The final episode of Call The Midwife has left viewers across the UK in floods of tears after the heartbreaking farewell to one of the show’s most cherished characters, Sister Monica Joan.

Fans tuned in to the BBC drama on Sunday night only to witness the emotional final moments of the eccentric and much-loved nun, played by Judy Parfitt. For many loyal viewers, her death marked what they called “the end of an era” for the long-running series.

The scene became even more poignant when a familiar face from the show’s past appeared to guide her into the next life. Sister Evangelina, portrayed by Pam Ferris and absent from the series since her character died back in series five, made a surprise return to accompany Sister Monica Joan in her final moments.

The unexpected reunion proved overwhelming for fans watching at home. One viewer summed up the mood online, writing: “Sister Evangelina coming to help Sister Monica Joan die, I am SICK from crying.”

As the emotional episode aired on BBC One, social media quickly filled with reactions from devastated viewers. One fan admitted: “I’m bawling, I’m actually bawling so hard,” while another confessed they simply couldn’t cope with the heartbreaking scenes, writing: “Dayyyyyummm man… I properly can’t cope here.”

Despite the tears, many praised the show’s writers for giving the beloved character such a touching farewell. One viewer reflected: “Sister Monica Joan’s death was beautiful. The show won’t be the same without her.” Another added that the moment felt especially meaningful, writing: “What a wonderful way for Sister Monica Joan to go with all the other sisters of the past.”

Some fans, however, were not ready to accept the loss just yet. One emotional viewer joked they were still in denial, saying: “I’m in denial and I’m okay with that. She’s not dead, she’s just eating a cake somewhere.”

While the finale marked the end of series 15, the story of Call The Midwife is far from over. The beloved BBC drama will now take an extended break of around two years as producers work on both a prequel series and a feature-length film.

The upcoming three-part prequel will take viewers back to wartime London during the Second World War, exploring the earlier years of characters such as Sister Monica Joan, Sister Evangelina and Sister Julienne with a brand-new cast.

Series creator Heidi Thomas hinted that the project will highlight the strength and resilience of women during the war. She explained that although women were not initially in positions of power when the conflict began, the realities of wartime quickly changed that.

She told Radio Times that the story would show how women stepped up as men left for war duties, saying it would be a world where women gradually took charge of everything. According to Thomas, the series will ultimately focus on women coming into their own during one of the most challenging periods in history.

In addition to the prequel, fans can also look forward to a movie set in 1972 featuring the familiar cast, with the story expected to take place in Australia. However, an official release date has not yet been announced.

For now, though, viewers are still reeling from the emotional goodbye to Sister Monica Joan — a character whose gentle wisdom, eccentric humour and love of cake made her one of the most unforgettable figures in British television.