Fans are outraged as Channel 5 has axed its beloved Mediterranean drama The Wives, despite stellar ratings from viewers.

The fan-favourite show sees Sylvia Morgan (Tamzin Outhwaite), Beth Morgan (Jo Joyner) and Natasha Morgan (Angela Griffin) as three sisters-in-law who are bound together by marriage, a good glᴀss of wine, and the tragic loss of a family member.

Drawing inspiration from Daphne du Maurier’s 1938 Gothic novel, Rebbeca, it follows the trio as they try to solve the mystery of the death – initially ruled an accident – of their fellow sister-in-law Annabelle, played by Christine Bottomley.

However, the nail-biting series has come to an abrupt end, and in another blow, fans will never know the answers to the plot lines that are being cut short as the show ends on a cliffhanger.

According to The Mirror, an insider said: ‘It came as a shock because the ratings were around a million and scripts had already been written for more episodes, in confident anticipation of series two.

Fans are outraged as Channel 5 has axed its beloved Mediterranean drama The Wives, despite stellar ratings from viewers

An insider said: ‘It came as a shock because the ratings were around a million and scripts had already been written for more episodes’ (Tamzin Outhwaite pictured)

The source added that although TV bosses filmed a neat ending with tied together all of the loose ends, they decided to scrap it and instead show a different version that introduced more unanswered questions.

It was presumed that this was because writers thought the drama would continue, but the cast were reportedly hit with the news in a shock phone call last week. 

The source said: ‘The ending that was actually shown didn’t explain why Frankie wanted Annabelle ᴅᴇᴀᴅ or the idenтιтy of the mystery figure hiding in the van in the final scene, something that was crucial to an understanding of the entire plot.’

MailOnline has contacted Channel 5 for comment. 

Viewers were baffled by the ending of the first series when it first aired in September, taking to X to write:

‘#TheWives Can somebody please explain what the hell that ending was all about??? I’m totally confused.’

‘Excuse me you can’t get me so invested into a series then end like that.. that is cruel!!! #TheWives’

‘I know, so much more to know ludicrous, there has to be a second series surely. I know this was from a book, surely the book didn’t end with everything still to know!’

‘Cripes what sort of ending was that.’

EastEnders actress, Tamzin, 53, who portrays Sylvia Morgan, stars in the series

The nail-biting series has come to an abrupt end, and in another blow, fans will never know the answers to the plot lines that are being cut short (pictured: Angela)

Viewers were baffled by the ending of the first series when it first aired in September

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‘Snap! I didn’t understand the ending at all!’

‘Didn’t understand the ending either and I loved it up until then! Who was in the van? Why did Frankie want her gone?’

‘Couldn’t believe it finished like that, such a great series but the ending was awful.’

It comes after Tamzin Outhwaite was scolded by her The Wives co-star Jo Joyner as she dropped a huge spoiler during an episode of This Morning in September.

The former EastEnders actress, 53, seemingly spoiled a huge part of the upcoming series.

During the episode, Tamzin revealed that Annabelle is not actually ᴅᴇᴀᴅ and was just missing – implying that she is found alive during the final episodes.

When show hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shepard asked the actresses to chat about the film, EastEnders’s Jo, 47, explained: ‘There was another sister-in-law but she died.’

Cutting her off, Tamzin tried to correct her and jumped in: ‘No she hasn’t’, but Jo stares and quipped, ‘no, she has.’

It comes after Tamzin Outhwaite was scolded by her The Wives co-star Jo Joyner as she dropped a huge spoiler during an episode of This Morning in September

Not sensing the tone, Tamzin persisted: ‘She’s gone missing’, to which Jo opened her hands and flatly proclaimed, ‘that is a spoiler’, before she pulled a face.

Realising what she just confessed, Tamzin pulled and face and corrected: ‘We think she is ᴅᴇᴀᴅ’.

Jo then clarifies that the sisters think Annabelle is ᴅᴇᴀᴅ in the beginning of the series and viewers will find out that she is in fact not ᴅᴇᴀᴅ but actually missing.

The drama unfolded during their annual family getaway to Malta.

But the trip is overshadowed by the absence of their other sister-in-law, Annabelle Morgan, who vanished a year before under mysterious circumstances.

Annabelle’s phone was found at the edge of a cliff which lead to the authorities presuming she is ᴅᴇᴀᴅ.

But the plot took a turn as the family returned to Malta – where Annabelle disappeared.

During the holiday Annabelle’s husband Charlie introduced his new girlfriend, who has an uncanny resemblance to their former sister-in-law.

Unhappy with the conclusion of Annabelle’s case, Beth suspected there is more to the story.

The three sisters then put their heads together in an attempt to uncover the truth about what really happened.