Emmerdale spoilers: Chas Dingle and Paddy Kirk baby tragedy leaves viewers heartbroken
EMMERDALE viewers were heartbroken following the conclusion of tonight’s visit to the ITV soap as Chas Dingle and Paddy Kirk bid an emotional goodbye to their baby daughter shortly after birth.
Emmerdale: Paddy and Chas breakdown after baby Grace dies
After Chas (played by Lucy Pargeter) went into labour on Friday’s edition of Emmerdale, viewers of the ITV soap tuned in to watch Chas and Paddy (Dominic Brunt) bid an emotional farewell to their daughter.
Following a natural and uncomplicated birth, Chas and Paddy were given quality time to spend with the newborn, knowing at any moment the baby could slip away.
In the brief time, the new parents cuddled their daughter, changed her into some new clothes and wrapped her up in a special blanket they had brought for her.
As the closing moments dawned, Grace peacefully passed in Chas’ arms and viewers were heartbroken by the expectant tragedy.
I'm so sad...such beautiful scenes #Emmerdale
As the minutes ticked by in the delivery room before Grace died, Chas and Paddy spent the time imaging their lives if their daughter survived.
Taken away from the sorrow they were about to endure, viewers saw Chas and Paddy with Grace at the age of one, teaching her to ride a bike when she turned four and joining her on a stroll through the woods when she was twelve-years-old.
However, as Chas disappeared from sight, Paddy desperately tried to hold onto the fantasy but eventually returned to the real world when Grace passed away.
Taking to Twitter, the audience shared their heartbreak with the fictitious characters as they portrayed the reality of the situation.
One viewer wrote: “I'm so sad...such beautiful scenes #Emmerdale,” with a second adding: “@emmerdale OMG I’m crying already chas & paddy So touching,” minutes into the episode.
A third commented: “@Emmerdale #Emmerdale Aww baby Grace won't have much long left. This is so heartbreaking to watch. It's not real yes, but it is happening IRL to couples out there and I can't imagine what those who lose a child are going through.”
“Legit [sic] crying my eyes out at emmerdale I honestly couldn’t think of anything worse,” a fourth stated.
Overcome with emotion, a fifth declared: “Heart breaking, emotional , sad and moving. Well done to Lucy and Dominic, Emmerdale at its best @emmerdale.”
“Loving tonight's @emmerdale both actors are playing this so painfully and realistic, almost in tears watching it!! a sixth added.
A seventh wrote: “What a powerful episode that was. Heartbreaking scenes expertly acted by Lucy and Dominic,” praising the actors performances.
Further praise came from another viewer: “@dominicbrunt @lucyparge @emmerdale well done. How wonderful and how sensitively you covered such a heartbreaking storyline especially tonight Congratulations”
Both the characters and viewers knew Grace would not survive long after birth as Chas discovered shortly after fishing out she was pregnant that her child had Renal Agenesis, meaning the baby had not developed any kidneys.
Both Lucy Pargeter, 41, and Dominic Brunt, 48, have spoken out about filming the harrowing storyline.
Speaking of the experimental flash forward episode, Lucy told Metro.co.uk: “It was traumatic but it was beautiful filming it.
“They’re thinking about all of the things that they won’t get to do with her. They kind of go there with her in their minds,” the actress continued.
Dominic admitted his feelings about the episode on Friday’s edition of This Morning, revealing: “The writers have not exploited it and have done it really delicately.
“I’m not sure if I would tune into an episode if the end was the death of the baby but they have really turned it around,” the actor told the show hosts.
However, will the couple now be able to support each other as they carry on their lives following their daughter’s death?
Emmerdale continues tomorrow at 7pm on ITV.