Fans who tuned into the new series of ITV's Grace responded with mixed reviews on Sunday evening, with many expressing disappointment with the "dull" series premiere.
John Simm, Richie Campbell and other familiar faces of the drama returned to screens to reprise their roles as the detectives, but social media users were split down the middle on the new episode.
Taking to X, one disgruntled viewer wrote: "Well ITV really hyped up this latest series of #grace and it's just as dull as the last one.
"Wooden acting and boring dragged out storylines making me actually look forward to the ad breaks."
Grace returned to ITV for series six on Sunday
| ITVAnother questioned the quality of the writing, posting: "What a pile of s*** #grace they search every other house, but not the house she went missing from, not even the car. Who writes this muck."
A third viewer commented: "For the first episode in a new series this is so dull #Grace I've tried to like #Grace but I just can't understand why it's so popular."
"I'm confused. Is this a continuation from the last series. Kidnap? I haven't a clue. #Grace," one confused fan asked.
Someone else quipped: "Is #Grace supposed to be a spoof detective series?"
Grace viewers were divided over the series six opening episode
| ITVHowever, not all viewers shared this negative assessment of the premiere episode.
Some audience members took to social media to defend the programme and its lead actor, with one posting: "John Simm is a ridiculously underrated actor #Grace."
Others were more enthusiastic about the show's return to screens, with viewers simply writing "This is amazing #Grace" and "Great to have #Grace back."
The opening instalment aired at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX, taking over the primetime slot previously occupied by Gone.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
Grace John Simm recently star teased what can be expected from his character in the new series
| ITVTonight's opening episode, titled Left You Dead, centred on a missing persons investigation after Eden, the spouse of Brighton property developer Neel, vanished under suspicious circumstances.
A disturbing voicemail left for her closest friend suggests she may have been abducted, while evidence at the couple's residence indicates some form of disturbance took place.
The case unfolds against the backdrop of an ongoing anti-corruption inquiry within East Sussex CID, following the arrest of ACC Cassian Pewe several months earlier.
Detective Superintendent Roy Grace, portrayed by Mr Simm, is also grappling with intelligence from Cassian regarding his former wife Sandy's murder and potential threats to his son Bruno's safety.
Mr Simm, best known for his roles in Life on Mars and as The Master in Doctor Who, leads the returning cast alongside Mr Campbell as DI Glenn Branson and Zoë Tapper as Cleo Morey.
Laura Elphinstone, Brad Morrison and Juliette Motamed also reprised their roles as members of Grace's investigative team.
Guest stars for the opening episode included Grantchester actor Rishi Nair as property developer Neel, alongside Ali Khan, Tamla Kari and Sara Powell.
The drama continues to be filmed in Brighton, a location that Mr Simm, who resides in the city, has described as "a character in its own right."