fans said the same thing as they tuned in to watch the first episode of series nine of Grantchester.
The first instalment saw DI Geordie Keating (played by Robson Green) and Reverend Will Davenport (Tom Brittney) solving another murder.
The synopsis for the episode reads: “A circus performer, Errol Macabre, is found dead having been shot with a crossbow that was used for a magic trick.
“Was this a tragic accident caused by a malfunctioning prop? Or was there foul play? Will and Geordie must investigate to separate truth from illusion. Meanwhile, Will receives a surprising offer from the bishop that makes him question his life in Grantchester.”
However, just minutes into the first instalment, fans took to social media to share their thoughts about Will’s upcoming exit – and many aren’t ready for it.
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Will and Geordie in Grantchester (Image: ITV)
One fan said: “It’s so good to have #Grantchester back. @tombrittney will already be missed.”
“I’m not ready for change, can’t you stay Will #Grantchester,” another pleaded while a third added: “I miss Sidney.”
Someone else wrote: “Will miss Tom as I did James.”
“Not ready for Will to go #Grantchester,” another echoed.
A sixth person went on: “It shows how mentally unprepared I am for next week because that end scene already made me emotional.”
Another fan shared their thoughts: “I preferred it when James Norton was in it, It hasn’t been the same since.”
Tessa Peake-Jones reprised her role as Mrs Chapman (Image: ITV)
The synopsis for next week’s episode teases: “Geordie receives a call about a dead body at the River View Hotel, but when he goes to investigate, Will and Bonnie discover a baby abandoned inside the church wrapped in a blanket from the same hotel.
“Ernie leads the pair to believe the baby was abandoned by a schoolgirl. Geordie is shocked and upset to hear Will and Bonnie are thinking of leaving Grantchester.”
As fans will already know, Will does leave and is quickly replaced by a new reverend played by Rishi Nair.
In a press Q&A, actor Tom Brittney discussed his decision to depart the ITV series, admitting: “It was one of the hardest decisions of my life. I’ve spent five or six years, and the happiest years of my career doing Grantchester and playing a character which just had so much depth and complexity and it was just a happy place.”
Grantchester returns on Wednesday at 9pm on ITV.