The producers of a TV show filmed in Norfolk have insisted the series is on track despite losing nearly a third of its audience since it began.

The producers of a TV show filmed in Norfolk have insisted the series is on track despite losing nearly a third of its audience since it began.

Kingdom pulled in 8.2m people for its first episode on ITV on Sunday, April 22, but the latest outing on Sunday night only mustered 5.6m viewers.

The series is mainly filmed around Swaffham and there was a feeling in the town yesterday that the show's days may be numbered because of its below-par storylines.

But its production company Parallel Films rejected the idea, saying that filming for a second series would begin this summer.

The show stars Stephen Fry as a country solicitor who is trying to investigate the mysterious death of his brother in the fictional town of Market Shipborough.

It has previously come under fire for its characters failing to master the tricky Norfolk dialect.

Mayor of Swaffham Shirley Matthews said: "I usually see about 10 minutes at the start of the programme and about 10 minutes at the end but I can't say I ever feel like I've missed anything.

"The scenery is beautiful but I feel there needs to be some more engaging storylines, better characters and it is a shame they didn't better capture the Norfolk vernacular."

Dennis Tallon, partnership manager at the Iceni Partnership, a community group representing Swaffham and the surrounding parishes, said he had stuck with the show but mainly to spot the local backdrops.

"But I think it has shown off Swaffham very well, the only danger is that people are going to turn up wondering where the coast is," he said.

Series producer Georgina Lowe said: "The feedback that I have had has been very positive with people saying how beautiful East Anglia looks and that it has got them interested in visiting the area."

The series will continue with the penultimate episode to be shown at 9pm on ITV this Sunday.