The Archers fans were left on the edge of their seats last night after the normally stunned event BBC The radio drama made listeners fear that as many as four characters could be dead after a disaster.
Regular listeners to the Radio 4 program joked that they had to be 'under a general anaesthetic until tomorrow', while others said they were left 'wide awake' after the nerve-wracking episode.
Sunday's episode delves into Alice Carter's ongoing battle with alcoholism, which sees her pass out in her car after drinking a large bottle of vodka she grabbed from Joy Horville at the village shop.
Later that evening, young George Grundy comes across the barely conscious mother of a child in her car and decides to take Alice home while driving her car. But when Alice declares that she is going to get sick and tries to open the door of the moving vehicle, chaos ensues.
Horns are honking, cars swerve and collide, while loud thuds can be heard in the background. George then wails “oh no, oh no, oh god” as the car creaks until a loud splash is heard – as if something large has fallen into the water.
Sunday's episode delves into Alice Carter's ongoing battle with alcoholism, which sees her pass out in her car after drinking a large bottle of vodka. Pictured: actress Hollie Chapman
Young George Grundy (played by Angus Stobie in the picture) comes across the barely conscious mother of a child in her car and decides to take Alice home
Fans of The Archers were left on the edge of their seats last night after the normally sedate BBC radio drama left listeners fearing that as many as four characters could be dead
The splash is the last thing listeners hear of the episode, as The Archer's upbeat theme songs play.
The episode has kept fans of the show on edge as they try to figure out what actually happened — and who, if anyone, could be dead.
One fan wrote: 'Oh my god what the hell happened there? I need a general anesthetic until tomorrow.'
Another said: 'What a great cliffhanger tonight, can't wait to hear what really happened as a result of today's 'incident''.
A third added: 'Well that's a real cliffhanger as I have absolutely no idea what just happened there. I think I know, but I'm almost certainly wrong.'
However, others found the episode deeply disturbing and said it might put them off listening again.
One said: 'Think I'm going to stop listening. It's all too disturbing, especially on a Sunday night. I had a wonderful weekend in London and now I'm completely upset.'
The episode has kept fans of the show on edge as they try to figure out what actually happened – and who, if anyone, could be dead
Another added: I don't understand why Alice had to be such a cow (sorry!) as soon as she started drinking again. Down to earth, she was only mildly annoying.
“Are we supposed to feel like she deserves her fate? My alcoholic friends and family members were often kinder and gentler when they were drunk.”
Among the intrigue were a range of different theories about the outcome of the mysterious crash floating around last night.
“Alice may have sunk her last vodka, or at least the car,” one person wrote.
“I think it was Roy Tucker in the oncoming car. Hence the plot lines this week where Kate feared the worst and was sad for Chris. The return of a familiar face would be Phoebe,” said another.
Another listener agreed: “Didn't they kill Roy? In another car. The actor has passed away, so it could be a nice way to explain why the character won't appear again.”
Ian Pepperell, who played Roy Tucker in the Arches, tragically died in December at the age of 53 from complications of esophageal cancer.
Some suggested that Alice's ex-husband Chris and her young daughter Martha could also be involved in the situation. Pictured: Wilf Scolding, who plays Chris
Pictured: Charles Collingwood playing Brian Aldridge
Others suggested that Alice's ex-husband Chris and her young daughter Martha could also be involved in the situation.
“I thought Alice had crawled out of the car and gone over the edge, but now that I've listened again and heard the crackle of 'Some Moms Do 'Ave 'Em,' I wonder if Chris took Martha to see Alice, but “It got so late he took Martha home, sleeping in her car seat,” someone said.
Others wondered whether George had a valid driver's license or insurance to drive Alice's car home.
'The sad thing is that Alice knew she wouldn't be able to drive or even take charge anymore, hence the car keys in the glove compartment. George literally changed the course of things,” said another.
“Poor George will pay a heavy price for whatever happened. Some say he will walk away, which likely means an even higher price will have to be paid in the end. Not sure if I can handle the next week of episodes, but of course I'll be stuck with it,” one listener added.