BBC Call The Midwife fans 'can't stop crying' as show airs hard-hitting scenes

Sunday night's episode of Call the Midwife left viewers reaching for their tissues as they witnessed some gripping and heart-wrenching scenes..

The BBC drama, known for its portrayal of midwives in East London's Poplar facing numerous challenges, delivered yet another tense instalment tonight (February 23) that kept audiences riveted.

A deeper layer of sorrow was added with the exploration of several distressing issues throughout the episode.

One particular plotline that captured the audience's attention followed expectant mother Jacqui Berridge, who was grappling with a severe heroin addiction while near labour.

As the story unfolded, the medical team tried their utmost to assist Jacqui in the birth of her second child, all the while trying to manage her addiction.

Despite Jacqui's resolve to recover for the sake of her children, tests revealed heroin was still present in her system. Meanwhile, her husband Laurence, a former drug user himself, had achieved sobriety.

The delivery was fraught with difficulties, but ultimately, Jacqui gave birth to a son named Micheal. Yet even with this victory, there were grave concerns about whether she could maintain custody of her children due to her substance abuse, reports the Mirror.

In a poignant turn, during Laurence's visit to Jacqui, he was devastated to learn she was still using heroin. His pleas for her to quit were met with a sobering reminder from Jacqui of his role in her addiction, as she told him: "I would have never have taken it if I hadn't met you."

The show took a dark turn as Laurence informed Jacqui that they had "moved on". However, as the drama unfolded, tragedy struck when Sister Veronica and Cyril found both individuals dead in their home.

The episode did not shy away from difficult subjects, delving into racism, adoption controversies and strained family relationships, leaving viewers engulfed in high emotion. Fans expressed their feelings on X, with comments such as: "Aww this is a hard episode."

Others showed empathy for the characters, with one viewer confessing: "Poor Jacqui I can't stop crying."

The narrative of Laurence and Jacqui also stirred reactions, with a viewer remarking: "Oh God, both of them. Full respect to #callthemidwife for not holding back the reality, this is the reality, and it's cold and hard and brutal, this is the reality of addiction, all it takes on one bad batch."

Another audience member reflected on the show's emotional impact, saying: "This is a hard watch tonight.. .just so heartbreaking."

Call the Midwife airs Sundays at 8:05pm on BBC One