The Crown fans swoon over ‘Hot Journalist’ Colin Morgan

The Crown has returned to Netflix with its hotly-anticipated third series – and one character in particular has got everyone talking: The Hot Journalist. 

Playing Guardian reporter John Armstrong, actor Colin Morgan, 33, has found himself with something of an online fan club. 

And though he’s only in one episode – much to viewers’ despair – the royal-hating hack sure made an impression judging by Twitter. 

A star is born: When The Crown returned to Netflix, Colin’s role as fictional reporter John Armstrong set Twitter alight

Irish actor Colin, who found fame in Merlin and alongside Jamie Dornan in The Fall, was first nicknamed the hot journalist by Vogue.com culture writer Emma Specter.

Actor: Playing the hack has led to the Irish star, 33, being nicknamed by the internet as hot journalist – filling the shoes of Andrew Scott’s ‘hot priest’ on Fleabag

The moniker was, of course, inspired by Andrew Scott’s infamous role as Fleabag’s hot priest which had everyone talking this summer.     

In the wake of Andrew and his various colored cassocks, Colin appeared to sweep audiences off their feet during his fleeting but evidently memorable scenes. 

Specter writes: ‘Sadly, Hot Journalist isn’t seen again for the remainder of the season, but he makes a lasting impact in episode four with his mix of integrity, fearlessness, and – let’s call it what it is – sex appeal.’

She continues: ‘Hot Journalist may be, as the label implies, conventionally attractive. 

‘He looks, in the words of 30 Rock’s Liz Lemon, “Like a damn Disney prince”… Hot Journalist seems like the whole package; he’s decisive when he needs to be, sending up the royal family for condescendingly attempting to appear normal, but he’s also thoughtful enough to hear an elderly nun out.’ 

The predecessor: Andrew Scott, 43, had everyone hot under the collar when he played Fleabag’s infamous character simply known as The Priest/Father 

Fan club: Countless tweets began to circulate about Colin’s role as the hot journalist when The Crown became available on Netflix on Sunday 

Colin’s accent seemed to go down a storm with his new legion of social media fans.  

‘Colin Morgan using his own accent, wearing a suit, hates the royals. What more could you want,’ asked one male user on Twitter.  

Another viewer, in Arkansas, said his role would hold her over for another five years.

Others bemoaned his limited screen time, insisting they would fast forward through episodes one-three to see him. 

Another noted that they would watch an entire season based just on his character.  

And one woman, a writer named Mary, even changed her Twitter name to ‘hot journalist stan’ referring to the slang term for super fan.  

Pensive: People said they would watch an entire series revolving around Colin’s role as the ‘hot journalist’

Accent: Fans rushed to say how much they enjoyed Colin speaking in his natural Irish accent in The Crown 

The episode brightened up by Colin’s role is called  Bubbikins; the nickname Princess Alice (Jane Lapotaire) gave to her son Prince Philip (Tobias Menzies).

Colin’s on screen alter ego John Armstrong interviews Princess Alice and publishes a moving piece about her life and how she rose above the many trials and tribulations that faced her. 

Prior to this, the journalist had been critical of the royals and wrote a scathing feature about monarchy after Prince Philip had complained about the royal family deserving a pay rise.

However, his role is poetic license as according to The Times, ‘There was no John Armstrong and even were he to have existed, he would not have written a damning front-page Guardian review of the [royals].’

Stans: People deemed themselves stans, or super fans, of the hot journalist/actor Colin thanks to his fleeting appearance in The Crown