Sandra Oh has announced she will be leaving Grey's Anatomy. Season ten of the show will air in September of this year and Oh will be leaving the medical drama at the end of the upcoming season, due to be aired next spring. 

Sandra OhSandra Oh at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Presents 'Welcome To Shondaland': An Evening With Shonda Rhimes & Friends, in North Hollywood.

Oh has played Dr Cristina Yang since the show's premiere in 2005, however, after 8 years in the role she has decided to move on. On the subject of leaving the show, Oh told The Hollywood Reporter when they broke the news yesterday (13 August) that "it's been a great privilege to play the character of Cristina Yang." She continued by saying, "I am both sad and excited to see where this, her [Oh's character Yang] final season, will take her."

Oh said the cast and crew of Grey's Anatomy were supportive of her decision to leave the show. On the matter, Oh said, "it was an emotional and deeply creative decision for me and I feel fully supported by creator Shonda Rhimes and the writers."

Oh continued by saying she had no regrets in leaving the role as she had been "able to explore and grow" her character "fully" and "completely."

However, Oh is surely going to be missed as creator Rhimes said, "I have been made better by Sandra's trust, faith and friendship and I can't quantify how grateful I am for her collaboration on a character we both love so deeply."

Shonda Rhimes
Shonda Rhimes at the Santa Monica Red Cross 2008 Red Tie Affair held at Fairmont Miramar Hotel.

Equally, Kevin McKidd who joined the show in season 5 has stated he will miss Oh's presence on set. He claimed, whilst being interviewed by THR, that he was not surprised by Oh's news as he "had a feeling it might be coming and that it was the right time for her."

He went on to say "I've had the great fortune and luck to be her acting partner and for her to be my acting partner for the last half a decade."

Although Oh plays one of the show's main characters, alongside Dr Grey (Ellen Pompeo); Dr Bailey (Chandra Wilson) and Dr Karev (Justin Chambers), the show has no intention of finishing just yet. Quite the contrary, as a statement issued by ABC at the same time as Oh's revealed that the medical drama will be around for a few more years at least. A spokesperson said,  "it's our intention to have Grey's on the air for many years to come, with as many of the original cast as possible."

Oh's departure will definitely signify a change in the show, as her character's relationship with Dr Grey is one of the focal points. On this matter, Rhimes said, "this year is going to be bittersweet for us - we're both going to savor every moment of Cristina Yang and then we're going to give her the exit she deserves. And when Sandra walks out of my door, Grey's Anatomy will once again be forever changed."

Grey's Anatomy season ten will premiere on September 26 2013.

Kevin McKidd
Kevin McKidd at the Disney & ABC TCA summer press tour held at Beverly Hilton Hotel in L.A.