Sunday nights have become our substitute for therapy – an hour of gentle sobbing through Call The Midwife is the equivalent of wiping the emotional slate clean ready for another week of whatever life throws at us.
But last night’s episode was utterly ruinous, as arguably the most beloved of all the regular characters did a disappearing act.
Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve seen alcoholic midwife Trixie fall off the wagon, following her devastating split from Christopher and her heartbreaing decision to break up the family of a mother suffering with Huntington’s.
Last night, she was caught out after a patient let slip she had drunk sherry to celebrate the birth of her child.
Trixie broke down as Christopher expressed his concern and – after he took her to an AA meeting – she told him they could no longer see each other, even as friends.
Read more: Call The Midwife viewers slam the voiceover announcement
Distressed, she later approached Sister Julienne and sobbed tears of relief and gratitude as she was granted six months’ leave of absence to go away and straighten herself out.
But don’t worry – Trixie will definitely be back and was only temporarily written out while Helen George, who plays her, was on maternity leave.
Yes, you may have spotted her bump – or the attempts to hide it.
Helen and her Call The Midwife co-star partner Jack Ashton welcomed little daughter Wren Ivy last September.
Still, that doesn’t help her legions of fans currently facing a miserable Monday following her mid-week exit…
I knew I would but I still cried like a baby at #callthemidwife Trixie’s story was so upsetting but I’m glad she’s looking after herself. @helen_george is just so good at bringing the heart & truth to Trixie. Now hopefully next season we get a more long term happiness for Trixie pic.twitter.com/hbNDof7Nnx
— JL (@WeWanderLost) 12 February 2018
My heart breaks continually for Trixie and her struggles, she’s such a complex character and has been my favourite midwife since the beginning Helen George always delivers as Trixie & I hope that the #callthemidwife writers bring her & Christopher back together & let her be happy
— NatBritGirl 🆎💍 (@ValiantBritGal) 12 February 2018
My heart aches for Trixie 🙁 #callthemidwife
— Bryony Burnham (@BryonyMcBabs) 11 February 2018
Call the midwife did it again! I should be sponsored every by Kleenex every Sunday evening at 8pm. Poor Trixie 😢🍸 #CalltheMidwife
— Shar (@shar_t_79) 11 February 2018
Finally managed to watch this weeks #callthemidwife & in tears as always 😥 poor Trixie breaks my heart to see her like that but absolutely outstanding performance from @helen_george as always! Wonder if we catch her again before the series ends 💙
— Call The Midwife (@callthemidwife5) 11 February 2018