EastEnders spin-off Kat and Alfie: Redwater flops as two million viewers switch off after the FIRST episode

EASTENDERS spin-off Kat & Alfie: Redwater has been branded a flop, with two million people switching off after just one episode.

The BBC series follows soap legends Kat and Alfie Moon — played by Jessie Wallace and Shane Ritchie — as they search for their estranged son in the Irish countryside.

But ratings have tumbled from 4.9million in episode one to just 2.9million in episode two – despite show producer and former EastEnders boss Dominic Treadwell-Collins hoping it would be “something very special”.

TV insiders now believe the programme is already destined for failure.

A source said: “Everyone thought Redwater would be a huge hit given the massive, loyal fanbase Eastenders has.

“EastEnders draws in over six million viewers each episode so producers thought Redwater would follow suit and get at least three quarters of the audience.

“It got off to a brilliant start with five million so their hopes were up, but the ratings for episode two are bleak.

“The fact so many people have turned off after episode one is very telling.

“With such low figures so early into the series they will struggle to build it back up again.

“It’s a big blow for Jessie and Shane too.”

Redwater’s low viewing figures are set to drop even further in its third episode this Thursday, when it goes head to head with the fourth Britain’s Got Talent semi-final which is expected to draw in nearly ten million viewers.

The six-part series’ disastrous ratings comes after fans blasted the Irish-based show as a stereotypical “cringefest”.

Telly viewer Miriam Wallace fumed on Twitter: “Every Irish cliche has been thrown into this cringefest.”

Ken McFadden branded it “awful”, adding: “Jesus, every rotten patronising stereotype there is, it’s all here.”

Daithi O Laoghaire also raged on Twitter: “Dear East-Enders fans outside of Ireland. Far And Away wasn’t us. Nor is Redwater. We’re more sophisticated than this twee nonsense.”