Note: The following article contains discussion of themes including suicide.
Call the Midwife's fans will no doubt be devastated when Cyril Robinson (Zephryn Taitte) returned to Poplar with some bad news.
The pastor came back after visiting his estranged wife Lucille (Leonie Elliott), telling Violet (Jane Annabelle Apsion) that he extended his stay when Lucille's mother passed away unexpectedly. As crushing as Lucille's loss is, it's surprisingly not the upsetting news we are referring to.
The first inkling that something is amiss with Cyril was when Violet suggested that Lucille must have been glad to have had the support of her husband during such a tragic time, to which he replied: "Yes. I suppose she was."
Fans who had been hoping for affirmation that their marriage was stronger amid his growing feelings for Rosalind (Natalie Quarry) would have been right to feel uneasy at the heaviness in his tone when he answered.
Well, cue the heartbreaking news (unless you've already watched the episode, in which case brace yourselves to relive it again): Lucille has asked Cyril for a divorce.
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It's a shattering blow for the pastor, who likely never imagined that supporting his wife's decision to fly back home for restorative healing would have led to the end of their marriage. However, Call the Midwife made the right move for all characters concerned in this barely-a-love-triangle.
Lucille actor Elliott has already expressed that she has no intentions of returning to the BBC drama and so it would be foolish for the creators to keep Cyril in stalemate indefinitely. He has to move on, and while his growing feelings for Rosalind were the catalyst for him returning home – which set the divorce-wheels in motion – it was not the cause of their break up.
Was it necessary to complicate an already complicated situation by tossing a new romance into the mix? Perhaps not, but a union between Rosalind and Cyril could offer an insightful perspective into interracial dating in the '70s through the lens of religious expectations and faith.
The cutthroat decision for Lucille to lead in this course of action when Cyril flew out to see her was the only way to assure Rosalind and Cyril had a chance to be accepted by fans, some of whom are already disgruntled by the seeds of their relationship.
"You will catch me cheering when he said he was going to Jamaica to see Lucille," said one fan on Bluesky.
Another accurately guessed the direction of the story after episode two, when they said: I'm very intrigued to see how this one is going to pan out. I fear he's gone to Jamaica to talk to Lucille and process a divorce? (even though that was literally unheard of then and that he's a vicar!!) this whole storyline has been nothing but unrealistic and I feel sorry for Lucille most of all."
Lucille had to be the one to call quits and it had to be after Cyril had done the right thing in not acting on his feelings for Rosalind, but instead tried to forge a closer relationship with his wife. It offers Rosalind and Cyril a clean slate, one where viewers aren't tempted to judge Cyril's actions negatively because what more could he do?
That's not to say that we're supposed to turn on Lucille either. The character was at a soul-crushing low when she left the show, her poor mental health causing her to consider suicide. If she's found a place that makes her feel whole and healthy again, shouldn't she have that?
Cyril also had to be seen to wrestle with his role in the church as that is integral to his character. He did not take their decision to divorce lightly, especially when he considered stepping down as a pastor, asking: "How will the congregation view me if I am a divorced man?"
Rosalind too, came out of this messy situation with an achy heart but a squeaky clean reputation. When quizzed on her relationship with Cyril by Joyce (Renee Bailey) she firmly stated that there is nothing going on between the pair.
"He's married," she said with a slight falter as though trying to will herself to place that important fact above her feelings. "And a pastor," she continued for full emphasis – but eventually she caved during their heart-to-heart, admitting the strength of her feelings for him.
"I don't know what to do," she lamented, but it's clear that whatever she chooses it will be the right course of action, just like Cyril.
Rosalind actor Quarry has already confirmed that there's more to come from this romance when, after Cyril's episode two departure, she stated (via Hello!), "This isn't the end of their story".
However, it is Call the Midwife's latest episode that strongly hints that their fledgling relationship is set to have some longevity that will allow the exploration of new and interesting storylines.
Call the Midwife airs on BBC One and streams on BBC iPlayer.
Read more Call the Midwife news on our dedicated homepage
We encourage anyone who identifies with the topics raised in this article to reach out. Information about how to access support is available via theNHS, and organisations who can offer help include Samaritans on 116 123 or Mind on 0300 123 3393.
Readers in the US are encouraged to visit mentalhealth.gov or the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
TV writer, Digital Spy Janet completed her Masters degree in Magazine Journalism in 2013 and has continued to grow professionally within the industry ever since. For six years she honed her analytical reviewing skills at the Good Housekeeping institute eventually becoming Acting Head of Food testing. She also freelanced in the field of film and TV journalism from 2013-2020, when she interviewed A-List stars such as Samuel L Jackson, Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson. In 2021 she joined Digital Spy as TV writer where she gets to delve into more of what she loves, watching copious amounts of telly all in the name of work. Since taking on the role she has conducted red carpet interviews with the cast of Bridgerton, covered the BAFTAs and been interviewed by BBC Radio and London Live. In her spare time she also moonlights as a published author, the book Gothic Angel.
