The third episode of Coldwater had viewers reaching for their remote controls as they blasted the ‘disturbing’ scenes aired in the ITV prime-time drama

Viewers of Coldwater were left scrambling for their remote controls as they slammed the ‘disturbing’ scenes broadcast during the third episode of the ITV prime-time drama.

Andrew Lincoln plays John in the crime thriller, which airs on ITV1 on Sundays and Mondays and is available to stream in full on ITVX.

The six-part series charts the journey of John and his family as they relocate to the rural Scottish haven of Coldwater following John’s witnessing and response to a violent incident in a London park.

However, John grows increasingly exasperated with his restrictive and tedious life as a middle-aged house husband, his concealed rage threatening everything he cherishes.

Despite longing for a more peaceful future for his family, he faces new challenges when he develops a friendship with neighbouring resident Tommy (Ewen Bremner), a seemingly charming man and devoted husband to local minister Rebecca (Eve Myles), with John becoming caught up in a series of disturbing events whilst falling into Tommy’s snare, reports the Daily Record.

During the third episode which broadcast on Sunday, September 21, audiences watched sinister Tommy (Ewen Bremner) kill pet cat Harlequin.

However, the unsettling scene sparked a wave of criticism on social media.

One viewer commented: “now the cat was a step too far! Absolutely no need to show that.”

A second posted: “I thought we moved past killing animals in shows, viewers hate it and it’s unnecessary. Yes it’s not real but it’s too disturbing, I immediately give up on shows for that so ITV you lost a viewer, only weak writers use animal deaths for a desperate attempt at tension. “

A third added: “It’s gone too far #Coldwater There’s no humour, or ‘art’ in plain cruelty. I’ve kept with it, but no more.”

And: “Wish they wouldn’t have cruelty to defenceless animals in these dramas.”

Andrew Lincoln has revealed that he turned down the role in Coldwater twice before finally agreeing to take it on.

The Walking Dead actor explained: “I got sent the script and loved it, it made me laugh in all the wrong places, made me squirm with recognition, and constantly surprised me with the unpredictability of the characters, but it made me scared as well.

“I was quite scared about playing a character that was so unpleasant and weak and emasculated, and I wasn’t quite sure tonally where it sat.

“So I said no twice to it and then I had a lovely chat [with writer David Ireland] and couldn’t walk away from it.”

Coldwater continues on ITV1 tomorrow and it’s available to stream on ITVX