viewers were less than impressed as they tuned into the first episode of Shardlake. The historical mystery series, which first aired on , follows Matthew Shardlake (played by Arthur Hughes), a lawyer hired by Thomas Cromwell (Sean Bean), to investigate a murder in a remote monastery. The first episode of the four-part drama, based on C.J. Sansom's best-selling novels, aired on Monday (June 9) but left fans switching the channel over just minutes in.

Taking to X, several fans were disappointed with the style and production, claiming it looks "cheap". One wrote: "I'm already unimpressed with the style. Back to the football #shardlake." A second agreed: "Production looks very cheap, I hope it gets better and does the books justice." Claiming to have found an error, another penned: "They all look far too clean. Life in those days was nasty, brutish and short."

Announcing they were switching off, a fourth declared: "Not for me I'm off to watch fare dodgers," as another remarked: "It's not Wolf Hall is it? I'm out."

Issuing another brutal blow to the programme, someone else posted: "Five minutes of #Shardlake was enough. @ITV really said "what if Sharpe but slower, darker, and somehow even duller?" Switched channels before my soul left my body."

Another said: "#shardlake just turned this off. Completely historically inaccurate and tedious."

Not everyone felt the same as others took to social media to praise the programme. "Watching #Shardlake it is so good so far," one viewer shared as another shared: "Great seeing characters from the book #Shardlake series come alive on TV. Just how I thought it would be!"

The story surrounding the closure of the monastery is one of the only elements of the series that is based on a true story. Several characters, including Shardlake, Jack Barak, Joan (Kimberley Nixon), Alice (Ruby Ashbourne Serkis), the monks and others are fictional, as is the murder and subsequent investigation carried out by Shardlake.

The series sees Shardlake's sheltered life turned upside down when Cromwell instructs him to investigate the murder of one of his commissioners at a remote monastery. By finding the guilty party, Cromwell believes it will give him enough reason to shut down the monastery, which is imperative for his political survival.

Accompanied by the cocky Jack Barak (Boyle), Shardlake is met with hostility, suspicion and paranoia by the monks who fear for their future and will seemingly stop at nothing to preserve their order. The series was cancelled after one season.