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Furious Midsomer Murders viewers have insisted that they 'won't be watching again' as they slammed ITV for a 'horrendous, waste of time' finale.
The ITV flagship detective series aired its concluding episode for its 23rd season on Sunday, November 10.
But the fourth episode of the season left devoted fans wanting more, as they branded it the 'worst, woke, box-ticking episode they have ever watched'.
The finale, titled Dress To Kill, followed detectives DCI John Barnaby (played by Neil Dudgeon) and Jamie Winter (played by Nick Hendrix) as they delved into another murder mystery ahead of preparations for a charity drag event.
The event was held in the small village of Elverton-cum-Latterly, to support a terminally ill teenager.
Furious Midsomer Murders viewers have insisted that they 'won't be watching again' as they slammed ITV for a 'horrendous, waste of time' finale (pictured: DCI John Barnaby)
The ITV flagship detective series aired its concluding episode for its 23rd season on November, 10
But the area was already preparing for its honoured dominoes contest, which kickstarted an unforeseen conflict.
Despite hardcore fans being usual lovers of the show, many flocked to social media to share their discontent.
One penned: 'Please, please stop ruining perfectly good programmes... The latest episode was appalling, bad acting, poor writing and too much woke, irritating preaching.'
'Worst Woke, Box Ticking episode I've ever watched. Acting was truly horrendous #midsomermurders.'
'I've watched every episode of #MidsomerMurders, most of them many times and this was the first one I've ever turned off. It was beyond bad.'
'#midsomermurders I mean can this programme stoop any lower? It was great for years, now utterly shocking.'
'Recorded and now deleted, won't be bothering. Final nail in this shows coffin #MidsomerMurders'
But the fourth episode of the season left devoted fans wanting more, as they branded it the 'worst, woke, box-ticking episode they have ever watched'
The finale, titled Dress To Kill, followed detectives DCI John Barnaby (played by Neil Dudgeon, left) and Jamie Winter (played by Nick Hendrix, right) as they delved into another murder mystery ahead of preparations for a charity drag event
The event was held in the small village of Elverton-cum-Latterly, to support a terminally ill teenager
But the area was already preparing for its honoured dominoes contest, which kickstarted an unforeseen conflict
Despite hard-core fans being usual lovers of the show, many flocked to social media to share their discontent
'Worst episode ever Complete and utter tripe #MidsomerMurders'
'God that was awful..what's happened?! Terrible casting, acting, plot, lighting, lack of extras..the list goes on #MidsomerMurders'
'There should have been a warning of "bad acting" with this episode'
And this is not the first time the show has been hit with criticism in past weeks as viewers mocked the show after they placed a trigger warning for witchcraft.
Added to a 2004 episode of the much celebrated UK crime drama, some viewers found the warning misplaced in a show where hundreds of other characters have faced far gorier deaths over the show's 23 season run.
The episode in question is from series seven of the murder mystery drama and is entitled The Fisher King.
In it, residents of a fictional English town are plagued by a haunted Celtic sword which was uncovered during an archaeological dig.
John Bentley (pictured), starred in 'Midsomer Murders' as DCI Tom Barnaby
The trigger warning appears on the ITVX app on The Fisher King episode of Midsomer Murders
As this scene begins on ITV's streaming service, a trigger warning appears atop of the screen which states; 'Contains several references to witchcraft'.
The episode, which stars stalwart acting names such as John Nettles as the show's main character, DCI Tom Barnaby, sees four characters murdered along with other references to Arthurian mythology.
Viewers ridiculed 'nanny state' execs, with one asking 'If witchcraft is now triggering, how will anyone at ITV deal with Halloween?'
The baffling trigger warning comes just a matter of months after ITV bosses received further ridicule for their use of warning labels on other episodes of Midsomer Murders.
In that instance, ITV slapped content warnings on the long-running series to ensure viewers were fully aware that the ‘Murders’ being carried out are not of the gentle sort, and that episodes may contain ‘violence’ and even ‘crime scene images’.
The hit crime drama has been running for 23 seasons since first airing in 1997
Stars of the show were among those to have ridiculed the move, pointing out that the name of the drama, which has been on air since 1997, and the titles of individual episodes, make it clear what will happen.
Anton Lesser, an actor who appeared as 'Eddie Darwin' in a 2003 episode of the show, commented on these warnings, stating; 'I understand the good intentions of broadcasters who take care to warn of effects like flashing images.
'But I’m surprised something like Midsomer Murders warrants a warning'.
When requested to comment on their latest 'witchcraft' warning by the Mail Online, ITV said; 'Programming that contains potentially sensitive or distressing themes, content or language has carried appropriate warnings since our launch. We regularly review our catalogue to ensure the right guidance is in place for viewers'.
Midsomer Murders is available to stream on ITVX.
