Warning: spoilers ahead for The Split season 3 episode 1.
After two years away, fans of were delighted over the legal drama’s return to with cast members including Nicola Walker, , Fiona Button, Annabel Scholey and Barry Atsma.
However, that happiness quickly turned to sadness when in the , a fan-favourite character was brutally Ki**ed off.
In the new episode, James (Rudi Dharmalingam) and wife Rose (Fiona Button) were wrapping their heads around the idea of becoming adoptive parents, having discovered they were unable to conceive.
The pair initially appeared to be a loggerheads over the idea of adopting, with Rose more reluctant to go ahead with it, prompting James to cycle off angrily.
However, Rose then had a change of heart, leaving James a voicemail apologising and telling him she wanted to adopt with him – but he never heard the message, after being hit by a car.
The family rushed to the hospital, with Rose breaking down when the doctor informed them that James had died.
Viewers were left heartbroken by James’ death, with one person remarking on Twitter that they ‘just knew something bad was going to happen’ to him.
‘Flipping heck! First episode and I’m already in tears. Loved James, such a gentle soul. When he was riding alongside the bus I had an “uh oh” moment and thought it was going to be bad. This programme is brilliant,’ someone wrote.
‘Now why on earth would they do that to James?!?!?!’ another commented in shock.
One viewer said: ‘Aw I loved James, that had me in tears,’ while another wrote: ‘Aww James. He was such a pure soul.’
Several people pointed out that James’ fate was especially heartbreaking given he’d just spoken about not wanting to ‘miss out on life’.
At the end of season two of The Split, divorce lawyer Hannah (Nicola) and her husband Nathan (Stephen) faced breaking up after 20 years together, with the pair aiming to achieve a ‘good divorce’ despite Hannah’s affair with Christie Carmichael (Barry) being found out.
Hannah’s sister, Nina (Annabel) was continuing her affair with boss Tyler (Damien Molony) while looking after her baby daughter, while Rose was hoping to start a family with James after suffering a miscarriage.
Several viewers expressed their sympathies towards Rose after James’ death, with one tweeting: ‘Poor Rose, she doesn’t have much luck.’
‘Rose always gets the worse hand dealt,’ another said.
The Split returns on Monday at 9pm on BBC One and is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
