Outcry after grisly death on Doctor Who (spoilers)

Jenna Coleman and Peter Capaldi in Doctor Who.

Warning: This story contains spoilers ...

The death of a main character on Doctor Who has left viewers shocked and sad - with many saying the shock ending left them in tears.

Viewers hit out at the show for killing off the Doctor's sidekick, Clara Oswald, played by Jenna Coleman, in an episode that screened in the UK over the weekend, reported The Daily Mail.

The Doctor, played by Peter Capaldi, was forced to watch as Oswald was killed by the deadly raven known as "Quantum Spirit" - an evil figure that had been chasing her for several episodes.

The Independent called it a "shock ending" to Coleman's character, while The Daily Mail said it was "horrific".

Fans took to Twitter to complain about the "empty and useless" death, and the early viewing time of the episode that affected younger viewers.

Many said the scene left them in tears.

Couldn't hold back the tears. Goodbye Clara 😔 #doctorwho

— Lynsey (@_lynsb) November 22, 2015

Omg #FaceTheRaven that episode killed me... You can't have doctor who without Clara omg 😭 @bbcdoctorwho

— clarissa (@clarissa_lj) November 22, 2015

I'm sad that there was nothing heroic about Clara's death. She was brave, but her death was empty and useless. #DoctorWho

— Grace (@gymnastgrace) November 22, 2015

Clara's dead. No.I'm crying.This is not possible.Clara's dead. Okay moffat...funny....now you're gonna save her again.Am i wrong?#DoctorWho

— burke's anatomy (@cumbercookie5) November 22, 2015

Showrunner Steven Moffat defended the scene to Sunday People, saying it was a scary sequence, but not harrowing.

"You have to be responsible about it - that doesn't mean it isn't shocking or troubling. But it is not like children learn about the realities of people dying from Doctor Who."

Coleman has appeared in three seasons of Doctor Who and admitted to Sunday People she was shocked by her character's death.

"It did not go in the direction I thought it was going to. But it's really cool and different, and good, I think. And sad ... I couldn't stop crying after I filmed my final scenes - it was ridiculous to get emotional. I'd planned all these things I wanted to say but only got two words out."

In New Zealand, Doctor Who screens on Prime TV on Sunday nights.

Capaldi is in Auckland for a fan event on Tuesday night.

- nzherald.co.nz