The team behind Call the Midwife has been praised by viewers of the BBC show after Sunday's episode tackled a highly sensitive subject and had fans in floods of tears. The period drama follows a group of nurse midwives working in the East End of London in the late 1950s and 1960s.
In the latest episode, one midwife, Sister Veronica, visits the Talbot family, made up of Sandy - who has just married Joe Talbot - and her children, Peter and Ann Marie. However, during the episode Sandy reveals that she is a victim of emotional, physical and sexual abuse within her marriage. Later in the episode, Sandy is seen the taking matter to the police - however, her reporting of such a crime cannot be acted on as, as she is told, "the offence does not exist". She is later told that: "Legally, rape is only grounds for divorce if the husband rapes another woman, not his wife. Also, because you've been married for under three years, you will have to prove exceptional hardship or depravity."
Read more: BBC Call The Midwife star says tough storylines made filming new series a challenge
