ITV viewers were left seething with frustration on Sunday night as the highly anticipated finale of the drama Coldwater was abruptly cut short by a catastrophic technical failure.
Instead of the climactic ending, audiences across the country were met with a blank screen and an abrupt cut to the evening news, sparking immediate and furious backlash on social media.
Social Media Erupts in Anger
Within moments of the screen going black, Twitter and Facebook became the epicentre of viewer fury. Fans of the show flooded the platforms, branding the incident an "absolute shambles" and a "massive fail" for the broadcaster.
One exasperated viewer captured the mood of the nation, writing: "So the last 5 minutes of #Coldwater were missing and it just cut to the news?! What a shambles @ITV."
Another added to the chorus of complaints, stating: "@ITV what happened to the end of #Coldwater? You cut to the news and we missed the end! Sort it out!"
A Pattern of Problems?
This is not the first time ITV has faced criticism over its handling of major drama finales. The blunder dredged up painful memories for many of the infamous Broadchurch finale in 2017, which was similarly marred by sound issues and sudden cuts to the news, leaving viewers unable to hear crucial dialogue.
The recurrence of such a significant technical error has led to serious questions about the channel's broadcasting protocols and its duty of care to its audience.
What Was Missed?
The abrupt cut-off meant loyal viewers who had invested in the series missed the crucial final scenes that were meant to tie together the plot's lingering mysteries. The injustice of being denied the story's resolution after weeks of viewing has been the central point of the audience's outrage.
As one fan poignantly asked: "How are you meant to invest in ITV dramas if you can't even trust them to show you the ending?"
At the time of writing, ITV has yet to issue a formal statement or apology, leaving a void that has been filled entirely by the anger of its disappointed viewers. The broadcaster is under mounting pressure to not only apologise but also to swiftly make the full, uninterrupted finale available for those who were so unceremoniously let down.
