Back in June 1985, Australia came very close to having a shortage of Kleenex after the nation collectively sobbed their way through the tragic death of beloved A Country Practice character, Molly Jones.
Indeed, this coming week marks 40 years to the day since Molly, played by actress Anne Tenney, drew her last breath and succumbed to leukaemia. The milestone anniversary will no doubt come as a shock to A Country Practice fans, who can recall Molly’s death like it was yesterday.
Molly’s death played out over two nights, on June 4 and June 5, on Channel Seven. The episodes were watched by an estimated 2.2 million viewers. Four decades on, her passing continues to be voted as the saddest death scene in Australian television history.
How did Molly die on A Country Practice?
Few who watched Molly’s final moments could ever forget the tragic scene.
‘Mad Molly’, as she’d been nicknamed by the locals of Wandin Valley, drifted away on a couch in a field, as her husband, Brenda, and toddler daughter Chloe (as played by Anne’s now real-life partner, Shane Withington, and child star Emily Nicol) flew a kite nearby.
Mustering every ounce of strength within her ravaged body, Molly raises her arm to wave to her husband and daughter.
The scene then switches to Molly’s perspective, watching the pair play, before the screen slowly fades away to black, mimicking her eyes shutting for the last time. Brendan turns back around to look and, realising what is happening, sprints towards his wife, screaming ‘Mollllyyyy!”. Cue the waterworks!
Why did A Country Practice producers kill Molly off?
Molly was one of A Country Practice’s original characters, having been part of the soap since it began in 1981.
From the moment she hit screens, Molly (and Anne!) was a firm favourite among fans. So, when the actress chose to leave the soap mid-way through Season 5, after four and a half years – so as not to be “typecast”– her exit was always destined to be a big storyline.
For Molly’s exit, the show’s writers were inspired by the 1983 film Terms of Endearment, which saw Debra Winger’s character Emma being diagnosed with, and ultimately dying from, cancer.
Molly’s storyline played out over 10 weeks, starting with doctors informing her of the leukemia, and ending with her death. Even though viewers knew it was coming, it was still a shock when it finally happened.
In the week leading up to the episodes airing, full-page newspaper adverts ran saying, “Thanks for everything, Molly.” Anne has since admitted that she left the country at the time to avoid the intense reaction.
In memory of Molly, we’ve compiled the top saddest TV deaths of fictional characters to ever play out on Aussie screens below.
The saddest Aussie TV deaths of all time
Maggie Doyle, Blue Heelers
The nation gasped when Lisa McCune’s much-loved constable was shot dead by her own brother, Mick, in February 2000.
Lou Jackson, Love My Way
Eight-year-old Lou (Alex Cook) dies suddenly, and her mum Frankie (Claudia Karvan) was destroyed. The episode aired in 2008, with Claudia’s performance receiving deserved praise.
Claire McLeod, McLeod’s Daughters
In 2003, Claire (Lisa Chappell) sacrificed herself to save her sister Tess (Bridie Carter) and baby Charlotte after their ute crashed over a cliff. Making the scene even more devastating was the fact that Alex (Aaron Jeffrey) was going to propose to Claire later that day.
Patrick Reid, Offspring
Patrick (Matthew Le Nevez) was hit by a car on the way to his partner Nina’s (Asher Keddie) baby shower. They rushed him to the hospital, but he couldn’t be saved. Sob!
Grace Sullivan, The Sullivans
The beloved matriarch of the Melbourne-based family was killed by an air raid bomb in London while visiting her injured son John (Andrew McFarlane). After Grace (Lorraine Bayly) left the WWII-set drama in 1979, ratings declined, and The Sullivans ended in 1982.
