When Call the Midwife's Nancy (Megan Cusack) announced she had a new job offer (complete with a house), was engaged to Roger Noble (Conor O'Donnell) and had managed to win the approval of her battleaxe mother-in-law-to-be, nobody imagined that it would be the end of her time on the show.
After all it was only episode one of the latest season. Yet fans haven't caught even a glimpse of her brightly-coloured, fur-trimmed coat since she proudly stepped out with her new beau and daughter, beaming down the street flanked by her Nonnatus pals before arriving at her engagement party.
Cusack initially reassured fans that this would not be the end of her journey at the launch of the season and has since reiterated the same sentiments. During an interview, Cusack confirmed that Nancy was off at Netherditch hospital, but not gone forever.
"She's just a career woman. You know, she's off doing things, she's got a new job, but it doesn't mean you won't get to see her again," the actress told Radio Times.
While that does offer a little comfort, it still begs the question: why has she yet to return?
Nancy's soft exit from the show feels jarring because of how hurried it was. The fan-favourite nurse went from falling in love at Christmas to a new-year-new-me lifestyle shift within a blink of an eye.
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Not only does the pace of it all make Roger seem somewhat untrustworthy (we just can't shake the feeling that something is awry) but fans also didn't get to go on that celebratory journey with the character who has longed for a stable life for her and her daughter Colette (Francesca Fullilove) for so long.
Even with Nancy upping sticks to Netherditch, it would have been much more of a rewarding storyline if she remained in contact with the Nonnatus staff. A phone call here, a late-night visit to the movies there.
The handling of Nancy's storyline becomes even more bizarre and her absence even more acutely felt when compared to that of Helen George's Trixie.
Trixie has set up a life for herself in New York with her husband Matthew (Olly Rix) and son Jonty (Archie O'Callaghan) and yet there's barely time to miss her charm when she shows up every few episodes, tucking her Big Apple adventures into her carry-on ready to pick them up again on her next flight out.
By stark contrast, Nancy's country abode is apparently too far to make the distance. It doesn't make sense nor does the show's decision not to address it in the storylines. The more nothing is said the louder her absence is felt, making fans question if there isn't something more going on behind the scenes.
For now Cusack insists that life is pretty rosy for the nurse stating (via Radio Times): "[Roger] is a delightful, wonderful fella and he treats [Nancy] and Colette very nicely".
Perhaps Cusack needed to adjust her schedule to accommodate other career opportunities in the real world? Either way, as Call the Midwife's penultimate and finale episodes grow closer and closer all eyes will be on whether or not the creators will resolve this frustrating, niggling absence in a satisfying way.
Call the Midwife airs on BBC One and streams on BBC iPlayer.
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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.
