<P> In the series three (December 2014) opener, set on Valentine's Day the following year, Caroline proposes marriage to Kate, wishing to make their union official . She is faced with hostility both from Celia, who is prejudiced about Caroline's new family unit, and from bullies at her school who target Lawrence . A depressed Celia uses the discovery of Alan's illegitimate son Gary (Rupert Graves) as an excuse not to attend the wedding . When Alan turns up at the wedding alone, Caroline lashes out at him, telling him that there is now no point him being there . In episode three (2015), Kate and Caroline exchange vows in the company of friends and colleagues . Caroline is devastated when Kate is fatally injured in a car - accident the next day . Alan and Celia arrive at the hospital to emotionally support Caroline; they learn that Kate's daughter has been delivered alive . Caroline struggles to manage her grief following Kate's funeral, and begins imagining conversations with her deceased spouse . Unwilling to give up her career to become a full - time single mother, she hires an ex-pupil Holly (Cara Theobold) to become baby Flora's nanny . In episode five Caroline is incredulous when, six weeks after Kate's death, John suggests they get back together . When Holly is revealed to be an alcoholic, Caroline turns to Flora's biological father to help out with childcare . </P> <P> The role resulted in Lancashire receiving the most fan mail of her career, much of it from gay women who had similar experiences of coming out later in life . Lancashire was surprised and humbled by the responses from women stating that Caroline's same sex relationship had personally inspired them . One of the letters she received was from a woman who had stated that the series had helped her come out to her own mother, after watching the whole series with her . Lancashire has received two nominations for the British Academy Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in both 2013 and 2014, winning in 2014 . Reflecting on the award later in 2014, Lancashire stated that it came as "a lovely thing, to have your work recognised by your peers, but it was a big shock and wasn't expected ." </P> <P> Critical reception to the character and her portrayal has also been strongly positive . Jill Guccini of After Ellen described the climax of the first series as a "dramatic, absolutely stunningly acted and fabulously written crescendo" and ranked Caroline as one of her "favorite lesbian characters ever". Reviewing the second episode of the third series, Neela Debnath of The Independent felt that Lancashire delivered the best performance in the series, in turn becoming the "real matriarch of the show". Alison Graham of the Radio Times praised the episode following Kate's death, stating that some of the scenes between Celia and Caroline "will take away pieces of your heart". Discussing the same episode, a reviewer for What's on TV stated that Lancashire gave "another masterclass in acting with a sublime, yet understated, performance throughout". However, Wainwright's narrative decision to make Caroline a widow drew criticism from some quarters; Kaite Welsh writing in The Guardian felt the writer had decided to "(privilege) a toxic biological relationship over a happy queer marriage". </P>

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