Viewers have been reacting to the new drama series starring Michelle Keegan and Joanna Lumley that’s just landed on Netflix.
In case you hadn’t heard, the highly-anticipated new crime drama show – which is titled Fool Me Once – is an adaptation of Harlan Coben’s popular novel, and has kicked 2024 off to a cracking start after hitting the streaming service only a few days ago on New Year’s Day.
After the first-look pictures were teased back in early December, fans were already sitting on the edge of their seats waiting for it to drop, and then the release of the initial trailer a few weeks after that only went further to prove it was gearing up to be brilliantly binge-worthy.
It's never who you think.
Michelle Keegan, Joanna Lumley, Richard Armitage and Adeel Akhtar star in Fool Me Once from @harlancoben. Now streaming, only on Netflix. pic.twitter.com/AFjxe9u27J
And it seems like those gut instincts were correct, as after merely a couple of days of being released to the world, Fool Me Once has shot right to the top of the Netflix charts.
That’s right, it’s currently sitting pretty as the ‘number one’ show to watch on the platform.
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Those who’ve had the chance to sit back and watch the show this week have been taking to social media in their thousands to share their reactions to the new series and heap praise on its talented cast and creators – with many calling it “brilliant” and a “10/10 show”.
‘Fool Me Once’ stars Michelle Keegan and is based on a novel by Harlan Coben / Credit: Netflix UK
“Fool Me Once, first binge watch of the year,” one viewer wrote in reaction on X, “an amazing limited series, was at the edge of my seat all day. All the suspense, twists and that ending though…”
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Another view wrote: “I did not expect to end Fool Me Once in floods of tears, but that was BRILLIANT”, while a third added: “Just finished Fool Me Once on Netflix, brilliant show with an awesome ending. Harlan Coben sure knows how to knock it out the park”.
A fourth commented: “Brilliant watch. Michelle Keegan was incredible. Harlan Coben did it again.”
“Fool Me Once, what a series. Binged them all today. A must watch,” another impressed viewer wrote in reaction on X.
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I swear #FoolMeOnce on Netflix is the best thing I’ve seen in a long time, if you’ve not watched it yet then I highly recommend you do so.
Reckon you might fancy giving the series a watch now then?
But not so sure what it’s all about? Well, the eight-part series follows Manchester-born actress Michelle Keegan’s character, Maya Starn, who is a former special ops pilot struggling with the tragic murder of her husband, Joe, who is played by Richard Armitage.
Detective Sergeant Sami Kierce, who is portrayed by Adeel Akhtar, conducts the investigation into Joe’s death while wrestling with his own hidden truths. Things start to get interesting though, when she observes via the nanny cam her supposedly deceased husband playing with their baby daughter in her own home.
Meanwhile, Maya’s niece and nephew embark on the journey to seek answers about their own mother’s murder which took place months ago. But one question remains – could the two mysteries be related?
You can watch the trailer in full here.
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Filming took place in Yorkshire, where production crews were spotted in the Burdock Way area near the centre of Halifax, but Michelle Keegan was also spotted filming in Manchester city centre back in May.
Fool Me Once is currently airing on Netflix in the UK and Ireland, and all across the world.
Featured Image – Netflix
TV & Showbiz
Chris Brown arrested at luxury Manchester hotel just weeks before major tour
Daisy Jackson
Singer Chris Brown has been arrested at a five-star hotel in Manchester on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm.
The ‘Forever’ singer, who is set to play four huge shows at the Co-op Live arena next month, was arrested at The Lowry Hotel around 2am today (Thursday, 15 May).
It’s been reported that the arrest is in relation to a bottle attack at a London nightclub two years ago against music producer Abe Diaw at Tape nightclub.
Chris Brown, 36, flew into Manchester on a private jet on Wednesday, 14 May, and was later arrested by officers from the Metropolitan Police at his hotel.
In a statement, The Met told The Sun: “A 36-year-old man was arrested at a hotel in Manchester shortly after 02:00hrs on Thursday, 15 May on suspicion of grievous bodily harm.
“He has been taken into custody where he remains. The arrest relates to an incident at a venue in Hanover Square on 19 February 2023. The investigation is being led by detectives from the Central West Area Basic Command Unit.”
Abe Diaw has alleged that Brown ‘smashed him over the head with a bottle’ in the attack on him, at around 3am at Tape nightclub.
Diaw has launched a civil claim against Brown for $16 million (£12 million) in damages for injuries and losses suffered as a result of the alleged attack.
Chris Brown has 10 UK tour dates in the pipeline as part of his ‘Breezy Bowl XX tour’, which includes four at the Co-op Live on 15, 16, 24 June, and 3 July 2025.
Announced on Tuesday, 13 May, ITV confirmed that work on the first-ever Coronation Street and Emmerdale collaboration is now underway.
The flagship serial franchises both have huge nationwide followings in their own right, attracting more than 8 million viewers every week.
Moreover, with both Manc’s much-loved Corrie and its Yorkshire counterpart having faced financial struggles in recent months, this announcement couldn’t have come at a better time.
Writing in an official joint press release, the two shows revealed they will “join forces in an unprecedented, one-off special episode to launch the broadcaster’s new power hour of soap, which begins on ITV1 and STV in January 2026.”
The ‘power hour’ is part of the channel’s plans to readjust its approach to its regular programming laid out earlier this year, with this serving as an eye-catching way to promote the new schedule.
Put it this way, provided they keep the crossovers up North and avoid you know where, this is the kind of thing we can get behind…
Corrie characters reacting to the mere thought of heading to London 🤝 Manc parents whenever one of their kids mentions leaving 0161. 😂
The statement goes on to read: “The distinctive worlds of Emmerdale and Coronation Street will merge for one night only in a ‘mash-up’ of our two favourite communities.”
ITV believe they have come up with an “ingenious way of linking the two universes” before having them return to Greater Manchester and the Dales, respectively.
The episode will be a self-contained one-off special, but one that sees them canonically grounded in the same entertainment world forever and, you never know, if the idea is a hit then it could be the first of many to come.
As if that wasn’t enough, to make the prospect even more interesting, the producers are inviting members of the audience to choose which two characters they would like to meet and interact with in the scene – keep your eyes peeled on their social media for more information.
Coming in January 2026 (specific release date yet to be confirmed), this is not one you want to miss.
We’re also glad to see the pair of long-standing soaps and institutions of British telly have got off to a strong start this year, raking in 124 million streams on ITVX with each episode now available on the streaming platform ahead of each night’s episode.
You can expect a big viewer spike when this one goes out, that’s for sure.
Emily Sergeant -
3rd January 2024 
