Homeland creator responds to furious open letter from fans criticising death of main character

'It is painful to hear that that even a small segment of our devoted audience is disappointed'

The co-creator of Homeland has responded to an angry open letter published by fans criticising the death of a fan favourite character.

Season six of the US drama drew to a close earlier this year and many fans were left feeling shortchanged by the the way in which Peter Quinn - the black ops CIA agent played by Rupert Friend since season two - was killed off.

Quinn died in a hail of gunfire while driving lead character Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes) and President-elect Keane (Elizabeth Marvel) to safety from a group of mercenaries, and a group of viewers - named #NotOurHomeland - deemed this such an unworthy way for the character to go that they paid for a full-page advertisement in The Hollywood Reporter serving as an open letter to the show's creators and current showrunner Alex Gansa.

“It has been over four months since your sixth season concluded,” the letter reads. “In the midst of a mass exodus of your most loyal and devoted viewers, we have asked repeatedly for you to address your audience and the unceremonious end to a character that you openly acknowledge was beloved by millions. You have been silent. We are asking again.”

Gansa has paid attention to the criticism and issued the following statement to The Hollywood Reporter: It is painful to hear that that even a small segment of our devoted audience is disappointed in Homeland. Until now, I have refrained from commenting publicly on the death of Peter Quinn, believing that Rupert Friend's heart-wrenching performance should speak for itself. I have not changed my view.

"Suffice to say that I mourn the loss of Peter Quinn as much as anybody and that the character was created not to denigrate but to honour the men and women who devote their lives to keeping America safe. In my eyes, he died a hero.”

The group criticised the show's depiction of Quinn as a military veteran with PTSD and a survivor of a stroke, and claims to have raised $4,000 for veterans charity Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund.

Homeland will return for two more seasons with its eighth run widely expected to be its last.