ITV The Fortune Hotel viewers gobsmacked after huge show 'blunder'

The Fortune Hotel viewers were left gobsmacked after a huge show "blunder" on Thursday (August 7).

Hosted by Stephen Mangan, the second series of the ITV show sees 22 new contestants arrive at the hotel in pairs.

They'll each be handed a mysterious briefcase. Most are empty, while one hides a life-changing £250,000 in cash, and another conceals the dreaded early checkout card.

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The new season has already featured several twists and turns, with one pair being sent home even before they set foot in the hotel.

At the start of tonight's episode, father-and-son duo, Atholl and John, were the second pair to be eliminated after being given a suitcase with the early checkout card.

After the first Lady Luck Bar, partners Fred and Min were the recipients of the jackpot suitcase after Jake and Mike swapped with them.

Later, the contestants took part in a challenge to determine the vital case swapping order for the next Lady Luck Bar.

They arrived at the beach, where they were greeted by an array of puzzle pieces and treasure chests.

"Today's challenge is a jigsaw puzzle, which doesn't sound that difficult, except the pieces are floating out at sea," host Stephen explained.

The contestants had to work together to solve the jigsaw. Once assembled, the jigsaw would reveal a riddle that would help them open a chest.

Each chest contained a number, which would determine their position in the order swap.

Fred and Min were the last pair to reach a chest, which happened to contain the number one - meaning they'd be last to swap their case.

"We won coming last!" a shocked Min said, with their competitors branding them the "flukiest partnership".

"Fred and Min, are you blundering your way to the fortune?" Stephen then asked.

The show's viewers were also astounded at Fred and Min's luck, with many taking to X (formerly Twitter) to share their thoughts.

"How are Fred and Min getting the advantages every time?! Wild," one person wrote, with another adding: "Fred and Min really are a prime example at how your luck can really turn around haha."

A third said: "Fred and Min: fake it until you make it motto!!!" With another similarly sharing: "How are Fred & Min the Merciless doing it?"

However, their luck might run out soon as a number of pairs seemed to have guessed that they hold the fortune.

The Fortune Hotel is available to stream on ITVX