SHOW’S VILLAIN BACKS WRITER ON BLOODTHIRSTY FINALE Job well done if Luther’s scary... it is about killers
LUTHER villain Hermione Norris has hit back at fans who claim the show’s finale was too violent.
The BBC received a string of complaints over the gruesome drama, which featured a violent incident every five minutes.
Friday’s series five finale pulled in 4.6 million viewers – but some fans think writer Neil Cross has gone too far with the shock factor. They watched in horror as the masked killer snared a victim on the top deck of a night bus, along with numerous gunshots, stabbings and electrocutions.
One viewer tweeted: “In the space of two nights Luther has put me off of getting a bus, therapists, surgery and selling things online. I might never leave the house again.”
But Hermione, 51 – evil psychiatrist Vivien Lake – says viewers’ terror is a sign of a great script.
The Cold Feet star said: “Job well done if people are feeling that – Neil is achieving what he set out to do.
“He’s very good at preying on our deepest psychological fears.
“It’s Luther, it’s about serial killers, it’s a frightening drama. Neil doesn’t shy away from scaring people.”
Yet despite defending the harrowing scenes, she admits having been too scared to watch the fourepisode thriller herself.
And her view chimes with star Idris Elba, who plays DCI Luther. He has said he finds the episodes too gruelling and would rather watch kids’ cartoons.
Hermione said: “I can’t go and see horror films, I don’t like scary things. I’d probably be with Idris watching Shrek myself.”
The hit show, which climaxed with DCI Luther being arrested, is now tipped for the big screen.