It was hard viewing for casualty fans on Saturday night...
There were powerful scenes in Saturday night's Casualty, as fan favourite Connie Beauchamp took a pair of scissors to her hair and started cutting.
The clinical lead is secretly having chemotherapy after being diagnosed with cancer, and her treatment appeared to be finally taking its toll on her as she started to lose her hair.
Fans of the show were left reaching for boxes of tissues as they found the scenes extremely difficult to watch - especially as avid viewers know that Amanda Mealing, who plays Connie, is a cancer survivor in real life.
Taking to Twitter after the episode aired, viewers expressed their heartbreak over the harrowing final scene.
'The ending of casualty, I'm an emotional wreck at 1am in the morning. How brilliant was @meamandamealing and loving the friendship forming between Connie and Ethan @BBCCasualty @georgerainsford #Casualty,' one said.
While another added: 'Nooooooooo I don’t want Connie to be ill I never cried so much seeing her cut her hair off #casualty.'
And another said: 'My heart is breaking for Connie,' and, 'Connie...stay strong love....u can look after your cancer, all your fans are here for you throughoutxx who else is crying after that scene.'
While others praised Amanda for her terrific performance, with one complimenting: '@meamandamealing tonight’s episode of #casualty what a phenomenal performance!
'Your acting was amazing like always this episode really touched me brought me to tears knowing how upsetting it must of been for you. When Connie was cutting her hair no. Connie Beauchamp A QUEEN.'
And another said: 'Wow! Fantastic performance by @meamandamealing showing Connie’s fragility. It can’t have been easy. Thank you. #Casualty.'
Fans admiration didn't go unnoticed by Amanda, who took to Twitter to thank them for all their kind words and support.
Connie's tough storyline would have hit home for Amanda, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002 shortly after the birth of her second son.
Amanda went on to have a mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
