THE Fortune Hotel viewers have shared their frustration as the latest episode ended on a very tense cliffhanger.
Presented by Stephen Mangan, the programme launched on Monday, May 13.
For those unfamiliar, the ITV competition sees 10 couples compete to win £250,000 while lying, deceiving and cheating their way to the money.
Each couple received a briefcase – eight of which were empty, one had an early checkout card (meaning elimination) and of course, one contained the jackpot.
After competing in challenges, the players have to try to swap or steal cases while guessing which one has the much-desired cash.
Meanwhile the lucky pair holding the briefcase containing the prize have to convince the others that their case isn’t worth taking.
In Wednesday’s episode, the couples were faced with whether to keep or swap their cases with another duo.
Some reached their answers by deliberation while others made up their minds by playing rock, paper, scissors.
Near the end of the episode, partners Gary and Lesley (who secretly had the early checkout card) decided to swap their case with Aysha and Samm, who revealed he’d be “p****d off” should they get the unlucky outcome.
However, Aysha and Samm had the power in their hands when it came to their turn to swap.
The married pair found themselves with the ability to take out another couple, admitting there was “no room for emotions” in making the important decision.
Rather than immediately swap back with Gary and Lesley, the pair instead suggested they would swap their case with a strong pairing, in a tactical move to reduce the competition.
Aysha warned as the episode ended: “Everyone’s here to win, so we can’t go soft.”
Viewers were left fuming at the cliffhanger without a big reveal, with one writing on X (formerly known as Twitter): “Naw I’m actually no gonna continue watching The Fortune Hotel if they don’t show the entire program and cut it off like that wtf.”
Another shared: “Omg ITV, why do you do this to us! I can’t believe I’m so invested in a briefcase #thefortunehotel.”
A third fumed: “I can’t believe #thefortunehotel has finished like that tonight. How am I going to contain myself for 23 hours?”
Another commiserated: “Nooo you can’t end on a cliffhanger #TheFortuneHotel”, adding a crying face emoji.
Meanwhile, fans have drawn comparison between The Fortune Hotel and BBC hit The Traitors, with some left disappointed.
One wrote: “Thought I’d give #TheFortuneHotel a go and I’ve turned it off already. It’s like a c**p Traitors knock off with the sort of contestants that you’d find on that awful trash that is Love Island.”
A second commented: “Sorry but you’ve lost my respect you’re not original and just a copy cat of The Traitors which will ALWAYS be better. Yawn. Boring. Try better.”
A third added: “If the attempt at competing with The Traitors wasn’t so abysmal, I think the BBC would be suing ITV.”
The Fortune Hotel airs on ITV1 and is available on ITVX.
