ITV blasted for 'ruining' new Yorkshire Ripper drama series as viewers 'give up' due to distracting feature
David Morrissey stars in ITV's The Long Shadow
ITV
A number of ITV viewers have been left switching off the channel's latest drama offering, The Long Shadow, after growing frustrated with certain aspects of the show.
With a cast led by the likes of Katherine Kelly, Daniel Mays, David Morrissey, Lee Ingleby, Charley Webb, and Jill Halfpenny among other big names, anticipation levels were sky-high prior to Monday's premiere.
The series has been billed by ITV as a "definitive depiction of the desperate five-year hunt for serial killer Peter Sutcliffe".
The Long Shadow "sensitively focusses on the lives of the victims who crossed his path and those of the officers at the heart of the police investigation", according to the channel.
ITV stated it had "the victims, their families and the survivors at the heart of this series" as it depicts the manhunt for the Yorkshire Ripper which took place back in the 1970s.
Episode one of seven got underway on Monday evening but several viewers appear to have already given up on the series thanks to sound and lighting issues.
Daniel Mays also stars in ITV's The Long Shadow
ITV
As the drama unfolded on-screen, several took to the web to hit out at the sound issues.
One fan fumed on Twitter: "#TheLongShadow has an epic cast, but the sound mixing is dire."
While a second also hit out: "Dear #ITV when you commissioned #TheLongShadow did everyone involved watch it back? One minute the sound is very low, then it's to loud!!
"I can't make out what Katherine Kelly is saying, will have to rewatch it again with subtitles. #TheLongShadow should have gone to @Specsavers."
WATCH HERE: The Long Shadow trailer
Another echoed: "#TheLongShadow - anyway else struggling with the sound on this? Can barely understand a thing they're saying!"
And a fourth blasted: "@ITV #TheLongShadow loving it but the sound is poor - background music higher than speaking in a lot of key parts #whatdidhesay? Missed most of it!"
Elsewhere, a fifth praised the cast but it wasn't enough to keep them hooked: "Some great actors on what is such a heartbreaking story but the sound is awful and ruining it #thelongshadow."
A sixth switched off altogether as they penned: "Given up. Sound too bad paired 1970’s lack of lighting… have no idea what’s going on. #TheLongShadow." (sic)
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
- Carol Vorderman and Steve Coogan slammed for 'tactical voting' as they bid to 'kick out the Tories'
- Eamonn fumes 'no one wants to live in London' as he rips apart 'national disgrace' of abandoning the North
- All Creatures Great and Small's Rachel Shenton addresses show exit as she speaks out on series future
Katherine Kelly is also part of the Long Shadow cast
ITV
It's not the first time in recent weeks ITV has come under fire from some viewers for seemingly fumbling highly-anticipated shows.
Last month, the network was slammed for "ruining" the mature dating show My Mum, Your Dad with an "insulting" twist for its contestants.
It's also faced calls to axe This Morning following the show's monumental NTAs snub and after a year marred in controversy.
Nevertheless, the channel will continue to air The Long Shadow on Monday evenings.