Douglas Is Cancelled viewers slam 'infuriating' drama's first episode (2024)

Douglas Is Cancelled's first episode has reignited speculation aroundwhich star acted as writer Steven Moffat's inspiration, as viewers slammed theITV drama's 'infuriating' opener after it hit screens on Thursday night.

The seriestells the story of a 'national treasure' news presenter, played by Hugh Bonneville, who is left fighting to save his career after being accused on X of making a sexist joke at a wedding.

The four episodes then follow Bellowe's relationship with Madeline Crow - his younger, more dynamic colleague portrayed by Karen Gillan - and how it changes after news of his alleged wrongdoing first emerges.

While the full series was released on ITVX, the first episode was broadcast on ITV1 on Thursday evening, and viewers were quick to share their thoughts.

While reaction to the episode, and writer Steven Moffat's script was mixed, fans were full of praise for star Karen Gillan, describing her performance as 'tremendous.'

Some viewers noted that the series was a perfect satire of modern-day cancel culture, while others branded it 'infuriating and frustrating.'

Fans who were less-impressed by the show shared posts on X, including: 'Gave up on #DouglasIsCancelled after less than two episodes. The script is infuriating and frustrating, the acting is childlike, overdone and caricature. Switched off at the 'hand-holding' scene in Madeleine's office. Awful and ridiculous;'

'I had high hopes for #DouglasIsCancelled but it's terrible. I'm not sure Stephen Moffat and primetime ITV is a sensible combination. The dialogue is unnatural, and it's full of generational cliches and lame gags. I'm sorry but for me, Douglas Is Cancelled is.... erm. cancelled;'

'Watching #DouglasIsCancelled and I am yet again reminded that Stephen Moffat cannot write credible women characters;'

'#DouglasIsCancelled has to be the worst thing Steven Moffat has written. It isn't funny & the crass representations of the PA & daughter are grating. What's with Karen Gillan's voice? She's obviously been directed to speak lower and from the throat to sound harder. Awful;'

'I'm streaming the first ep of #DouglasIsCancelled - it's written like a play, constant dialogue, people talking loud and fast at each other without moving the plot forward at all. So far I hate it;'

However, other viewers were more complementary of the series, with particular praise for star Karen Gillan, who plays the accused Douglas' headstrong colleague Madeline Crow.

Viewers wrote: '#DouglasIsCancelled is everything good and bad about Steven Moffat. Some great, snappy dialogue. Some bad, clunky and dated jokes. Looks great. The women are not very well drawn. I wonder if he'll ever write a show without Lynda Day in? All that said, I'll be back next week;'

'Really quite enjoying the first episode of #DouglasIsCancelled on ITV1 right now;'

'This is Moffat-to-the-power-of-Moffat. Intense;'

'Really enjoyed #DouglasIsCancelled written by #Stevenmoffat rather fabulous cast;'

'Enjoying this #DouglasIsCancelled show and no not JUST because Karen Gillan is in it. It's a fascinating dive into the toxic hell sewer that Twitter has become. And I appreciate the irony of posting on the same aforementioned hell sewer. Anyway it's good... yeah;'

'Started watching #DouglasIsCancelled and ended up binge-watching all four episodes - SO good! @karengillan is phenomental from start to finish, and episode 3 in particular was close to the most uncomfortable tense yet intriguing viewing I've witnessed in a long time. Bravo!'

'Loved loved loved Douglas Is Cancelled. Just binge-watched all four eps on ITVX, and it's brilliant. Some fabulous twists and turns, an immaculate Steven Moffat script and tremendous performances throughout, particularly Karen Gillan;'

Ahead of the miniseries' first episode, there had been a guessing game of sorts overwhich real-life star inspired the cancel culture comedy, afterits writer Steven Moffat refused to reveal their identity.

While the main character, Douglas is fictional, Moffat said his idea for the series came from a story about 'a person who I will not divulge'.

Referring to the real-life character who inspired the comedy drama, Moffatt told the Royal Television Society Magazine:'It's not the main part of the plot, but he was caught misbehaving and thought it might come up in an interview, so he had to have a rehearsal interview with a junior colleague.

'I was fascinated with the idea of how on earth that would work.'

Moffat is one of Britain's best-known screenwriters, with hits including Doctor Who and Sherlock.

In another interview promoting his new ITV show, he said the topic of cancel culture was worthy of dramatic attention.

'We're outraged when someone who thinks the way we do is cancelled, but we're perfectly happy to cancel someone else,' he told The Sunday Times.

'But cancellation only works on people who are capable of shame and wish to be well thought of. In other words, it only really works on quite good people.

'It's a smart bomb that can only take out people who at least aspire to virtue: you can't cancel Hitler, you can't cancel Donald Trump — you can't, and they won't care.

'What is the point in a smart bomb that only afflicts and affects the civilised?'

Moffat previously revealed that viewers wouldn't know what Douglas actually said until the end of the series, letting them make up their own minds on whether he should have been cancelled or not.