First look at the first ever real-life Krabby Patty released with burger going on sale next week

Fans of Spongebob Squarepants are be in for a surprise with the first look at a real-life version of an iconic part of the hit show.

For the uninitiated, the Nickelodeon cartoon follows the exploits of Spongebob, voiced by Tom Kenny, a sponge who lives in Bikini Bottom.

Spongebob works at the Krusty Krab restaurant chain, taking his happy-go-lucky approach to life to his job as a fry cook.

And of course, this leads us to a central part of the hit cartoon - the Krabby Patty.

It might just be a simple burger, but the Krabby Patty is the subject of jealousy from rival restaurant The Chum Bucket.

But Plankton the copepod will be delighted to know that he can finally get his hands on one of the patties.

Presumably the tiny crustacean can then reverse engineer one.

But why is it that Plankton can finally have a Krabby Patty?

The Krabby Patty Kollab (Wendy's)

Well, it's because Wendy's has announced it will be selling a real-life version of the burger as a special edition.

This will premiere on October 8 and include a Krabby Patty Kollab Burger and a Pineapple Under the Sea Frosty, referencing Spongebob's in-show home.

The recipe of the Krabby Patty is a running joke in the series, and many people took to social media to share their thoughts on the announcement.

One wrote: "How tf did Wendy’s get the secret formuler" while another joked: "What secret ingredient did they use in the sauce?"

Meanwhile a third said: "They’ll never get the real Krabby Patty formula."

Others were less enthused, with one writing: "That’s just a normal classic burger."

One person begrudgingly admitted they would return to the show, commenting: "Every time I think I'm done with Spongebob...they pull me back in! I give up...I'm getting some Krabby Patties..."

Tom Kenny, the voice of Spongebob Squarepants (Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for IMDb)

As for the 'secret formula' itself, Wendy's published the contents of the burger online.

It wrote that the burger contains 'a quarter pound of Wendy's fresh, never frozen beef, two slices of melty American cheese, crisp lettuce, tomato, pickle, onion, and a top-secret Krabby Kollab sauce on a toasted premium bun.'

Lindsay Radkoski, US Chief Marketing Officer for The Wendy's Company, said: "In a world of people cutting corners, Wendy's is known for quality in everything we do – from our fresh, famous food to collaborations with brands that our fans love.

"So, it makes sense that two of the most iconic squares in pop culture are teaming up to bring a taste of this unique, limited-time experience to life for fans of all ages!"