ITV Passenger viewers say they 'haven't a clue' and 'switch off' minutes into new thriller

ITV's latest thriller series saw viewers switch off just minutes into the first episode with many feeling 'unsure.' Passenger premiered on Sunday night (March 24) on ITV1.

Set in the fictional northern town of Chadder Vale, on the Lancashire and West Yorkshire border, the six-part drama follows detective Riya Ajunwa who becomes bored with her day job. So when a local woman, Kate Wells, goes missing in the forest one night, Riya seizes the chance to investigate. But Katie shows up at home, safe and sound, 24 hours after she disappeared.

Riya realises nothing is adding up. And she soon begins to draw connections between the disappearance, a mysteriously obliterated stag and eco protestors at a fracking site.

READ MORE: ITV Passenger: Cast and where you've seen them before, what it's about and how many episodes

Thrown into this tangled web is the reappearance of Katie’s dad Eddie Wells, who has just been released from prison after committing a "monstrous" crime five years ago - and Riya was the one who locked him up. Her friend Derek - who runs the local bread factory - and his anxious brother also seem to have something to hide.

The cast of ITV's Passenger is led by BAFTA award-winning actress Wunmi Mosaku as DI Riya Ajunwa and also stars Shameless actor David Threlfall and This is England's star Jo Hartley. Bolton-born writer and creator Andrew Buchan - better known for his roles in front of the camera, including Broadchurch, The Honourable Woman and The Crown where he portrayed Andrew Parker Bowles - is behind the drama.

However, viewers issued the same complaint just moments into Passenger's first episode, reports Yorkshire Live. Taking to X, formerly Twitter, many said they had to switch off.

@RhianReads1 tweeted: