Horrified Call The Midwife fans have insisted Nurse Barbara Gilbert must survive her battle with septicemia – especially after another beloved character had already been placed in mortal danger in last week’s episode.
Fans tweeted they would “riot”, “burn something to the ground” and “never forgive the BBC” if Charlotte Ritchie’s character killed off, with Barbara’s condition looking desperate during the preview for this week’s instalment.
fully prepared to riot if they kill off barbara #callthemidwife
— emma (@emmacariad) February 25, 2018
I am not afraid to stage a riot if Barbara dies #CallTheMidwife
— Love, Alexandra (@alexandra_b_xo) February 25, 2018
First Nic, now Barbara. I appreciate you want to educate about sepsis/septicaemia @BBC but if you kill Mrs Hereward too, I’ll burn something to the ground #thearchers #callthemidwife
— Alannah Cryer (@AlannahCryer) February 25, 2018
I swear the god if you kill of Barbara and leave Tom broken hearted I will never forgive you #callthemidwife
— Martha (@Martha_EmilyMae) February 25, 2018
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Some were so concerned by preview glimpses of an unconscious Barbara seemingly undergoing medical treatment in hospital and Sister Monica Joan wishing God would ‘take her in Barbara’s place’ they were left unable to type their thoughts.
If Barbra dies, I don’t think I’ll be able to cope @CallTheMidwife1 #callthemidwife
— Blake Smith (@blakesmithy16) February 25, 2018
Barbara is back for two freaking episodes and she’s already on the verge of dying are youwbahtdja #callthemidwife
— Macaroni and Bees (@JellyConcerns) February 25, 2018
“I think I’m rather unwell,” Barbara had admitted in typically understated fashion following a hectic series events in an episode where she delivered twins following the mother’s evacuation from a burning shop.
Agreeing with husband Tom she was exhausted from working too hard, Barbara was soon suffering with a fever and a rash on her arms that revealed her condition was much more severe than simply being run down.
And after being inspected by Nurse Phyllis Crane and Dr Patrick Turner, fears were all but confirmed.
“I don’t want to preempt a diagnosis but there’s definitely an element of septicaemia,” said Dr Turner clarified as Barbara was rushed to hospital.
But the tense life or death storylines proved too much for some viewers, with Phyllis’ life also seemingly threatened by the shop fire only minutes earlier in the episode.
Last week ended with me saying let no harm come to Phyllis, now Barbara! She’s a strong young lass, She’s a strong young lass, #callthemidwife
— M Fitz (@embeefitz) February 25, 2018
I nearly stopped breathing when Phyllis was caught in the fire and now Barbara – please don’t do this #callthemidwife
— andanotherthing (@alicress28) February 25, 2018
Some fans of The Archers – including comedian Jenny Eclair – also noticed similarities with a recent storyline in the radio drama.
Oh God and now Barbara #callthemidwife/Archers/doubletragedy
— Jenny Eclair (@jennyeclair) February 25, 2018
Blimey! #thearchers focus on sepsis, #callthemidwife focus on septicaemia. Is the BBC having a drive to educate us all about blood poisoning?
— Jackie Martin (@panicdonkey) February 25, 2018
Are the BBC going for Sepsis overkill after #thearchers? Just watched #callthemidwife and there’s another potential one!
Is there some kind of NHS emergency on its way that they’ve not told us about 😳— Jane Barnett (@janembarnett58) February 25, 2018
Not sure I can take it if the relly lovely Barbara on #callthemidwife goes the same way (although in her case it looks more like meningitis to me). Lucky she had a nurse sitting beside her to tke her symptoms seriously. #theArchers https://t.co/qfkU7nkEko
— Purple Pumpkin (@PurplePumpkin63) February 25, 2018
Still getting good over Nic in #thearchers I can’t take Barbara going as well have a heart BBC #callthemidwife
— Jacquie Parry (@jacquie_parry) February 26, 2018
You’ve killed off #thearchers nic with sepsis couldn’t take it if you killed off #callthemidwife Barbara with sepsis too! Enough public service broadcast character deaths thank you!
— Caroline Armitage (@Carolinearm) February 26, 2018
However, while one viewer felt the BBC needed new script ideas, another was glad the condition was being highlighted.
BBC needs some new script writers #sepsisoverkill #Archers #CalltheMidwife
Eastenders next week?— mafleen (@mafleen) February 25, 2018
Having sepsis myself it’s great to see that bbc are using this as a platform to know the symptoms. @UKSepsisTrust #CallTheMidwife #secretkiller #sepsis #sepsissurvivor
— Emily Batterbury (@EBatterbury) February 25, 2018
Are you a fan of Call The Midwife? Are you concerned for Barbara? Let us know by commenting on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix!
Call The Midwife continues tonight on BBC One at 8pm.
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