Channel 4’s comedy drama Pure began last night, and left some viewers shocked by its graphic nature and sexual themes.
Despite warnings from the broadcaster about the adult content of the series, some TV fans were left choking on their evening biccie – especially during a scene involving national treasure Lorraine Kelly!
Look away now if you don’t want your image of the TV presenter to be sullied forever…
Read more: Anna Friel to be joined by fellow Brookside star Amanda Burton in new series of Marcella
(Well, don’t say we didn’t warn you!)
The new six-part series follows 24-year-old Marnie, who is plagued by unwanted and disturbing sexual thoughts about everyone she meets.
And when she starts having the sexual visions of her parents, too, she flees from her home in Scotland to London in search of answers.
Unbeknownst to Marnie, she is living with a manifestation of OCD, nicknamed Pure O.
Read more: Everything we know about series two of ITV’s Liar – including start date
Based on the true accounts of sufferer Rose Cartwright, who wrote a book about her secret affliction, the series aims to tackle the serious subject of OCD through comedy.
Introducing herself to the viewer, Marnie tells us: “When I was 14, I started having relentless, graphic thoughts about sex. […] It’s like The Sixth Sense but I don’t see dead people, I see naked ones.
“I’ve turned everyone you can imagine into filth, except my family. Until now.”
After arriving in London and convincing herself she’s a “pervert”, she visits a doctor in an attempt to be diagnosed.
When the doctor asked her what her issue is, Marnie confessed: “Who has an anxiety attack in the lingerie department of a shop or while watching Lorraine?”
When asked what distressed her about those situations, she answered: “Well, with Lorraine, I was watching it and I noticed her shoes because she always has nice shoes on and I noticed the pointy heels and then I thought about where she could put one, like in her vagina.
“Then I was like ‘why did I think that’? Do I want to do that to Lorraine?”
She continued: “So then I tried to unthink it, but it made me think about it more, and then it was an hour later and I was still thinking about it. And I couldn’t breathe, and that’s why it distressed me.”
Some fans found the scenes shocking, with one typing: “Anyone else watching #Pure? I made the mistake of turning it on in the family room with my mum.”
Another fan encountered the same problem, writing: “Just managed to watch the first five minutes of #Pure with my mum and now I can’t look at her in the eye.”
“Another excuse to get soft porn in our already over-sexualised culture #Pure,” said another.
https://twitter.com/GeorginaDoes/status/1090735609864429570
https://twitter.com/bluemonkeyape/status/1090734310586490885
This should not have been billed as a comedy. #pure
— Man in the Pub- Mike (@Pub_Bloke) January 30, 2019
already not sure about #pure
— BIG Gay FOLLOWING (@the_BGF) January 30, 2019
#Pure Lost me with the cheap documentary feel. Disappointed. Time to rewatch #SexEducation
— Nadia Castro (@nadiacastrouk) January 30, 2019
Other fans weren’t quite sure how to take the series, writing: “This should not have been billed as a comedy. #pure.”
However some viewers were totally behind the series, with one tweeting: “Initial reaction to #Pure on @Channel4 FINALLY! A depiction of #OCD that isn’t just hand washing, cleanliness, colour coordination or neat lines.
“Also, I’ve had, and still have, thoughts similar to those shown tonight AS WELL AS other forms of #OCD – it isn’t either/or!”
Another added: “Just bawled my eyes out watching #Pure on @Channel4 – as someone with Pure O I’ve never seen my story told before. Thank you @RoseCartwright_ and the rest of the team, this show is important to so many people and funny as well!”
I'd hardly call it 'soft porn'. Brief disturbing flashes of intrusive sexual images hardly titillating. Thought it conveyed how distressing obsessive thoughts can be really well #pure
— Sophie Rivett (@Sophabed) January 30, 2019
I know, I know, I never post on Twitter. But this is worth breaking my silence for: #Pure on @Channel4 is amazing. WATCH IT!
Never before has a mainstream TV show captured the horrors of OCD intrusive thoughts so perfectly.
— Charlie Loveday (@creloveday) January 29, 2019
Just bawled my eyes out watching #Pure on @Channel4 – as someone with Pure O I've never seen my story told before. Thank you @RoseCartwright_ and the rest of the team, this show is important to so many people ❤️ and funny as well!
— Rachel (@bee_cakez) January 30, 2019
https://twitter.com/RichBiscuit21/status/1090752563371233280
In Rose’s memoir, she described having her first attack of Pure O when she was just 15.
After spending years contemplating suicide and believing she was a paedophile, she later discovered Pure O was a recognised condition, and sought professional help.
Did you – or will you – watch C4’s Pure? Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know what you think!