ITV's After The Flood sparks backlash within minutes as viewers brand drama 'unrealistic'

ITV's latest mystery drama After The Flood debuted on Wednesday night (January 10) and was subject to a backlash from viewers within minutes of the opening scene. The show stars Sophie Rundle as PC Joanna Marshall who becomes obsessed with discovering what happened to an unidentified man who is found dead in a lift in an underground car park.

While police assume he became trapped as the waters rose, during flooding she wonders how he got in the lift and why no one knows who he is. Despite being heavily pregnant, she is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery.

The six-part drama also stars Nick Gleaves, Lorraine Ashbourne, Philip Glenister and Jacqueline Boatswain and is written by BAFTA-nominated writer and actor Mick Ford. However, this wasn't enough to impress viewers who took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to express their disdain at the programme.

@wibster1979 commented: "Think I’ve seen enough. Boring and unrealistic so far #AfterTheFlood." @5TU4RTK said: "WOW how can @itv make a drama like #PostOffceScandal and then put #AfterTheFlood on prime time. It's like a @channel5_tv series it's that bad."

@NeilMegaGroves added: "Awful script, crap scenery sets, completely unrealistic emergency services responses, wooden acting. Absolute s****!" Meanwhile, @_Flik_ posted: "#AfterTheFlood is rubbish. I bet her husband is the killer Just saying."

@tracydavidson27 concurred writing: "#AfterTheFlood Well this is a bit s****. I kept hoping it would get better, but not so far. The characters aren't the only ones having to wade through sewage!"

However, a user with the handle @ifeelflames was sold on it by the casting saying: "I love Sophie Rundle, so if she’s in it, I’m watching #AfterTheFlood."

Before the show's launch, Sophie said: "I know viewers will be both gripped and moved by the story we are telling. A story brought to life by the brilliantly talented team I am surrounded by, both on and off-screen.”

Sophie first rose to prominence after landing the role of Ada Shelby in Peaky Blinders and starring in all six series.

Speaking to Radio Times in 2023, Sophie said she was “so proud” of being part of the BAFTA-winning show.

She added: “It found itself as we were making it and I feel like it's been something British TV can be really proud of. And it only became that because people loved it, because people stuck with it and rooted for it and gave it life."

Sophie later appeared in the third series of Call The Midwife and found further fame for her role as Kirsten McAskill in the first series of Happy Valley, also starring Sarah Lancashire and James Norton.

After The Flood is on ITV on Wednesdays at 9pm.