TOUGH CROWD
The Cuckoo viewers threaten to boycott just minutes into new thriller as they slam ‘dull and predictable’ premiere
The show stars former EastEnders star Jill Halfpenny in the lead role.
Channel 5 viewers have been divided over the latest drama series, with many slamming the first episode as ‘dull’ and ‘predictable'.
The thrilling four-part series tells a gritty tale of family secrets, tight bonds and severe conflict.
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Former EastEnders star Jill Halfpenny plays the lead role alongside Lee Ingleby, Claire Goose and Freya Hannan-Mills in Channel 5’s new compelling thriller.
The official synopsis of The Cuckoo reads: “Jessica, Nick, and their daughter, Alice, relocate to the countryside, hoping to leave financial struggles and family conflicts behind.
“Taking in a lodger, Sian charmingly befriends Jessica and Alice but raises Nick's suspicions.
"She instantly begins sewing discord within the family resulting in dark secrets surfacing as Alice and Sian grow closer.
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“As their family reaches breaking point, Jessica and Nick uncover the truth of Sian's troubled past.
'In a race against time, Jessica and Nick must track down Sian before she can inflict any more pain on the family.
“As Jessica confronts Sian, she mysteriously disappears.”
Last night, the first episode began, but just minutes into the programme, many viewers took to their X(Twitter) accounts and penned down their disappointment at the “dull” scenes, with some even claiming they were quick to turn it off.
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One Channel 5 fan simply stated: “I'm not feeling it!”
Another added: “Another dull, weird and no logic ‘drama’ by Channel 5.”
“Nothing about this makes me want to watch the rest of it,” commented a third user.
Someone else raged: “What a pile of s***e,” as a fifth wrote, “Little predictable so far or will there be a BIG twist?”
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However, some other viewers praised the show as one penned: “Really enjoyed the first episode of #TheCuckoo, looking forward to seeing how this pans out!”
A second person followed it with: “A slow burner, but enjoying it so far and so good to see Jill Halfpenny play a bit of a nutter for a change instead of always being nice.”
Speaking to Channel 5 about the new series, Jill – who plays the lead role of Sian – expressed: “Yes, we were in a huge farmhouse for most of the shoot, which was so big, you only see a tiny bit of it on screen, and it’s in County Wicklow, which is a gorgeous part of Ireland.
“It was stunning and a great place to film. The difference is, if I’d filmed there in my 20s I’d have spent all my spare time exploring the area.
“But in my 40s I spent my breaks trying to get in touch with my son’s school or booking a dentist appointment, the boring logistics of life!"
Sebastian Cardwell, Deputy Chief Content Officer, UK at Paramount, said: “We’re thrilled to be teaming up again with Clapperboard to bring this tense and twisty series to our viewers.
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“Equipped with a gripping script and household names Jill Halfpenny, Lee Ingleby, Claire Goose and Marjorie Yates as our lead cast, The Cuckoo is another brilliant addition to our expanding drama slate.”
The Cuckoo continues tonight on Channel 5 at 9pm, with the last episode airing on April 11.
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