BBC Death Valley viewers switch off within minutes as they make same complaint
The new comedy drama series began on Sunday night, but some viewers were left unimpressed
Viewers who tuned in to watch the new comedy drama series on BBC were quick to switch off, with many expressing the same criticism.
Death Valley, which premiered on Sunday night (May 25), stars Timothy Spall as John Chapel, a reclusive actor renowned for his role as a TV detective, who also has a talent for solving real-life crimes.
Despite his attempts to lead a quiet life, he encounters detective Janie Mallowan (Gwyneth Keyworth), who is investigating a mysterious death in the area. As it turns out, she's a huge fan of the actor, and the unlikely duo team up to solve crimes.
The show, which was entirely filmed in Wales, boasts a star-studded cast alongside Spall and Keyworth, including Steffan Rhodri from Gavin and Stacey, Alexandria Riley of Silo and The Pembrokeshire Murders, Sian Gibson from Peter Kay's Car Share, and additional writing from comedian and actor Sian Harries.
The series features a star-studded cast
(Image: (Image: BBC) )
Despite the show's lighthearted premise and positive early reviews, some viewers were left underwhelmed and took to social media to share their initial thoughts, reports the Express.
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While The Guardian described the show as "a fun new crime spoof for Ludwig fans," not everyone agreed. One viewer expressed their disappointment: "Just what I thought! It's too silly. The Guardian says people who love Ludwig will love Death Valley. NO! I LOVE Ludwig - this is absolute rubbish!"
"Five mins and switching off - this is AWFUL. So bad," voiced one viewer, while another offered their take on the programme's quality with "BBC1 weekday afternoon vibes to it."
Gwyneth Keyworth plays a detective in Death Valley
(Image: (Image: BBC) )
Another viewer tuned in only to say, "Hmm ... Not hitting the spot yet." Meanwhile, someone else clearly unimpressed stated, "Ten minutes in...boring...screaming unintelligible actors...no thanks."
However, not everyone was left feeling let down, as many praised Timothy Spall's exceptional portrayal of the elusive television personality.
Comparisons with other series emerged too, with a fan saying, "Love Timothy Spall," and another drawing parallels to an ITV production: "#DeathValley this is very much like #ProfessorT," they wrote.
Paul Doolan, the mind behind the series, opened up about the origins of the show ahead of its first episode.
"I liked the idea of a TV actor who played a detective, and a fan of them, and the awkward relationship, but I couldn't really get beyond what else was funny about that," he revealed to the BBC.
"Then I thought 'what if they solve murders?', which is all really meta, and then started plotting it based around that."
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Death Valley airs Sundays at 8.15pm on BBC One and iPlayer
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