The Fortune Hotel's second series premiere left audiences divided after concluding with a dramatic cliffhanger that saw contestants Tope and Nella facing an agonising choice about their briefcase.
The ITV gameshow, which returned to screens on Wednesday evening, ended its opening episode with the pair needing to decide whether to keep their current case or risk a potentially game-changing swap.
Throughout the episode, multiple briefcase exchanges had taken place, with the original holders of the £250,000 prize forced to switch cases to avoid detection.
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Social media erupted with contrasting reactions, as some viewers praised the suspenseful ending whilst others expressed frustration at having to wait until the following evening to discover the outcome of Tope and Nella's crucial decision.
ITV's The Fortune Hotel ended with a cliffhanger involving Tope and Nella
|ITV
Viewer responses on X ranged from outright annoyance to enthusiastic anticipation for the next instalment.
"I'm sorry, but that is ridiculous! #fortunehotel" posted one frustrated viewer, whilst another complained: "Ffs why do they end on a cliff hanger?"
Some questioned the programme's rules, with one person writing: "Why finish it like that man.. also It's a bit unfair that when someone is picked they then turn it on someone else.. shouldn't they have to stick to [their] choice #thefortunehotel".
Another expressed: "What an cliffhanger! How can you leave it like that? Can't wait until tomorrow to find out. #TheFortuneHotel."
Stephen Mangan made his return as host for ITV's The Fortune Hotel
|ITV
However, numerous viewers expressed excitement about the series opener.
Another declared: "It's only episode 1 and and I'm hooked. These clifffhangers are going to send me loopy. #FortuneHotel".
"15 minutes in and this is already better than Destination X #TheFortuneHotel," another shared.
The programme sees host Stephen Mangan welcoming eleven pairs to a Caribbean resort where contestants compete for a quarter of a million pounds hidden in one of their briefcases.
Wednesday's series opener featured a harsh opening challenge that saw business partners Briony and Chelsea eliminated before even reaching the hotel.
The remaining 10 pairs had to race using taxis and boats to secure their accommodation, with only the first five teams guaranteed immediate safety.
The bottom six faced a nerve-wracking case selection process, hoping to avoid the early checkout card that would send them home.
The Fortune Hotel has faced inevitable comparisons to BBC's The Traitors, though Mangan maintains the programmes are distinctly different.
Host Stephen Mangan addressed comparisons to BBC's The Traitors
|ITV
"I don't mind at all - The Traitors is a great show and there's plenty of room for more than one show," the presenter told The Mirror.
He emphasised the show's lighter elements, stating: "I think it's clearly very different. We have those really tense sessions at the end but there's also a lot of fun in our show. It's really fun to watch. People are hilarious in it."
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The Fortune Hotel made its series two debut on Wednesday
|ITV
The 57-year-old spent four weeks filming in the Caribbean without his family, describing the separation as challenging.
Despite witnessing contestant conflicts on the beach, Mangan admitted: "I don't like people falling out in front of me."