BBC One drama The Syndicate returned after five years on Tuesday, as Kay Mellor revived the programme about a group of dog kennel workers whose lives are turned around when they win the lottery.
The cast included Katherine Rose Morley, Line of Duty stars Neil Morrissey and Taj Atwall, Emily Head, Coronation Street's Katie McGlynn, and YouTuber and Strictly Come Dancing star Joe Sugg.
Joe, who is the brother of fellow YouTuber Zoe Sugg, known as Zoella, made his TV acting debut in the show, after a role as Ogie Anhorn in the West End musical Waitress.
He plays budding musician Sam, the boyfriend of Taj's character Roxy, who is one of the winners on the lottery ticket.
His character is Northern, while Joe is from Wiltshire in the South West, and there was some controversy when his casting was announced as doubters claimed he would not master the accent.
But some viewers were delighted with Joe's performance, praising his acting skills - though others were less than impressed with his attempt.
One tweeted: "Omg @Joe_Sugg your northern accent!!! it’s amazing... also can’t get over the fact I’ve just seen Joe kiss someone like... 12 year old fangirl me is screaming rn #TheSyndicate ".
"Yes @Joe_Sugg with your little northern accent ... #TheSyndicate," wrote another, while a third gushed: "Proud of Joe Sugg tonight , accent was great".
A fourth penned: "OMG loved that he was amazing so proud as always. Well done Joe Sugg once again proving just how talented you are and how much you deserve all these opportunities".
But another remarked: "Someone should tell Joe Sugg he should stick to doing his own accent.....also what is he doing with his face? #TheSyndicate ".
"Joe Sugg with a northern accent is so weird (in The Syndicate)," complained another.
"Wtf Joe Sugg in The Syndicate, gag," added one more.
Joe, who is in a relationship with Strictly star Dianne Buswell, previously revealed he was anxious about the accent, as he did not want to disappoint his Northern fan base.
"I was putting on a Northern accent, so knowing that I am not actually from the North, for me it is like hearing your voice back for the first time again," he said.
"I’ve got a lot of fans who are from the North so I was worried about doing a stereotypical Northern accent."
Creator Kay said she was delighted by Joe's work, and said: "It was a long-shot that he’d be able to do it… but he took direction really well and listened.
"I think he will make a great actor," she added.
His co star and Loose Women panelist Denise Welch said: "The whole point of this is that we’re actors.
"I’ve played Southerners in things and I think I do quite a good Southern accent. If Joe is good in his part then I think, absolutely fine."
Joe admitted to The Times magazine he was nervous on his first day on set as he is not a seasoned TV actor like some of his co stars.
"There were very much first-day-at-school vibes," he said.
"Being surrounded by really good people, who’ve been in the industry since they were young, I had this terrible imposter syndrome.
"It comes with anything I do. People think I had the easy route into it, that things have been handed to me on a plate because of my follower numbers."
* The Syndicate continues Tuesdays at 9pm on BBC One.
