Channel 5 viewers have slammed the ending of Channel 5 drama, Number One Fan, labelling the final episode as “crass.”
Earlier episodes prompted mixed responses, but many viewers seemed to agree they had expected something more from the ending.
The four-part thriller reached its conclusion on Thursday evening, delivering a surprising finale.
The series starred Sally Lindsay as Donna and Jill Halfpenny as Lucy, two women whose paths cross in disturbing circumstances.
Number One Fan’s ending left some viewers disappointed
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CHANNEL 5
Lucy fronts her own daytime programme and has developed a successful self-care brand, projecting an image of perfection both on screen and at home with husband Shawn, portrayed by Daniel Adegboyega, and their two children, Jacob and Poppy.
Her seemingly charmed existence takes an unexpected turn following a daytime robbery attempt, when former military personnel Donna intervenes to protect her.
The rescue creates an instant connection, with Donna confessing her admiration for the television star.
As a gesture of thanks, Lucy invites Donna backstage at her morning show, believing this will conclude their brief acquaintance.
Number One Fan concluded on Thursday
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ITV
As the story unfolds, viewers discover that Donna’s true motivation is vengeance.
She seeks retribution for an unforgivable act from Lucy’s past that resulted in the death of Donna’s brother, Ben Hughes.
The finale takes an unexpected turn as Donna’s meticulously planned revenge scheme reaches its devastating conclusion.
After kidnapping Lucy and staging her apparent suicide, Donna secures an apology from her, but doesn’t stop there.
Donna’s ultimate motives were revealed in Number One Fan’s finale
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CHANNEL 5Six months later, Lucy has returned to television, but Donna has secured herself a regular slot called ‘Daily Dose of Donna’ on Lucy’s programme. When Lucy attempts to remove her tormentor, Donna reveals her ultimate leverage.
Donna’s nephew Luke, who is Ben’s son, had infiltrated Lucy’s family by posing as her son Jacob’s boyfriend Vince.
He manipulated Jacob into bombing a fuel depot, injuring a security guard, and captured the entire incident on film.
This evidence ensures Lucy can never escape Donna’s grip. In a rare television ending, the antagonist achieves complete victory, holding permanent power over Lucy and her family.
Number One Fan starred Jill Halfpenny and Sally Lindsay
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CHANNEL 5
Fans appeared to feel short-changed by the series ending, with one asking on X: “Is that it? #NumberOneFan.”
“Hedging their bets on a second series? #NumberOneFan,” another theorised.
A third fumed: “This is completely preposterous #NumberOneFan.”
“What a load of old b******s #NumberOneFan,” someone else complained.
“#numberonefan omg, and I watched all episodes thinking it must surely get better, will I never learn,” another shared.
“What a crass ending #NumberOneFan,” another X user wrote, while one more added: “What a load of s****, what kind of ending was that? Only good thing Sally Lindsay.”
However, there were some satisfied viewers who look forward to a potential second series.
One penned: “Watched series all in one go was brilliant is there gonna be series 2?”
“Gotta be a series 2 for #numberonefan. That cannot be the ending,” another posted. (sic)

