ITV The Fortune Hotel sparks fan 'switch off' as divisive new show slammed for 'dodgy' feature: 'Rip off!'

Many have billed the series as a mix of elements from UK TV staples such as The Traitors, Deal or No Deal and The White Lotus, but the stark similarities have left plenty to be desired among some.

Split into 10 pairs, each couple is given a suitcase but only one contains the cash and it is up to each duo to try and find and keep hold of the money throughout regular swapping sessions.

However, to add to the stakes, one of the cases contains an "early checkout" card which results in the couple holding it at the end of each episode being booted from the hotel.

The couples have to work together to decide whether or not they want to swap their cases at the end of each episode and do their best to avoid suspicion as to whether they're keeping hold of the cash or holding the dreaded "early checkout" token.

TONIGHT 🚨 A major new reality show lands on ITV - #TheFortuneHotel 💵

A case full of £250,000 is up for grabs! I’ll be watching 👀 pic.twitter.com/iKoqADN60K

— sᴜᴘᴇʀ ᴛᴠ (@superTV247) May 13, 2024

The contestants all take part in a series of challenges each day to try and uncover who's got the money-bearing case each day as the pairs are whittled down one by one - the whole time the viewer is in the know.

However, just moments into Monday's premiere, several viewers appeared unhappy that The Fortune Hotel had appeared to take so much influence from the BBC's The Traitors.

In fact, many even slammed the fact that the music featured throughout the show appeared to be reminiscent of the Claudia Winkleman success story.

Taking to X to vent their frustrations, one person penned: "Even the slowed down music being an absolute carbon copy of The Traitors [face palm emoji] #TheFortuneHotel #FortuneHotel."

"I see ITV are trying to rival The Traitors format even using the same bl**dy music #TheFortuneHotel," added a second.

"Just a c**p traitors even copied the music #TheFortuneHotel," another hit out before a fourth summed up: "The Fortune Hotel…. A poor man's Traitors #TheFortuneHotel."

Some even went as far as to switch off altogether, including a fifth critic who admitted: "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."

And a sixth followed suit: "What another load of tosh #TheFortuneHotel I'm getting well fed up of this sort of reality TV. There are no good comedy dramas anymore. Sorry won't be watching."

However, amid the uproar were other viewers who were keen to give ITV's latest reality show a chance, including one who argued: "This show is GOOD and we’ve not even got to the main game.

"(I don't care) what any of you on Twitter say. You’ve just had your perceptions warped by a certain BBC show if you’re not enjoying this #TheFortuneHotel."

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"It's good to be fair #TheFortuneHotel," a second defended before a third opined: "#TheFortuneHotel this show is quite messy and quite confusing with all the cases getting swapped, but as the show goes on I think it’ll get easier to understand. Crazy first episode though. Looks like a good one to watch." (sic)

Each episode airs nightly at 9pm on ITV Monday to Thursday for the next two weeks.

Explaining why the show piqued his interest, Mangan said ahead of Monday's premiere: "The opportunity to head to the Caribbean sounded very interesting on its own before you even get to what else is involved.

"That’s the thing that first got my attention but when the game itself was explained to me and I played it, it’s just brilliant. The game is pretty simple but endlessly fascinating so a combination of that alongside the backdrop in which it was set was just pretty irresistible."