'Call the Midwife' was struck a devastating blow in last night's (06.03.16) series finale after Sister Evangelina tragically passed away from a shock heart attack.
Sister Evangelina in Call The Midwife
Viewers were left weeping into their tissues after the lovable nun - portrayed by Pam Ferris - gently slipped away whilst sleeping in her favourite armchair, accompanied only by a blanket and a cup of tea, before being discovered by caretaker Fred Buckle (Cliff Parisi).
However, despite the tear-jerking scenes, the Sister of Nonnatus House's death was expected as she also suffered a minor stroke, which left her with a paralysed left arm, in a previous series when she assisted the birth of Tripti Valluck's (Anjana Vasan) baby.
And, although Evangelina's passing was emotional, fans were no doubt turned into emotional wrecks when they saw Sister Monica-Joan's (Judy Parfitt) reaction to the news.
When she was told her close friend's body will need to be taken to the coroner, the heartbroken nun snapped: "You shall not take her from this place. How is our sister to rise again if her earthly form is not intact? She will need eyes to see, a brain to think, a heart to love. If you mutilate her now, you maim her for eternity."
Meanwhile, viewers won't have to wait too long for the sixth series of the popular period drama, which first hit screens in 2010, as eight more hour-long episodes have already been commissioned for 2017, as well as a Christmas special this year.
Executive producer Pippa Harris confirmed recently: "I am delighted that the BBC has decided to commission series six of 'Call the Midwife' even before we have gone on air with series five!"