Grey's Anatomy

Patrick Dempsey has clarified rumours that he is planning to leave Grey's Anatomy.

Dempsey, who has played Dr. Derek Shepherd since the show began in 2005, recently told Vanity Fair Italia that he expects to depart the series after the upcoming eighth season.

"[Season eight] is going to be my last," he told the magazine. "I do not know what's going to happen to the other characters, but for me it's done.

"It's been great and a great part of my life. But I can't see me doing it anymore."

However, Dempsey's representative has now told Entertainment Weekly that the star is not sure about his future on the show.

"He was referring to the fact that his contract is up at the end of next season and we have no idea what the future holds," the spokesperson said.

Ellen Pompeo, who plays Dempsey's on-screen wife Meredith, has also previously said that she is expecting to leave Grey's Anatomy after the eighth season when her contract expires.

Meanwhile, the show's executive producer Shonda Rhimes has acknowledged that the next run may be the last for some of the stars and revealed that she plans to focus on the original cast members in the new episodes.

Grey's Anatomy will return for its eighth season in the fall on ABC. The seventh season finale airs in the UK tonight at 10pm on Sky Living.

Grey's Anatomy star Sarah Drew and her husband Peter Lanfer are expecting a baby.

A rep for Drew confirmed that the star is due to give birth to her and Lanfer's first child in January 2012.

Grey's Anatomy producers have "not determined" whether the actress's pregnancy will be written into the ABC series's eighth season as yet, E! News reports.

Drew plays Seattle Grace's Dr April Kepner, a virgin who has vowed to abstain from sex until she meets the right partner.

Drew's Grey's Anatomy co-star Eric Dane's wife Rebecca Gayheart is also reportedly pregnant with the couple's second child.

Grey's Anatomy returns for its eighth season on Thursday, September 22.

Debbie Allen has been cast in the upcoming season of Grey’s Anatomyplaying Catherine Avery who is Jackson Avery’s mom

Grey's Anatomy's Eric Dane is leaving the show after six seasons.

The actor, who plays Dr Mark Sloan - otherwise known as 'McSteamy' - has decided to leave the medical drama to pursue other opportunities.

Speaking to TVLine, Dane said: "I am extremely grateful to everyone at Grey's, ABC and Shondaland for the experience and memories I have had over the course of this run.

"It has been wonderful to work alongside and learn from a creative force such as Shonda Rhimes."

The end of last season saw Dr Sloan's soul mate Lexie pass away from injuries suffered in the plane crash, which caused Sloan to suffer a cardiac arrest, only to be saved by quick-thinking Cristina (Sandra Oh).

At the time, showrunner Shonda Rhimes hinted that more departures could be on the horizon, saying: "Just because you saw people alive at the end of the finale doesn't mean they're going to be alive when the season starts up."

Rhimes hailed Dane in a statement, calling 'McSteamy' - Dr Sloan's affectionate nickname on the show - "one of the most beloved characters on Grey's Anatomy".

She added: "We're a big family here at Grey's with a long history together and Eric will always remain an important part of our family.

"I wish him the best and I look forward to watching him as he continues to steam up the big and small screen."

Grey's Anatomy's Eric Dane is leaving the show after six seasons.

The actor, who plays Dr Mark Sloan - otherwise known as 'McSteamy' - has decided to leave the medical drama to pursue other opportunities.

Speaking to TVLine, Dane said: "I am extremely grateful to everyone at Grey's, ABC and Shondaland for the experience and memories I have had over the course of this run.

"It has been wonderful to work alongside and learn from a creative force such as Shonda Rhimes."

The end of last season saw Dr Sloan's soul mate Lexie pass away from injuries suffered in the plane crash, which caused Sloan to suffer a cardiac arrest, only to be saved by quick-thinking Cristina (Sandra Oh).

At the time, showrunner Shonda Rhimes hinted that more departures could be on the horizon, saying: "Just because you saw people alive at the end of the finale doesn't mean they're going to be alive when the season starts up."

Rhimes hailed Dane in a statement, calling 'McSteamy' - Dr Sloan's affectionate nickname on the show - "one of the most beloved characters on Grey's Anatomy".

She added: "We're a big family here at Grey's with a long history together and Eric will always remain an important part of our family.

"I wish him the best and I look forward to watching him as he continues to steam up the big and small screen."

Sandra Oh is exiting Grey's Anatomy after the upcoming Season 10

Dexter star James Remar has landed a major arc on Grey's Anatomy.

According to TV Line the 59-year-old actor will appear in multiple episodes of the medical drama's upcoming tenth season.

Remar's character will make his debut early on in the run, though details about the character are not yet available.

His previous work includes stints on The Vampire Diaries and Sex and the City, but he’s best known for playing Dexter Morgan’s late father Harry on Showtime's Dexter, which is currently in its eighth and final season.

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anyone watching season 11, another big death shocker departure