Call the Midwife viewers were left heartbroken after Cyril Robinson’s cherished cat Nigel met an unexpected end on Sunday (February 9). Nigel was introduced during the 2023 Christmas Special when a police officer stumbled upon him after a resident evacuation in Poplar.
Cyril (portrayed by Zephryn Taitte) initially encountered Nigel on the streets, offering him a tin of fish, which sparked their inseparable bond.
But in the latest episode of the drama, midwife Rosalind Clifford (Natalie Quarry) discovered a sickly Nigel and brought him back to Cyril.
The feline was shivering and rejecting food and water as Rosalind cradled him in a blanket. With high hopes, Cyril intended to take the “adventurous” Nigel to the vet to get him “back on his feet”.
Tragically, upon waking up with Nigel in his arms, Cyril was crushed to find that his beloved pet had died during the night.
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Call The Midwife’s Nurse Clifford found Nigel unwell (Image: BBC)
In a poignant moment, he pleaded: “Don’t leave me Nigel”, while caressing his head.
Fred Buckle (Cliff Parisi) compassionately prepared a small grave in the gardens, where Cyril tenderly laid Nigel to rest, saying: “Thanks Fred, it will be nice knowing he is nearby”.
Despite not being overly sentimental about animals, Fred confessed: “I’m not sentimental about animals but I’m going to miss his little face”, reports .
Rosalind Clifford and Nigel (Image: BBC/Neal Street Productions/Olly Courtney)
Cyril reflected on their shared past: “We were strays together, he had no-one and I had no-one when we met”, before adding: “We made a home together.”
Fans of Call the Midwife were visibly moved as Cyril said his goodbyes to Nigel, with one viewer expressing their sorrow on X: “Nooo Nigel #callthemidwife”, accompanied by tears.
Viewers are up in arms over the latest episode of #CallTheMidwife, with one fan declaring: “#CallTheMidwife shocking, show needs boycotting after killing Nigel.”
Cyril hoped he would be able to save Nigel in Call the Midwife (Image: BBC)
Another exclaimed: “Oh no, Nigel the cat is dead. Poor Cyril.”
The outcry continued as another viewer posted: “NIGEL THE CAT NOOOOOOO #callthemidwife”, while yet another shared their disbelief: “I cant believe #callthemidwife killed off Nigel…. best character on the show.”
Call the Midwife series 14 currently airs every Sunday at 8pm on One and iPlayer