The Jetty fans are ALL saying the same things about this aspect of the BBC show

Detectives Hitch (Archie Renaux) and Ember (Jenna Coleman) duck under police tape at a crime scene in The Jetty
(Image credit: BBC/Firebird Pictures/Ben Blackall)

The Jetty is the new drama starring Jenna Coleman that has everyone talking, with many praising the gripping drama, while others have some issues with aspects of the show. 

The new BBC show launched on 15th July 2024 and airs on BBC One, already drawing in a high number of viewers intrigued by the premise. The plot revolves around Ember Manning, who is investigating the link between a historic missing persons case and a local sex offender.

However, some fans have taken to social media to express criticism over this aspect of the show. 

One fan wrote on X (previously Twitter), 'Finished The Jetty (BBC) and, god, the dialogue. Characters speaking in bogus aphorisms, uttered with incredible earnestness and reacted to by other characters as if an earth-shattering new insight has been discovered. The sort of tosh that happens when someone thinks...'

Before continuing, '…I’m no mere writer. I’m not one of those soap types. I’ve got important points to make. I’m a cut above,” and then doesn’t have the talent to support those ambitions. It was one huge, gut-twisting cringe per sentence by ep4. No one speaks in the precious, self-conscious way.'

Ruby Stokes in a school uniform as Hannah sits on a bench against a stone wall with Jenna Coleman in a dark coast as Ember in The Jetty

(Image credit: BBC/Firebird Pictures)

And then writing, '...that these people routinely spoke to each other. And having groaned when an ep3 character used “modelling” in lieu of “setting an example”, I could hardly believe it when another character, entirely unrelated to the first, did exactly the same thing in ep4.'

And then continued, 'That's when I realised - "ah - we're hearing the writer. All these characters are the writer." And talk about pretentious. Does anyone really think it's more sophisticated to say "igniting a candle" rather than "lighting a candle"? These characters certainly did.'

The fan had previously written, 'Struggling with the way characters use magazine-speak in The Jetty (BBC). Someone’s grandma just talked about “modelling bravery”.'

Before continuing, 'I’m almost certain these characters would talk about “setting an example”. I just can’t buy them calling it “modelling”. That’s wanky writer-speak not real-person speak.'

While another said, 'The Jetty. Amateurs day out BBC scriptwriters are c**p. Two detectives go to a house, introduce themselvs by name but don't show their ID cards. What a load of b*****s.'

Other viewers of The Jetty were full of praise for the Jenna Coleman show. 'I don’t know what to say other than wow,' wrote another fan.

'I binge-watched ‘The Jetty’ and it was absolutely brilliant. Jenna Coleman, you are a star and an incredible actress, such a captivating performance and a plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat!'

While another said, 'The Jetty on BBC is really good - very Harlan Coben vibes plus Jenna Coleman is absolute baddie in it.'

The Jetty airs on BBC One and is available on BBC iPlayer.

Freelance writer

Lauren is the former Deputy Digital Editor at woman&home and became a journalist mainly because she enjoys being nosy. With a background in features journalism, Lauren worked on the woman&home brand for four years before going freelance. Before woman&home Lauren worked across a variety of women's lifestyle titles, including GoodTo, Woman's Own, and Woman magazine. After starting out working for a local paper in Yorkshire, her journalism career took her to Bristol where she hunted out stories for national papers and magazines at Medavia news agency, before landing a job in London working as a lifestyle assistant.

A big fan of adventure, Lauren is also a keen travel writer and loves sharing tips on where to find the best places to eat, drink, and be merry off the beaten track. Lauren has written a series of travel guides for London hotels and loves sharing her insights into a destination's cultural and culinary offerings. If you need a recommendation on any UK destination, she's more than happy to help. At the weekend, you'll usually find her hanging out with her pet cat (or anyone else's pet she can get her hands on), escaping to the countryside, or devouring a good book.