Tiffany’s death in EastEnders, Rachel’s car crash in Cold Feet… and 8 other British telly moments that made us all cry
Warning: These heart-wrenching moments will leave you blubbing like a baby
FOOTAGE of baby turtles trapped in drains and run over by cars has been called the saddest film ever shown on TV.
Planet Earth II viewers were reduced to tears on Sunday night after watching the hatchlings distracted by city lights.
Scores of the reptiles died as they headed away from the sea off a Barbados beach, with Zach Desbiens calling it “the saddest TV scene I’ve ever seen”.
Others said the crew were “heartless” for failing to intervene. Alex Saker said: “Why are they filming poor turtles dying needlessly and not helping?”
The BBC said all stranded turtles were returned to the sea.
But that isn’t the only TV clip that's had viewers reaching for tissues; here we round up the 10 most mournful moments. Warning: You will cry. A lot.
1. Tiffany Mitchell’s death on EastEnders
Tiffany Mitchell’s time on Albert Square came to an abrupt end when she was tragically mown down by Frank Butcher on New Year’s Eve 1998.
The brunette took her final breath while lying on the snow in front of the Queen Vic.
The dramatic scene even bought a tear to her estranged husband Grant’s eye as he watched the heart-breaking events unfold while holding their young daughter, Courtney.
2. Del Boy’s tears on Only Fools And Horses
After Rodney marries Cassandra, Del Boy realises his little brother is all grown up and no longer needs him.
As everyone leaves the pub, poor Del is left all alone with Simply Red’s tear-inducing ‘Holding Back The Years’ playing in the background.
Probably the only time the nation has wept to a Mick Hucknall soundtrack.
3. Tim finally snogs Dawn in The Office
It was the moment we had waited 14 episodes for.
After fleeing with her nasty boyfriend Lee, Dawn stunned viewers by turning up at The Office Christmas party and snogging the face off her colleague Tim.
Ricky Gervais sure knows how to write a happy ending.
4. Rachel's tragic car crash in Cold Feet
Rachel and her husband Adam had battled infidelity, abortions, secret marriages and an against-the-odds birth of their first child.
Their relationship seemed to finally be on the right track when Rachel was killed in a horror car smash.
She took her eyes off the road to change a tape when an enormous lorry crashed into her.
The sad scene proved not all stories end well.
5. Holly Willoughby discussing her beloved cat
This Morning viewers were left sobbing after Holly Willoughby tried to fight back the tears while talking about her dead pet.
The much-loved TV presenter tried to put on a brave face while discussing the passing of her beloved family cat, Roxy.
Fans rushed to send her kind words on Twitter and co-host Ben Shephard gave her a tender hug.
6. The final scene of Blackadder Goes Forth
The slow motion charge, the emotion-provoking music and the way the final shot fades into a modern day provides the most poignant TV endings of all time.
The moment Blackadder wishes his friends good luck as they go over the top, probably to their deaths, is heart-wrenchingly sad.
7. Jack kisses Vera's ghost on Coronation Street
They were Corrie's golden couple thanks to their hilarious bickering and comedy moments.
So fans were left in bits when a ghost of Vera Duckworth appeared to give her husband Jack a kiss before his death.
In one of the show's most touching scenes, the pair are reunited as he passes away on his birthday - in the same favourite armchair where she had died two years previously.
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8. Denise has a baby on The Royle Family
It was the poignant scene that reduced the nation to tears when it was screened on Christmas Day.
Sitting on the bathroom floor as she went into labour, Denise Royle sobbed with only dad Jim to comfort her.
But then he put his arms around her, planted a gentle kiss on her forehead and told her everything would be OK.
Actors Ricky Tomlinson and Caroline Aherne later admitted the tears they shed in the scene were real because it was "so special" to them both.
9. Lady Sybil passes away on Downton Abbey
Downton Abbey fans gasped at their TVs following the shock death of Lady Sybil.
The departure of actress Jessica Brown Findlay allowed producers to conjure up one of the most dramatic moments in the long-running ITV series.
Lady Sybil passed away from eclampsia shortly after giving birth to her daughter.
10. A baby elephant dies watched on by its distraught mum on Africa
David Attenborough's Africa portrayed some of the most dramatic animal scenes ever to be shown on British TV.
In one episode of the BBC documentary, a mother elephant watched as her calf died at her feet.
The clip closed with the mum wandering alone through the sand, looking for her herd.