Last night saw the launch of the BBc’s most controversial show this year so far, The Verdict.

The show follows a fake rape trial with well known celebrities (including Jeffrey Archer) making up the jury.

Reviews have been mixed on the show, and it might be too early to tell if the show will be the success that the BBC is hoping for. Here are a few that have appeared in newspapers today.

Matt Baylis in the Daily Express said:

“We could all probably think of things we’d rather be doing than watching The Verdict. Performing a gall-bladder operation on oneself, for example. Or reading Patrick Kielty’s autobiography. Drinking oil, maybe?” Ouch.

The Guardian’s Nancy Banks-Smith said:

“The Verdict…is reality TV with a touch of class and should be very popular.”

Thomas Sutcliffe in The Independent said:

“With another three episodes to go, it’s a little too early to say whether The Verdict is innocent of the charges of sensationalism and celebrity exploitation that have already been laid against it, but I suspect the defence team will be feeling quietly confident.”

While James Walton in The Daily Telegraph called it

a “very peculiar programme indeed…The sense of tackiness never goes away - but at the same time there’s no denying that it’s often a gripping watch.”

What did you think of the show? Be sure to share!