Call The Midwife was even more distressing than usual last night, 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 will she be back? After all, we have seen many popular characters depart Nonnatus House, never to return.
The good news is YES! You may have spotted that Trixie has been sporting a little bump this series – or at least the attempts to hide it.
Helen George, who plays the troubled midwife, was pregnant with her first child while filming the seventh series.
And Trixie’s mid-run departure was to accommodate Helen’s maternity leave.
She and her Call The Midwife co-star partner Jack Ashton welcomed little daughter Wren Ivy last September.
The 33-year-old said of Trixie’s disappearance at the series launch last year: “I was pregnant in the series, so you just kind of see me walk across the screen sometimes with odd fashions, or I’d sit down a lot, or I’m wearing lots of capes.
“It wasn’t a correct storyline to choose for the character [to be pregnant], as well. It wasn’t right for Trixie to be pregnant. So we just did our best to cover it up.”
Her legions of fans were devastated by her mid-series departure…
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
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