Grantchester viewers were left in tears after Reverend Will Davenport bid farewell following five years on the show, with some saying it had ‘been a while since I cried as hard as that’.

Wednesday night saw the hit ITV detective drama return for the second episode of its ninth season and featured a major plot twist.

The latest instalment saw Will, who is played by Tom Brittney, and DI Geordie Keating (Robson Green) set out to investigate another death in the village.

The pair were left puzzled when an abandoned baby was found on the same day that a H๏τel manager in the area died. 

But it was the departure of fan favourite Will which caused the biggest stir, with social media awash with emotional viewers. 

Tom, 34, joined the popular show to play the new lead character for its fourth series in 2019 after roles in Outlander, The Syndicate and Humans.  

Grantchester viewers were left in tears after Reverend Will Davenport (played by Tom Brittney, right) bid farewell to Geordie Keating (Robson Green, left)

The latest instalment saw Will and Geordie set out to investigate another death in the village and the next will see Rishi Nair (right) arrive as Revd Alphy Kotteram

He made the decision to leave the show in 2023, explaining that it was ‘time for the baton to be pᴀssed’.

Fans of Grantchester are less than happy, however, following the airing of his final episode, with one gutted fan taking to X to say: ‘I’m 29 years old and it’s been a while since I cried at a TV show as hard as that.’ 

Another posted, ‘#Will and #Geordie’s friendship is beautiful. And watching Will leave is the heartbreaking evening I was completely not ready for.’

A third added: ‘Wow, Geordie to Will “I love you” and Will “I love you too”. And he made Geordie proud every day.’

One viewer simply said: ‘Yes I had a little cry.’ 

Another heartbroken fan added: ‘I’m not ready for Tom Brittney to leave and to say goodbye to Will.’

A sixth posted: ‘I didn’t cry but there were a few tears in my eyes, I’ll miss Will but looking forward to seeing the new vicar in action.’ 

Last week, some users compared the loss of Revd Davenport to that of his predecessor Revd Sidney Chambers, played by James Norton.

The departure of fan favourite Will caused the biggest stir, with social media awash with emotional viewers

One user posted: ‘Love #grantchester being back I’m going to miss Will, I preferred him to Sidney (maybe a controversial opinion) tbh.’

Another added: ‘Will miss Tom as I did James.’ 

One fan said: ‘I miss Sidney.’

The new season also featured the arrival of former Hollyoaks star Rishi Nair as new vicar Alphy Kottaram after it was announced in July 2023 that the 33-year-old would be joining the cast.

After the confusion of the abandoned baby in the latest hour, things were complicated further when Will announced his departure and bade an emotional farewell to Geordie. 

Fans will have to wait until Wednesday January 22 for the next instalment, when episode three airs on ITV.

The hour will focus on teething issues surrounding Alphy’s arrival, before the new vicar teams up with Geordie in a bid to solve the latest murder in the village.  

There will be eight episodes in season nine in total, each an hour long.

Robson revealed he was mobbed by ‘2,000 super fans’ in Las Vegas last summer for his role in Grantchester

The English actor, 60, plays the role of Geordie and threw himself into the action as filming got underway for the ninth series

At the time of quitting, Tom explained: ‘I’ve had the most incredible time playing Will Davenport for the last five years. I got to solve crimes with my best friend, and work with the best cast and crew I could ever ask for.

‘I’ll miss it more than anything. But it’s time for the baton to be pᴀssed, as it once was to me, and I’m so excited for Rishi to join the Grantchester family.’

Last week, Robson revealed he was mobbed by ‘2,000 super fans’ in Las Vegas last summer for his role in Grantchester.

Based on the Grantchester Mysteries novels by James Runcie, the ITV series has become a hit on both sides of the Atlantic – and Robson has amᴀssed a crowd of US fans in the process.

Read More Grantchester star Robson Green reveals he was mobbed by ‘2,000 super fans’ in Las Vegas

Speaking to The Mirror, Robson said: ‘Rishi (Nair) and I went to a press launch of Grantchester in Las Vegas last summer and were expecting about 100 people tops, but about 2,000 super fans turned up. 

‘It was like being at a Taylor Swift concert… it was so surreal.’

Robson revealed that he enjoys getting to speak to US fans about the show, as he added: ‘We spent a lot of time talking to them. 

‘It really reinforced the love and joy and happiness I have for this show, because it just transcends so many barriers and has so many universal themes.’

Grantchester airs on ITV and is available to stream on ITVX.