Warning: This article contains spoilers for Sunday's (April 3) episode of The Archers on BBC Radio 4.
It's one of the most controversial storylines in the history of Radio 4 show The Archers, and now it looks like it's taken another step further.
Character Rob Titchener has been at the centre of a long-running domestic abuse story with his wife Helen and now, only a few days since we were warned that Rob could be capable of murder, here we are, with Rob presumably dead and Helen wielding the knife.
Fans were left reeling by the shock twist, particularly as the episode's synopsis beforehand said only: "Rob asserts his viewpoint, and Helen reacts."
During the episode, fans heard Rob (Timothy Watson) attacking Helen (Louiza Patikas) again, before forcing a knife into her hand and telling her the only way she would escape him was to use it.
Later Helen can be heard calling Kirsty and tearfully admitting what she did, saying: "I didn't know what else to do. You don't understand he made me choose, I had to make him choose. Kirsty, he's dead. I've killed him."
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The reaction to the episode has been largely shocked:
While other listeners are not so sure Rob is dead:
But mostly there was praise for the drama's raising awareness of domestic abuse and for the fans who continue to raise money for domestic abuse charities:
Readers who are affected by the issues raised in this story are encouraged to contact Refuge (www.refuge.org.uk) or Women's Aid (www.womensaid.org.uk). Both charities run the 24-hour, freephone National Domestic Violence Helpline, 0808 2000 247. The US National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).
