Call The Midwife had viewers in tears last night as the BBC show aired Trixie's emotional speech demanding abortion rights.
The period drama, which is set in 1966 this series, centred around Trixie (Helen George) as she made an impassioned speech about abortion being legalised, speaking on the radio against two men who opposed the proposed bill.
Trixie had a personal connection to the cause after having seen the result of backstreet abortions through her work, as abused women with multiple children came into her care with horrific psychological and mental side-effects.
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And it was because of this she was pushed to call for abortion to be legalised.
Watch a clip of her plea below:
During the show, we first saw Trixie penning an open letter to the Guardian, in which she made her thoughts clear.
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While many of the nuns she worked with weren't happy with her views, or the fact she aired them publicly, she pushed on - even fighting against two men who had anti-abortion views on the radio.
As she appeared on the show, the BBC radio host and a lawyer both said that they "didn't feel it was necessary" to make the law change.
But Trixie fired back: "No doctor would subject a patient to a medical procedure that carries risks unless they felt it was necessary. No doctor would consider termination, likely it's very often the last resort.
"These changes are being proposed to allow doctors to use their professional discretion when faced with women in desperate straits and to stop them from being castigated as criminals.
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"Most babies are loved and wanted, but there are women who find themselves in situations that are harmful to their health and to their sanity, they simply cannot cope, they are living in dreadful social conditions with no hope and no money. How can that be beneficial to any child?"
Trixie was then asked by one of the men why society didn't just "change their conditions" (which is the million pound question, if you ask us).
"Why can't we do both?," she replied."I'm not here to speak for all midwives, just for myself. And all I know is what I've seen; women bleeding to death in dirty rooms up back alleys, women desperate to avoid the stigma of an unplanned baby - and there is still stigma.
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"I know that this is a question of conscience and my conscience tells me that this bill should pass."
Reacting to the scenes as they aired, viewers praised Call The Midwife for highlighting the important issue, and making such a powerful case for abortion rights, which is still prevalent and tangible for many women across the world, today.
One wrote: "I am so grateful that the Abortion Act 1967 gave women the right to have a legal abortion.
"Circumstances are different for everybody and no-one should ever feel judged or prosecuted for going down that route... thank you @CallTheMidwife1 for this storyline! #CallTheMidwife".
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As another penned: "The likes of Trixie drove significant social change for women, great to see #CalltheMidwife focusing a storyline on the Abortion Act in 1967."
A third wrote: "Trixie standing up for women across the world. Just beautiful. No more being silenced and judged. Your body, your choice. #CallTheMidwife".
Meanwhile, some were even left sobbing at the important TV scenes, with one writing: "Trixie's radio interview has me in tears. #callthemidwife".
As another penned: "I've seen every episode of #CallTheMidwife and loved them all but tonight's just blew me away.
"I often shed a few tears but tonight's episode left me shaken and the tears came afterwards. Fabulous television. Thank you to everyone involved".
"Call The Midwife makes me either want to stand up and cheer or cry most weeks, and this week it was both," someone else concurred.
"Trixie standing up for a woman's right to safe abortions, and Dr Turner being such a forward-thinking feminist, even in 1966. Just brilliant writing every week."
The Abortion Act was passed in 1967, and legalised abortions on certain grounds when passed by registered practitioners across Great Britain, except for Northern Ireland.
Seen as a monumental feminist moment in history, it also regulated the tax-paid provision of abortions, and other essential medical practices, through the NHS.
Before this, supplying the means for abortion, helping in any way or self inducing abortion was illegal under the Offences Against the Person Act, from 1861, and could land you a life sentence in prison.
The Infant Life Preservation Act 1929 also criminalised abortion by making an offence of 'child destruction.'
It stated that abortion could go ahead only in 'exceptional circumstances', such as in 1938 when a 14-year-old girl was gang-raped and became suicidal after falling pregnant.
However, overall, women still had minimal rights to abort a baby ahead of the later established Abortion Act, which is still in place (with new amendments) today.
The tenth season of Call The Midwife is showing the push from several brave and trailblazing women, calling for the act to be passed.
Meanwhile, season 11 will show the moment it gets approval, in October 1967.
Featured Image Credit: BBCTopics: TV News, TV Entertainment, abortion