ITV have stunned fans of their new US import show Pushing Daisies by refusing to show the second episode.

More than five million people tuned into the first episode about a man called Ned who can bring people back to life.

Episode two of the show, which stars actress Anna Friel, was dropped because the broadcaster only has space to show eight episodes before Euro 2008 kicks off.

It means viewers will skip straight to part three as the broadcaster reckons installment number two was the only one they could drop without spoiling the storyline.

The missing episode sees Ned with the mysterious gift reminiscing about his childhood and a school lesson where he had to dissect a frog.

ITV are blaming the US writer's strike for the mix-up, which apparently cut the series down to less than half.

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