Duffy (Cathy Shipton) was feeling distressed on tonight’s instalment of Casualty as her dementia symptoms worsened.
She started to feel confused as she struggled to recognise husband Charlie Fairhead (Derek Thompson).
Charlie accompanied his wife to a residential care home, where he felt that she would be better looked after.
But distressing scenes ensued as Duffy confused Charlie with her former lover Bill Crowthers (Clive Wood).
She asked Charlie if he was Bill and a distraught Charlie replied: “It’s me, Charlie.”
Duffy then got increasingly upset when Charlie asked her when was the last time she visited the sea, as he tried to make her feel more comfortable at the seaside care home.
Duffy got upset as she struggled to remember when she last went to the seaside, seeing Charlie quickly step in and apologise.
He said reassuringly: “So sorry, it wasn’t a trick question. It was last year.”
Duffy responded: “Oh yes of course.”
She then asked: “Where is your case? I knew you’d leave it in the car. And you say I forget things!”
A worried Charlie replied: “Darling, you do know this isn’t a hotel.”
Later on, after Duffy had been at the care home for a few hours, she started to worry about her where she was. It came after she panicked about seeing the bandage on her hand.
She looked down at it and started to scream.
Charlie said: “You burned it on the oven when you were cooking my dinner.”
A disorientated Duffy responded: “What is this place?”
Charlie tried to soothe her and said: “Love we decided this place was for the best, we talked about it you and I.”
Viewers were devastated by the heartbreaking scenes and flocked to Twitter to share their thoughts.
One social networker said: “This Duffy storyline is heartbreaking.”
While another continued: “Duffy looks terrified – my heart.”
A third added: “This dementia storyline is so upsetting. I love Duffy and Charlie.”
Casualty continues next Saturday at 9.15pm on BBC One