Courtroom drama The Trial has confused viewers who believe the murder case is real.
Created by Channel 4, The Trial: A Murder In The Family is a drama-documentary hybrid which aims to reveal what really goes on in a court case.
The show sees 12 members of the public deciding the verdict in a murder case in which a man is accused of killing his ex.
The case is fictional, but features professional lawyers, and the jurors are real members of the public. Actors play the accused and witnesses.
Your verdict after day 1 of #TheTrial… Will your vote change in tonight’s poll? pic.twitter.com/Ja7bnrivKM
— Channel 4 (@Channel4) May 22, 2017
Some viewers admitted on social media that they “don’t have a clue what’s real and what’s fake”.
Is this actually real??#TheTrial
— D (@Red_sox_pugie) May 22, 2017
watching #thetrial is this real or ?
— Wanderer (@AkosuaDmoh) May 22, 2017
The case sees university lecturer Simon Davis (Michael Gould) in the dock accused of murdering his ex-partner Carla Davis (Emma Lowndes) in September 2015 in Newbury.
While many viewers understood the crime was fake, there was still confusion over who believed it was real.
Help meeeeee 😫 do the Jury know that the case is fake or do they think its real? Its drivng me crazy 😫 do they know or not 😫 #thetrial
— Jody Hardy (@jodydixon2) May 22, 2017
So #thetrial – the jury know this is a TV show right? I don't get the concept at all haha it's so confusing
— 🖤 (@nahthenmardybum) May 22, 2017
Do the barristers know that this is a fake case?! So confusing! #thetrial @thetrial
— Leanne (@ChannelApeman) May 22, 2017
Despite the unusual format, viewers said the tense show is “gripping stuff”, with many playing detective in a bid to work out whether Davis is guilty.
Intrigued by #thetrial. Never done Jury Service myself, but always knew it would be tough. Fake or not, I don't envy these people.
— Raiona 🌻 (@raionahope) May 21, 2017
Both the Prosecution and Defence Barristers are brilliant! I really cannot establish a verdict yet #TheTrial
— Chloe Fawkes (@ChloeFawkes) May 22, 2017
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