Grantchester devotees were left reaching for the tissues as Reverend Will Davenport bid a final farewell to the village.

In the heart-wrenching episode aired on Wednesday (15 January), Tom Brittney’s character, Will, departed amidst tear-jerking moments.

The emotional goodbye between DI Geordie Keating, portrayed by Robson Green, and Will had ITV audiences welling up as the beloved duo ended their partnership.

Will revealed to Geordie his decision to take on a new challenge in Newcastle, which led to Geordie initially concealing his sorrow. Despite giving Will the cold shoulder as his departure loomed, Geordie ultimately expressed his support for Will’s new beginning.

Viewers flocked to social media to share their reactions, with numerous fans confessing the episode moved them to tears, reports Cambridgeshire Live.

One viewer posted on X: “Still sobbing @tombrittney Knew it would be hard to say goodbye but not that hard #Grantchester.”

“Didn’t want to. Hoped I wouldn’t. But in the end I had to. Cried my eyes out at the end of this episode of #Grantchester Farewell to #WillDavenport,” another shared.

A third admirer commented: “I’m 29 years old and it’s been a while since I cried at a TV show as hard as that,” while another stated: “Gosh, that was emotional. Great acting from @tombrittney and #robsongreen. #grantchester.”

Yet another fan expressed: “Am crying my eyes out at #Grantchester Grantchester! ! @GrantchesterUK.”

Tom has called it the “hardest decision of my life” to leave his role as Will. Speaking before the episode aired, he said: “I spent five or six years, and the happiest years of my career so far, in doing Grantchester and playing a character that had so much depth and complexity and it was just a happy place, I’m sure you’ll hear that phrase plenty of times I’m sure.”

“But I think all good things have to come to an end and I think it just felt like the right time to put a full stop, let’s say, on Will’s story and see where they took the story without him.”

“I think Will had such a passionate and fiery start and I think you saw him go through everything and come to a reasonably happy ending. As sad as it was to leave, I think he left in peace and that felt like a good place to end it.”

Grantchester is available to watch on ITVX