One Day author David Nicholls is revealed as the screenwriter of THAT episode in the Netflix series that left people 'emotionally devastated' – and viewers are joking that he should 'pay for their therapy'

Fans of Netflix's One Day have jokingly thanked the book's original author David Nicholls for 'making the family cry' after it was revealed he wrote the screenplay for the penultimate episode.

The streaming giant revealed on X, formerly Twitter, that Nicholls, who wrote the novel in 2009, had helmed the 13th installment, leaving fans heartbroken.

As fans reached the final parts of the love story between university friends Emma (Ambika Mod) and Dexter (Leo Woodall), they took to social media in tears saying they will 'never get more'. about' the end.

The thirteenth episode sees the couple, who have been dating for three years after circling the idea of ​​romance for more than a decade, argue when Emma expresses her frustration at having trouble conceiving.

They arrange to meet later in the day for a house viewing while they look for a space suitable for a large family – but on the way to the viewing Emma is knocked off her bike and tragically dies .

Now Netflix has revealed that it was the original author, David Nicholls, who helped bring the heartbreaking episode to life.

The streaming service's UK and Irish account tweeted: “Fun fact: Episode 13 of #OneDayNetflix (yes, that episode) was written by the original author.”

It added a quote from Nicholls himself, who said: 'The great gift was having the actors in their places, watching them and hearing their voices and intonations – an amalgamation of writing for Em and Dex and Ambika and Leo. Just bliss.”

In the penultimate episode of the series, Emma (Ambika Mod, pictured) and Dexter argue about fertility before disaster strikes

The book's original author David Nicholls (pictured) said working with Mod and Woodall on the episode was an 'amazing gift'

Reacting to the revelation, fans praised the book's original author for writing an episode so heartbreaking it left them in a “puddle of tears.”

One person joked: 'Well I'm emotionally devastated so I'd say you did a great job.'

Another said: 'I hope David is willing to pay my therapy bills because after episode 13 I was a puddle of tears!'

“I felt so anxious watching that whole episode. It was brilliantly done. The last one though is the one that really broke me,” one person wrote, to which Nicholls himself replied: “Yes, 14 is great. Nicole [Taylor, the series’ head writer] I think I've written something great.'

Viewers of the series took to X, formerly Twitter, to joke that Nicholls' writing had left them 'emotionally destroyed'

Viewers praised the 'beautiful' episode and joked that Nicholls was 'to blame' for leaving them in tears.

One joked: “Thanks for making my whole family cry, I really appreciate it!”

The series follows the friendship between Emma Morley and Dexter Mayhew, revisiting them on St Swithin's Day, July 15, every year from 1988 to 2007.

They meet for the first time at their graduation party at the University of Edinburgh and spend the night together – but do not have sex.

The pair decide to become friends and remain incredibly close, but as the years pass, viewers desperately want the characters to realize they are madly in love and get together forever.

Viewers were left devastated in the 13th episode when Emma died suddenly, three years after the couple finally started dating – and in the 14th and final episode, Dexter struggles with his grief.

Ahead of the series' release, Nicholls revealed his writing process for the 2009 novel in The Sunday times.

He revealed that he was at a point in his career where he had 'stumbled as a screenwriter' and some of his series were not renewed, and this led him to explore fiction.

But after writing two novels, Starter for Ten and The Understudy, he wasn't sure where to go when exploring his third novel.

Inspiration struck after he was given the opportunity to adapt Thomas Hardy's Tess of the d'Urbervilles – a tragic tale of fate in which heartbreaking events seem to be written in the stars for the eponymous character, leaving the reader wondering: 'if only'.

He revealed that he is “proud and grateful” for the novel's reception and is aware that it is the most famous of all six of his books.

“When people occasionally say, 'I enjoyed your book,' I know which book they mean,” he said.

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Nicholls also said that he never wanted to write the screenplay for the entire series.

'I spent so much time on it. “It felt like it needed a new set of eyes, but it was bliss,” he said.