Netflix’s new Willy Wonka show branded ‘disrespectful and ghoulish’ by viewers

| Deputy TV editor Published September 24, 2026 1:49pm Updated September 24, 2026 1:49pm To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Netflix’s new Willy Wonka show has left a bad taste in viewers’ mouths. The new reality show, Wonka’s The Golden Ticket, has been described as a one-of-a-kind competition that invites lucky players to step inside the famous chocolate factory. Once inside, the contestants must complete challenges, resist temptations and take tests in the hope of winning a lifetime’s supply of money. What’s a lifetime’s supply of money, you ask? $ 3 million, which will be paid to you as a six-figure amount over the course of 30 years. Unfortunately, so far Netflix critics and subscribers haven’t found the show scrumdiddlyumptious. The show has received a dismal 20% Critics Score on Rotten Tomatoes, with TV pundits criticising the show’s games and pacing. Wonka’s The Golden Ticket takes competitors inside the famous chocolate factory (Picture: Courtesy of Netflix) Critics aren’t impressed with the show so far (Picture: Courtesy of Netflix) However, the biggest criticism reviewers had was the series’ decision to use AI to resurrect Gene Wilder (who played Wonka in the 1971 film) as a disembodied voice with his family’s permission. ‘It sounds stilted, indefinably wrong somehow, ‘ wrote Phil Harrison in his two-star Guardian review. ‘Like so much AI, it feels like a solution to a problem that doesn’t really exist – Wilder’s “presence” adds nothing beyond a sort of uncanny-valley queasiness that, of course, should be present in any rendering of Wonka anyway.’ Competitors are trying to win a lifetime supply of money (Picture: Courtesy of Netflix) Variety’s Alison Herman branded the voice ‘ghoulish’ writing that even if the AI voice is legally sanctioned, she doesn’t see why it was necessary. Benji Wilson at The Telegraph, meanwhile, gave the show one star and branded the ghostly AI voice ‘creepy’ while criticising the ‘anodyne’ challenges. His biggest criticism, however, was arguably that the show borrowed from The Traitors seemingly just to pad the run time. It’s not just critics who are disappointed by the series. On X, @housewifebored8 wrote: ‘I got kinda turned off right away cause they recreated Gene’s voice to narrate throughout the show. I’m not really feeling it. It was odd.’ While on Reddit, user Rosstin316 wrote: ‘Any use of AI Gene Wilder is a misuse’. The show has been criticised for using an AI Gene Wilder (Picture: Wolper/Warner Bros/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock) However, MuptonBossman was perhaps the most scathing, writing: ‘I watched the first episode of this just to check out how bad it really is and… holy s*** it’s BAD. It feels like a fake TV show from 30 Rock combined with the AI slop that you see on social media these days.’ Still, it’s worth noting the show has its defenders. Joel Keller from Decider praised the show’s sets, and even the most vicious of critics agreed the factory looks impressive. But some people are entertained (Picture: Courtesy of Netflix) Other viewers have also been impressed with it, with Aly22KingUSAF93noting on Reddit that ‘the show is doing more than other reality TV shows, at LEAST there’s an attempt at challenges and not another love show.’ On X, meanwhile, @_xomone added: Wonka’s the Golden Ticket on Netflix is so good I’m hooked.’ So who knows, maybe the only way to judge this show is to watch it and see if it’s to your taste. Deals of the Day Oodie’s cosy blanket sale has arrived just in time for Christmas shopping Save over £700 on Simba's top-rated mattresses in this limited-time sale Topman’s new-season collection has arrived and prices start at just £10 An Instagram mattress left me with back pain – this one completely changed my mind From £700 MacBooks to discounted iPhones, the best Apple tech for studentsb Wonka’s The Golden Ticket is streaming now on Netflix. Arrow MORE: Netflix delays Gary Glitter documentary after discovering ‘new legal information’ Arrow MORE: ‘Dumbest show ever’ tops Netflix charts with 12,000,000 views despite backlash Arrow MORE: Inbetweeners stars share new behind-the-scenes photo and ‘disappointing’ warning for fans TV Newsletter Sign up and tell us which TV shows you love to watch to get personalised updates every morning.