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Jason Watkins praised for 'powerful' documentary about daughter's death from sepsis

Viewers thanked the actor and his wife for sharing their story

Julia Hunt
·Contributor
Updated ·2-min read
From ITV Wales JASON AND CLARA: IN MEMORY OF MAUDIE Thursday 30th March 2023 on ITV1 Pictured: Jason Watkins and his wife Clara Francis holding a picture of their daughter Maudie Actor Jason Watkins and his wife Clara Francis tell the emotional story of their daughter Maudie, who died suddenly aged just two and a half in the early hours of New Year’s Day 2011.  Maudie died of sepsis, a condition where the body’s immune system overreacts to an infection, causing it to go into overdrive and attack the body's tissues and organs.  Ever since the tragedy, Jason and Clara have been on a mission to raise awareness of sepsis and also to give hope to other bereaved parents.  Now, as the family are about to move from the flat where Maudie was born and died, they feel the time is right to tell their story and explore their grief.  Allowing the cameras to follow their personal journey, the couple have therapy together for the first time and meet other parents who have lost their children, in a bid to break taboos around talking about child bereavement. (C) ITV Wales For further information please contact Peter Gray Mob 07831460662 / peter.gray@itv.com This photograph is (C) ITV Wales and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned herein. Once made available by ITV plc Picture Desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the transmission [TX] date and no reproduction fee will be charged. Any subsequent usage may incur a fee. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms
Jason Watkins and his wife Clara with a picture of their daughter Maude. (ITV)

Jason Watkins fans have praised the actor for his “incredible courage” after he opened up about losing his two-year-old daughter to sepsis.

The Line Of Duty actor and his wife Clara lost Maude in 2011 and are committed to raising awareness of the condition.

They have now told their story in ITV documentary Jason & Clara: In Memory Of Maudie, which aired on Thursday (30 March).

Read more: Jason Watkins: Losing daughter to sepsis had cataclysmic effect on our family

Viewers said they were in tears watching the couple discuss their daughter and look through some of her belongings.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jason Watkins (@jasonwatkinsofficial)

Many also thanked the pair for their bravery in sharing such an important story.

“This is just the most perfect and beautiful tribute,” said one person on Twitter.

“So so grateful for the level of honesty and detail.”

Another said: “The thought of what you have all been through is heartbreaking and I admire your courage for highlighting the illness.”

From ITV Wales JASON AND CLARA: IN MEMORY OF MAUDIE Thursday 30th March 2023 on ITV1 Pictured: Jason Watkins Actor Jason Watkins and his wife Clara Francis tell the emotional story of their daughter Maudie, who died suddenly aged just two and a half in the early hours of New Year’s Day 2011.  Maudie died of sepsis, a condition where the body’s immune system overreacts to an infection, causing it to go into overdrive and attack the body's tissues and organs.  Ever since the tragedy, Jason and Clara have been on a mission to raise awareness of sepsis and also to give hope to other bereaved parents.  Now, as the family are about to move from the flat where Maudie was born and died, they feel the time is right to tell their story and explore their grief.  Allowing the cameras to follow their personal journey, the couple have therapy together for the first time and meet other parents who have lost their children, in a bid to break taboos around talking about child bereavement. (C) ITV Wales For further information please contact Peter Gray Mob 07831460662 / peter.gray@itv.com This photograph is (C) ITV Wales and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned herein. Once made available by ITV plc Picture Desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the transmission [TX] date and no reproduction fee will be charged. Any subsequent usage may incur a fee. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms
Jason Watkins' daughter died in 2011. (ITV)

“It was such a moving documentary, admire you both so much for sharing and trying to raise awareness,” said somebody else.

One viewer said they could not stop thinking about the film.

“I'm so sorry you lost little Maude, heartbreaking,” they tweeted.

“Thank you for your bravery. You and your family are an inspiration and will have helped many people going through similar pain I'm sure.”

Another fan said the programme was “unbelievably powerful”.

They went on: “I was one of the lucky ones, I was diagnosed and treated for sepsis while in hospital. I am sure your bravery will ultimately save lives.”

From ITV Wales JASON AND CLARA: IN MEMORY OF MAUDIE Thursday 30th March 2023 on ITV1 Pictured: emotional Jason Watkins with his wife Clara Francis Actor Jason Watkins and his wife Clara Francis tell the emotional story of their daughter Maudie, who died suddenly aged just two and a half in the early hours of New Year’s Day 2011.  Maudie died of sepsis, a condition where the body’s immune system overreacts to an infection, causing it to go into overdrive and attack the body's tissues and organs.  Ever since the tragedy, Jason and Clara have been on a mission to raise awareness of sepsis and also to give hope to other bereaved parents.  Now, as the family are about to move from the flat where Maudie was born and died, they feel the time is right to tell their story and explore their grief.  Allowing the cameras to follow their personal journey, the couple have therapy together for the first time and meet other parents who have lost their children, in a bid to break taboos around talking about child bereavement. (C) ITV Wales For further information please contact Peter Gray Mob 07831460662 / peter.gray@itv.com This photograph is (C) ITV Wales and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned herein. Once made available by ITV plc Picture Desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the transmission [TX] date and no reproduction fee will be charged. Any subsequent usage may incur a fee. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms
Viewers were moved by the documentary. (ITV)

“This documentary is utterly heartbreaking but so important,” another viewer chimed in.

“So much respect to @Jason__Watkins & @clarabetsy and all their family for doing this. I'm not sure I'd have the courage.”

Read more: Jason Watkins to star in detective drama

Watkins, 60, has previously said that losing Maude “had a cataclysmic effect” on their family.

Speaking on Loose Women in 2019, he said losing a child was like being “a very dark pit that you feel you can’t get out of”.

Watch: Actor on daughter's death from sepsis