show's script and plotline soon flooding social media.
As well as Ms French, the six-part series stars Mark Heap, Craig Roberts, and Mandip Gill.
The Vicar of Dibley star plays widow Debbie Fendon, who gets caught in a ridiculous situation following a drastic decision.
BBC fans blasted the new comedy
|BBC
As the synopsis explains: "Debbie Fendon will stop at nothing to make sure her family's protected. Unfortunately, most of the time the person they really need protecting from is her.
"When her hermit-like husband William (Mark Heap - Friday Night Dinner, Green Wing) unexpectedly dies, she makes an outlandish decision that will put the family under more pressure than ever before.
"Because Debbie isn’t actually a widow and William didn’t really die – he was just mistakenly declared dead and the two retirees found themselves staring down the barrel of an opportunity too good to pass up.
"Just a few months hiding out in the loft waiting for the life insurance to pay out and then they can live out their golden years in peace."
Dawn French comedy Can You Keep A Secret didn't impress some viewers
|BBC
Despite starring some big names, there was unfortunately a flood of criticism on X following the first episode.
One penned: "Sad that despite Dawn French being amazing, I didn't find this funny #Canyoukeepasecret."
A second asked: "Was it meant to be a comedy? We thought it was some kind of odd drama, and were relieved Dawn didn't do any Hamas apologising or anti-semitism. #CanYouKeepaSecret.""I think it would have been better if the beeb had kept #CanYouKeepaSecret secret," someone else quipped.
One noted: "The best thing about #CanYouKeepASecret was the eclectic mix of colour & print in house."
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BBC Can You Keep A Secret is a new, six-part omedy
|BBC
"Just watched the new @BBCOne ‘comedy’ #CanYouKeepASecret. It was about as funny as my divorce," another posted.
"#CanYouKeepaSecret makes Mrs Brown look like a comedy masterclass. Wish the bbc had kept it a secret!" a different X user echoed.
"Nope, it's not a comedy: Half an hour I won't get back. #CanYouKeepaSecret @bbc," one more raged.
Some disagreed though, with one viewer adding: " Can you keep a secret is hilarious, sat chortling the whole way thought. Dawn French is just [heart emoji] #CanYouKeepaSecret."
"@BBC loving #CanYouKeepaSecret and great cast," another enthused. (sic)
Speaking last month at a press event for the new show, Ms French detailed jokingly how she was "bullied" into accepting the role.
Speaking to GB News and other media, she recalled: "I definitely didn't want to do a sitcom, that's for sure. Then I got a phone call from Paul (Mayhew-Archer, former screen writer) who bullied me.
"He said to me that Simon (Paul's son) had written a script and I thought, 'Oh God.' He'd phoned directly and he said, 'I know I shouldn't do this and should go via your agent and everything but you know, I've got Parkinson's, I'm old now, and it's my son.'"
She went on to explain that Paul had been a co-writer on The Vicar of Dibley, so had worked with her in the past.
The actress continued: "He said, 'Look, my son has written something with you in mind, will you just read it?' And I thought, 'Oh God, you know, instead of just saying a flat no, I'll have to read this.'
"And then I read it and it was genuinely funny - and it was about family and I love the conceit of it and I love the problem, I loved how much heart it has in it, actually, I love how flawed the characters are."