Beloved Scottish actor Martin Compston didn't even tell his family his character would be killed off in the first 10 minutes of new BBC drama Vigil.
Fans who tuned in to episode one of the series were shocked as Compston's character, Craig Burke died.
The star, swore himself to secrecy about the script and even refused to confide in his family.
He revealed to the BBC: "I’ve not told a single soul.
"You just can't give these things away - nobody wants a spoiler, and I wouldn't want to kill the surprise for anybody.
"Even my family and people close to me who knew I wasn't away filming Vigil for very long, I just told them I had a ‘limited’ role."
Fans erupted in outcry after Sunday nights' pilot episode on social media over Martin's sudden axe.
One disappointed fan wrote: "I am watching #Vigil purely for Martin Compston and he dies within the first 8 minutes, I haven’t been this upset since this Line of Duty finale."
Another agreed: I watched this series just to watch Martin Compston and he’s been killed off 3 mins into the series. WHAT THE."
As did another: First ep of #Vigil was amazing but the fact they killed @martin_compston off in the first ten mins, not happy. Can’t wait for tomorrow’s ep."
The star revealed even he doesn't know the true fate of his character Craig Burke, but he looks likely to continue to appear in a series of flashbacks.
The next episode of the six-part series Vigil airs Sunday at 9pm on BBC1.
