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Lenny Henry's character has become a key suspect in the brutal rape at the centre of the increasingly tense final series of Broadchurch. 

His arrest last night prompted a flood of tweets from fans, who struggled with seeing the much-loved comedian behind Red Nose Day playing a potential rapist, shop owner Ed Burnett. 

'I refuse to believe Lenny Henry has anything to do with it,' wrote one fan, while others couldn't resist joking about the comic's role as the face of Premier Inn hotels when detectives grilled him over where he stayed on the night Trish Waterman was raped.

But others gripped by ITV's whodunit were less amused by his arrest - and warned they'd be disappointed if the 'only black man in the show' turns out to be the culprit. 

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The latest suspect in the ongoing Broadchurch rape investigation is Ed Burnett (played by Lenny Henry), the manager at a local farm shop where Trish works

Broadchurch fans struggled to believe that TV funnyman Lenny Henry's character could be responsible for the rape of Trish Waterman after he was arrested in Monday night's episode

Six episodes into the eight part final series, detectives Hardy and Miller have ruled out just 42 of the 65 male guests at the party where Trish, played by Julie Hesmondhalgh, was assaulted. 

In last night's episode it was revealed that Ed sent an anonymous bunch of flowers to Trish - leading investigators to suspect he could be the rapist.

The extent of his obsession was revealed when police discovered thousands of photos of Trish on his phone.

But distraught fans took to Twitter to declare that the comedian couldn't possibly have committed the crime, with one writing: 'It can't be Lenny, who are we going to get to do Red Nose Day now.'

Others point-black 'refused' to believe he could be involved, while one fan blasted Broadchurch producers for implicating her 'childhood favourite' Lenny Henry. 

Some viewers took a stab at the actor's endorsement of Premier Inn hotel chains with Kelly writing: 'I'm boycotting Premier Inns if Lenny Henry is the killer.' 

One wrote: 'I've said it before and I'll say it again. SEARCH THE PREMIER INNS!'  

Fans made jokes about Lenny Henry's role as the face of Premier Inns hotels, with one joking they would be boycotting the chain if Ed emerged as the man responsible for Trish's attack

Other viewers were less amused, with many accusing the writers behind the hit drama of playing to 'stereotypes' should the sole black male character emerge as the guilty party. 

'I hope it isn't the black guy and the writers have more about them than going for stereotypes,' one fan wrote.

'If the only black guy is the culprit I'm gonna flip tables,' another tweeted.   

Some fans warned of disappointment should a black man emerge as the rapist in ITV's tense eight-part whodunit

Fans took to Twitter to declare that the comedian couldn't possibly have committed the crime, with one writing: 'It can't be Lenny, who are we going to get to do Red Nose Day now'

Henry's character, Ed, is the manager at a local farm shop where Trish works. The end of last week’s episode saw him beat him up Jim Atwood for cheating on his wife with Trish

Ed also emerged as the father of DC Harford, who is working on the investigation into Trish’s rape, on Monday night - sending Hardy into a furious rage

Henry's character, Ed, is the manager at a local farm shop where Trish works. The end of last week’s episode saw him beat him up Jim Atwood for cheating on his wife with Trish, leading to his arrest. 

He is also the father of DC Harford, who is working on the investigation into Trish’s rape, it emerged. 

When Hardy and Miller found out the pair were related, they were furious with her, accusing her of compromising the investigation.

Suspects also include Trish's ex-husband Ian Winterman, Jim Atwood who she slept with the morning before the rape, cab driver Clive Lucas, salesman and Leo Humphreys. 

Last week, viewers were left baffled after a football sock was found on the grounds which could have been used to gag rape victim Trish. 

However, the sock is part of a football kit belonging to several team mates, and confused viewers were left declaring that they were as baffled as ever.

The episode also zoomed in on other potential suspects tonight, with Jim Atwood choking taxi driver Clive Lucas after revealing he'd seen Jim with Trish.

In dramatic closing scenes, viewers were left in suspense as plumber Mark Latimer - still devastated by the murder of his son Danny in the first series - contemplated ending his life by jumping off a cliff.

Suspect: In this week’s episode it was revealed that Ed sent an unsigned card to Trish, leading investigators to suspect he could be the rapist - but he insists he loves her

Some viewers point-black 'refused' to believe Ed could be involved, while one fan blasted Broadchurch producers for implicating her 'childhood favourite' Lenny Henry

But fans will have to wait until next week to find out his fate.

The scene followed a confrontation between Mark and his son's killer, paedophile and former paramedic Joe Miller, who evaded justice for the crime at the end of series two, in an attempt to find out what really happened.

But Miller guessed that Latimer was recording their conversation and refused to give answers, plunging the grief-stricken father into deeper despair. 

Broadchurch returns next Monday on ITV at 9pm