BROADCHURCH viewers were sent into meltdown tonight as Lenny Henry was taken into custody as the police investigation heats up.
Cops have been hunting down the man who raped Trish at the beginning of the series, and suspicion now appears to have fallen on her boss Ed.
Ed, played by beloved comedian Lenny, was taken in for questioning by Detectives Hardy (David Tennant) and Miller (Olivia Colman) in tonight’s episode and many viewers were furious to see the TV veteran in handcuffs.
They flocked to Twitter to express their outrage, insisting his character must be innocent.
One wrote: “Sir Lenny wouldn’t do a thing like that!! and another added: “They can’t make Lenny Henry the Rapist!!”
A third wrote: “If they make Lenny Henry a rapist then I’m gonna be so p**sed at [write Chris] Chibnall istg #broadchurch.”
Many pointed out that being arrested so early in the investigation is a clear sign that he is a red herring.
One wrote: “If he’s been arrested this early, it pretty much means he’s not the guy that did it! #Broadchurch
#broadchurch.”
Another added: “Lenny Henry didn’t do it #broadchurch.”
Most read in TV & showbiz
Some also made jokes about the show, with one referencing this year’s Comic Relief and another poking fun at Lenny’s Premier Inn adverts.
One wrote: “#broadchurch ok I know Comic Relief was bad this year but there’s no need to arrest Lenny Henry!”
Another joked: “No King Size bed for Lenny tonight
Although Ed is in the frame, alongside a number of other suspects, his arrest originally stemmed from his attack on Cath Atwood’s husband Jim.
In the fifth episode of the series, Cath confessed to Ed that Jim slept with Trish (Julie Hesmondhalgh) on the morning of her 50th party where she was attacked.
Fans of the show know that Ed and Jim – who’s also a suspect – have a long running feud which boiled over at the bash, so it wasn’t surprising when the businessman burst into Jim’s garage and started mercilessly beating him.
As the series has gone on however, Ed’s obsession with Trish has slowly come to light.
When Trish was taken food by Cath, shortly before she announced she’d slept with Jim, Cath revealed the mountains of sustenance were all down to Ed.
And at the party, when Trish walked Hardy and Miller through the events, Ed’s knowing smile at Trish before she went outside sent shivers down some viewers’ spines.