The new series stars Jill Halfpenny and Sally Lindsay, and while fans have hailed the ‘perfect’ casting, they’re not so convinced by the plot
Jill Halfpenny stars as beloved TV presenter Lucy (Image: Channel 5)
Viewers have been left divided on a new Channel 5 psychological thriller.
Number One Fan premiered on Monday night, starring Jill Halfpenny and Sally Lindsay.
The new drama follows the attack on a beloved TV presenter, who comes to face her stalker.
Jill plays morning show presenter Lucy, who is saved from an attack in a car park by a strange woman named Donna, played by Sally.
Donna’s interactions at first seem innocent, introducing herself as Lucy’s “number one fan”, but things quickly turn more and more sinister.
Her dark obsession begins to infiltrate Lucy’s career, family and friends, going so far as to abduct her daughter and blackmail her.
Sally Lindsay plays stalker Donna (Image: CHANNEL 5)
The series synopsis reads: “When a beloved TV presenter’s seemingly perfect life is disrupted by a chance encounter with an adoring fan, admiration slowly turns into something far more unsettling.
“As the spotlight intensifies and trust begins to fracture, fame becomes a dangerous place to hide… And the line between fan and foe starts to blur with devastating consequences.
“To her horror, Lucy comes to realise that Donna has a link to a hidden secret in her past which threatens to derail the career she has so carefully curated.”
As the first episode premiered, one viewers slammed: “Not sure there’ll be a series 2.” “I don’t know if I can manage another episode,” another echoed.
Number One Fan has sparked mixed reviews (Image: Channel 5)
Someone else wrote: “I thought this might get better as I love Sally and Jill. But guys this is bad. This is really bad.”
“This is ridiculously bad,” yet another said, as another wrote: “This is terrible.”
“Oh dear. This is going to be really bad isn’t it?” another said.
Other viewers rushed to share their support for the series, with one writing: “I just knew this show was gonna be incredible,” as another said: “Loving it.”
One viewer said: “I already sense this is going to be one of those dramas I’ll never forget and I’m here for it,” as someone else commented: “Sally Lindsay+Jill Halfpenny = Perfection.”
The casting has been hailed as ‘perfect’ (Image: Channel 5)
Someone else wrote: “The way this show is cringing me out so badly, but yet I can’t stop watching it bc it’s so weirdly intriguing.”
Teasing what to expect, The Madame Blanc Mysteries star Sally described the series as “dark and a bit of a rollercoaster”.
She added: “You think it’s taking you down one path with this famous TV presenter, the queen of daytime television, who meets someone who adores her and then you go down this completely different path that you’re not expecting.
“When I read it, I was like, ‘Well, I didn’t see that coming.’ It’s quite contemporary but it also explores television’s past and things that just wouldn’t happen now.
“For me and for Jill, we’ve been knocking around for nearly 30 years, so we remember living through all that.”
Number One Fan continues on Tuesday at 9pm on 5.