Count Arthur Strong returns: the Twitter reaction

Previously on Radio 4, then BBC2 and now BBC1, the adventures of Steve Delaney's confused music-hall veteran – directed and co-written for TV by Graham Linehan – have often been described as 'Marmite': you either love it or hate it.

Speaking at the 2013 Edinburgh TV Festival, former BBC2 boss Janice Hadlow said this wasn't something she wanted to shy away from. "Strong flavours", even if they can be "divisive", are OK by her.

And it looks like her gamble – plus a switch to BBC1 in a post-watershed slot – has paid off, with overnight ratings jumping to 1.83 million, up from 971,000 at the end of series one on BBC2.

Indeed, while some will never be convinced...

https://twitter.com/MichaelBoltonA/status/552752737776324608
https://twitter.com/threefromleith/status/552629255788834817
https://twitter.com/Melonhead999/status/552611224773750784

There was an awful lot of love on Twitter as the second series kicked off last night:

For some, Count Arthur Strong is an aspiration

https://twitter.com/LostCertainties/status/552770964556374016

For others, he's a voice of reason

Thank goodness for the return of Count Arthur Strong to our screens. A voice of reason.

— Chris (@ChrisWLamb) January 7, 2015

Capital letters always mean excitement

https://twitter.com/jmbriscoe/status/552713190950187008

Delaney's co-star Rory Kinnear earned high praise

https://twitter.com/naveltreatment/status/552668399604465664

Next door had better buy some ear plugs...

https://twitter.com/vpdiane/status/552655478321594368

Favourite shows were being blasted out of the water

https://twitter.com/StLaurensDay/status/552637195878952960

There were tears

https://twitter.com/75judi/status/552618391740370944

Some already want more...