'And Just Like That' SPOILER: 'Sex and the City' fans shocked by character death in rebooted series

Sex and the City's much-anticipated reboot And Just Like That has made its debut, but left fans in tears over a shock character death.

Many faithful viewers of the original series had worried that Samantha, who it had been confirmed would not return to the show as actor Kim Cattrall did not sign up to the reboot, would be killed off.

Read more: Chris Noth 'not happy' about Kim Cattrall and Sarah Jessica Parker spat

But while the first episode has confirmed that Samantha is alive and well and living in London, there was a huge shock in store for those watching.

Mr Big (Chris Noth) who had appeared in early trailers for the new series looking happy with lead character Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) was brutally killed off in episode one, leaving fans devastated.

One viewer tweeted: "WHAT! WHY??? That’s how we are starting #AndJustLikeThat #AJLT I am broken I am not okay."

Someone else added: "I can’t believe they killed off Mr. Big. Im dead a** crying."

Another fan wrote: "I’m emotionally exhausted from the premiere of 'And Just Like That'."

Mr Big was killed off by having a heart attack after riding an exercise bike in Carrie's apartment, while she was out at Charlotte's daughter Lily's piano recital.

One viewer commented: "Mr. Big deserved better than death by Peloton."

A shocked fan tweeted: "Not Mr Big. Ah, man, I just wanted some light entertainment. Now I’ll have to go full tissues and black veil."

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Someone else agreed: "I don’t know what to say. Mr. Big. Why? This isn’t fun."

The second episode, also released today (Thursday) featured the characters planning for Big's memorial service and one viewer tweeted: "Carrie is holding up better than me on #big’s death."

The new series features Carrie, Charlotte (Kristin Davis) and Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) back in New York City 17 years on from the last season's end and trying to navigate their love lives and careers in their 50s and 60s.

Actor Noth had previously told The Guardian he had not wanted to sign up to the reboot, but came to an arrangement with show creator Michael Patrick King, saying: "It was a long conversation, it continued through the pandemic and he took in a lot of my ideas and we came up with a way for me to work into it."

Watch: Chris Noth addresses Kim Cattrall and Sarah Jessica Parker fallout