Coronation Street's Jane Danson won high praise after her heartbreaking episode on Friday as Leanne Battersby lost her son Oliver.
Oliver, three, died from a mitochondrial condition after being placed on life support, and doctors told Leanne and Steve McDonald, who is Oliver's father, that there was nothing more they could do.
Sitting at Oliver's bedside as his life support was switched off, Leanne told him: "It's alright, we are here, there's nothing to be scared of."
Steve said: "I love you son, I love you so much, not just us - everybody loves you, you're the most loved little boy in the whole wide world."
Sobbing, Leanne then began singing You Are My Sunshine, as Steve told her: "He likes it when you sing."
Leanne and Steve then sang the words together gently, as Oliver died, and his parents broke down in tears.
Next, Leanne stood outside on the street alongside Nick Tilsley and Tracey Barlow, looking at the houses on the street.
"Look at the lights nobody knows, watching TV, eating their tea, nobody knows," she said.
"Some people know," said Nick.
Steve asked Leanne: "Are you okay?" and she replied: "No, you?"
She then went and sat at Oliver's bed in his room, holding his pyjamas, before lying down and crying her heart out.
One viewer tweeted: "Utterly heartbreaking episode of #Corrie ahead. @RealJaneDanson is out of this world.
"I'm honoured to know her as a friend and colleague in this soap world but these scenes transcend drama into reality. Hold someone close. Xx".
" @RealJaneDanson @simongregson123 you guys must be exhausted from such a gruelling storyline but you have portrayed it so amazingly and broken the nations hearts in the process outstanding acting from both of you&all the others involved in the story. Bravo #Corrie doing this," penned another.
"Give @RealJaneDanson all the awards. The performance of a lifetime. #CoronationStreet #Corrie," added a third.
"Leanne & Steve singing sunshine to Oliver has finished me off. What a powerful and painful storyline!" said a fourth.
*Coronation Street's 60th anniversary week begins airing Monday 7th December on ITV
