EastEnders' Chantelle Atkins died an agonising death on Friday's episode at the hands of her evil husband Gray.
Viewers have known for a while that Chantelle (Jessica Plummer) was going to killed off in a horror abuse storyline after trying to leave Gray (Toby-Alexander Smith).
But Gray found out she was trying to leave after he overheard her on the phone to Kheerat Panesar, and her plan to escape to a refuge fell apart.
Gray presumed Chantelle was having an affair with Kheerat (Jaz Deol) and forced her to leave him a voicemail telling him she had changed her mind and that she loved Gray.
Kheerat heard the message and tried to call Chantelle back, but his battery died and they were unable to reach each other.
Chantelle managed to placate Gray by apologising, but then he caught her desperately trying to call Kheerat again, and saw her spare phone and money for her escape, and he flipped.
Chantelle finally spoke up to Gray and admitted she was leaving him and that she didn't love him any more.
He told her he would never let her take the children, and threatened to strangle them in front of her, rather than let them leave.
Gray chased Chantelle around the house in horrifying scenes, before she told him: "You can cancel my bank cards, you can push me around, you can beat me black and blue but you will never win because I don't love you any more.
"I lost your baby and I was glad.
"Look at you, what woman would want to be with a man like you?
"Weak, pathetic. The only mistake I made was staying this long."
She told Gray she would scream if he tried to stop her leaving with the children there and then.
"You're not going anywhere!" he shouted back, before pushing her with all his strength.
He shoved her so hard she fell into the open shelf of the dishwasher and landed on the floor, impaled by broken crockery, knives, and pieces of the machine.
Chantelle lay in agonising pain, her life slipping away, while Gray contemplated calling for help but decided against it as he realised the evidence in the room added up against him.
Chantelle called out Gray's name and he promised he would go and get help.
She was left to bleed out on the kitchen floor, with her children upstairs, unable to shout for help.
One tweeted: "The way Gray's tucking the kids in whilst Chantelle is slowly dying... @bbceastenders #Eastenders ".
Another added: "That has to be the scariest thing I've even seen in #EastEnders. #SpEEkOut ".
"Chantelle fought in the end and she stood up for herself and I’m proud but f’n sad #Eastenders ". penned a third.
A fourth pointed out: "If he fetches someone whilst she’s still alive he knows she will drop him in it. If he leaves her to die, who can say any different. Imagine having a mind that works like that. Despicable, evil rat. #Eastenders ".
A fifth added: "fully distraught watching #eastenders, poor chantelle, her poor kids jess plummer is phenomenal".
The entire scene was shot using clever camerawork as the two actors had to remain two metres apart from each other, but it was undetectable due to camera angles.
When the characters' hands touched, only a close up shot was used, which may indicate the soap used body doubles who may have been a member of the same bubble.
If you have been affected by this story you can call the national domestic abuse helpline on 0808 2000 247, or visit Women’s Aid at https://www.womensaid.org.uk/.
* EastEnders airs Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays on BBC One.
