Channel 5's The Cuckoo 'forces' popular show off air as viewers complain

Channel 5 was hit with complaints from disgruntled viewers on Monday night as new drama The Cuckoo launched and 'forced' another popular show to be axed.

Following in the footsteps of Love Rat and Coma, which became big talking points on social media when they aired last month, The Cuckoo had already generated its fair share of attention by the time it made its debut in the same 9pm slot on April 9, with a cast led by ex The Holiday and The Drowning actress Jill Halfpenny.

However, while a lot of people tuned in to see Jill and co-stars Lee Ingelby and Claire Goose in action, there were also plenty who were upset that The Cuckoo being on meant that police documentary Inside The Force was scrapped. The fly on the wall series, which has previously shone the spotlight on Lincolnshire Police has not long returned for a third run on Channel 5, with this action switching to the North East, to go undercover with Cleveland Police.

READ MORE: Channel 5 Motorway Cops 'mystery' as Northumbria Police episode fails to air

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However, after airing as normal just a week earlier, the new series was pulled off air to make way for The Cuckoo, just an hour after Channel 5 come under fire from viewers at home for airing a repeat of another police documentary, Motorway Cops, rather than the advertised episode, the second of the new series following officers from Northumberland Police.

Addressing the absence of Inside the Force, a post appeared on a Stockton & Tees Facebook page to say the show was taking 'a short break' and would be back on as normal next Monday, April 15. Reacting to the post, one annoyed viewer responded: 'What’s the point of airing it your always taking it off for a break," as another reacted: 't's all pre recorded why another break. I won't bother watching any more.'