During the episode (3 October), we watched as Gemma (Suranne Jones) prevented her ex-husband, Simon (Bertie Carvel), from committing suicide. While she would never be willing to “forgive” his affair, she told him, she would be willing to “forget” it for the sake of their son, Tom.

Unfortunately, though, Tom (Tom Taylor) had other ideas. Gemma soon discovered that her teenager, sick of his dramatically feuding parents and their vindictive games, had run away from home in order to estrange himself from them entirely.

The show ended with the titular character breaking the fourth wall as she addressed her son directly, pleading with him to come home whenever he was ready to do so (a directorial move questioned by some fans on social media).

Now, though, show writer Mike Bartlett has revealed that the show’s original ending was very different – and far more hopeful than the one which made its way onto our screens.

The alternative ending for Doctor Foster 2 has been revealed