The Fortune Hotel's future revealed after ITV show was SLAMMED by viewers and branded a 'carbon copy' of BBC's hit The Traitors

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ITV have confirmed The Fortune Hotel will be returning for a second series, despite some viewers branding it a poor imitation of BBC's The Traitors.

The show, presented by actor Stephen Mangan, 56, peaked at 2.6M viewers back in May, sees its participants having to lie to each other and figure out who the betrayers are as they stay in a luxury Caribbean resort.

Each pair are handed a briefcase each, with only one holding the £250K prize and they must try and uncover who in fact has the dosh.

And now applications have open for the new series until September 27 with auditions taking place in October 1 ahead of filming.

The offical site reads: 'The Fortune Hotel is opening its doors on a tropical Caribbean island. It's the perfect setting for a thrilling bluffing game with exciting real-world challenges'.

'Do you and your +1 have what it takes to blag and bluff your way to win £250K?'.

During it's first series some viewers said the sun-soaked new show would 'never compare' to The Traitors which has had two seasons and is a murder mystery show set in a Scottish castle. 

Those on Twitter said: 'What is this? The Traitors meets Coach Trip meets Deal or No Deal? #fortunehotel.',

'Even the slowed down music being an absolute carbon copy of The Traitors #TheFortuneHotel #FortuneHotel.',

'I'm going in watching The Fortune Hotel with an open mind, but nothing, and I mean nothing, is EVER going to compare to The Traitors #TheFortuneHotel #FortuneHotel.',

'Can't think where I've seen a show very similar to this before #FortuneHotel.',

'The nerd in me wants to know how many producers/editors they swiped from #TheTraitors. Either way, I'm here for this show.',

'So #FortuneHotel is basically #thetraitors on a tropical island with briefcases?.',

'Is this for people who didn't make it past the auditions process on the Traitors? #TheFortuneHotel #FortuneHotel.',

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'Not sure how feel about this. Seems like a cheap version of the traitors so far #fortunehotel'.

Others however were enjoying the show as one penned: 'I'm actually quite enjoying this!'

Another said: 'YES YES YES well done everyone-I am fully invested in @FortuneHotelUK @itv @itvxofficial it's brilliant-the concept really works and it's only half way in. You've got me this week for sure!'

On the show each day the contestants will compete in challenges to try and uncover who has the all-important case.

At the end of the day the couple are then able to swap or keep their cases.

The couple with the cash must lie and bluff their way out of suspicion – with one case holding an early checkout card too.

In January the BBC's The Traitors was seeing an average audience of 6.4 million viewers per episode.

The programme was a competition series built on strategy, suspicion and deception, filmed in the Scottish Highlands where a team of players competed in a series of missions and had to uncover which members of the group were 'traitors'.

The BBC show doubled its viewership for season two and has since been licensed in Australia and the US.