‘If 2016 takes Baptiste I'm done’: The Missing fans panic over the fate of former detective Julien - as the mystery of Alice Webster is no closer to being solved

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This year has been been pretty tumultuous to say the least, but those wanting to escape into a world of mystery and murder have been more than satisfied with BBC's compelling drama The Missing.

But that happiness didn't last long as last night's episode sent viewers into a blind panic over the fate of much-loved former detective Julien Baptiste, played by Tchéky Karyo.

His deteriorating health, due to an aggressive brain tumour, has been holding back his investigation into the abductions of Alice Webster and Sophie Giroux, and it all became too much.

During the exciting climax of last night's episode Julien made yet another link to Nadia Herz, the wife of butcher Kristian (jailed for Alice’s abduction) a former British Army officer

He thinks she holds the key to solving the case, and ended up brandishing a knife at her in her own home as she threatened to call the police

Julien Baptiste lost his cool with Brigadier Adrien Stone during last night's episode of The Missing as he tries his hardest to crack the case of who Alice Webster really is

Viewers are threatening drastic action if the BBC decide to kill off the much-loved former detective Julien Baptiste before the mystery is solved

Exploding with frustration at the ailing Brigadier Adrien Stone (Roger Allam), Baptiste then lost it even further when he began hallucinating his wife, his daughter and a man who had been following him in Iraq.

Baptiste has been plagued with hallucinations as he tries to juggle solving the case and his deteriorating health

He then made a link to Nadia Herz, the wife of butcher Kristian (jailed for Alice’s abduction) a former British Army officer, who may have served in Iraq with Brigadier Stone and another officer, Henry Reed (who is also dead, after apparently shooting himself). 

Nadia was brutally beaten after her husband’s arrest, by masked vigilantes, and lost her front teeth in the attack, but as Baptiste discovered her name keeps cropping up.

He visited her at her home and threatened her with a knife after claiming that she holds vital information to cracking the case. 

The parallel timelines are still as confusing as ever, but with two more episodes left of the most-complicated crime ever written, fans are stressed at Baptiste's abilities to get the job done.

'If Julien Baptiste figures it out and then dies without telling anyone it will sum up how bad 2016 has been #themissing' said one worried viewer.

Another echoed the same sentiment forgetting the puzzling case of the girls momentarily: '#TheMissing I'm not even trying to figure out who or what Alice is I'm more worried that Baptiste is going to die.' 

Referring to the numerous celebrity deaths that have happened throughout the year, from icons David Bowie to Prince, as well as much-loved actor Alan Rickman and comedian Victoria Wood, others were worried the BBC would do the worst thing imaginable.

'If 2016 takes Baptiste I'm done #TheMissing,' stated one.

One fan begged: 'Please don't let 2016 take Baptiste from us!! #TheMissing.'

'If Baptiste finds out what happened to Alice Webster and Sophie Giroux but then dies without telling anyone I am suing #TheMissing' threatened another.

Emotions were running high for one poster who said: '2016 has taken enough from us so please don't take Julien Baptiste #TheMissing'

People have invested a lot into the BBC show with one viewer offering her services: 'Nahhh if Baptiste dies before solving this case, I will go and find Sophie myself #themissing'

'Only 2 weeks for Baptiste to solve everything, get back to have the lifesaving op and restore 2016 to some form of glory. #TheMissing' mused one Twitter poster.

'My entire happiness hinges on Julien BAEptiste solving this case. #TheMissing' commented another.

Fans of Baptiste are stressed over whether he will make it to the end of the second series and are wishing and hoping he will beat his brain tumour

The former detective was plagued with hallucinations

Baptiste went to visit Alice's mum Gemma Webster (Keeley Hawes) in last night's episode in the 2015 timeline to discuss the rollercoaster images which were referred to in previous episodes

 A third girl was discovered by German detective Jorn Lenhart, who met his grisly death by drill in the dramatic climax from last week, as he pieced together who the culprit was

The drama has been shifting back and forth between the events surrounding Alice's disappearance, her return, and the present day – by which time she is dead.

Baptiste has been on the hunt to discover who the one girl that remains alive is, but viewers know that she really is Sophie Giroux after press officer Adam Getterick confirmed during a tense phone call.

Getterick murdered German detective Jorn Lernhart after he discovered the connection between a third missing girl seen in an image of them all attending a theme park.

He met his grisly end at the end of episode five, but Baptiste doesn't know it yet and as he creeps closer towards discovering who Getterick has hiding in his house - it's leaving viewers on the edge of their seat.

The Missing returns next Wednesday on BBC1 at 9pm