Dr. Derek Shepherd might know therealreason for Dr. Meredith Grey’s departure from Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital.

Patrick Dempsey— who previously played Derek onGrey’s Anatomy— jokingly addressed the end of his former costarEllen Pompeo’s tenure as Meredith during an appearance onJimmy Kimmel Live!Thursday,.

TheDisenchantedstar didn’t miss a beat: “Did she really? Finally, they caught her. Can you imagine what she’d have in her house now from 19 seasons? A full hospital.”

David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty; Jon Kopaloff/Getty

Patrick Dempsey, Ellen Pompeo

Dempsey exited the long-running ABC medical drama in 2015 after 12 seasons. Though his character was killed off in a car accident, Derekmade a surprise returnin season 17.

Pompeo, on the other hand, had been a constant on the series up until its season 19fall finale, which aired on Nov. 10 and saw Meredith telling her colleagues in Seattle she was relocating to Boston.

Bob D’Amico/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images

PATRICK DEMPSEY, ELLEN POMPEO

Pompeo, 53,shared a message with fanson Thursday, bidding farewell to the series for the time being.

Pompeo added, “I love you madly and appreciate you right back.”

Liliane Lathan/ABC via Getty

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear The doctors of Grey Sloan Memorial celebrate the holidays; Hamilton and Meredith prepare for a milestone on their project; Link wants to spend the holiday with Amelia and Scout as a family; Schmitt is faced with a difficult decision during surgery on an all-new episode of Greys Anatomy, THURSDAY, DEC. 16 (9:00-10:01 p.m. EST), on ABC.

This season, the actresstook a step back from the seriesto pursue outside projects. For one, she is starring in and executive producing an upcoming adaptation of the 2009 filmOrphan, which will be a limited series for Hulu.

Also, on numerous occasions, Pompeo had previously hinted at her departure and desire for the series to end.

“[Grey’sis] still gonna be just fine without me— I’m still gonna do the voiceover,” Pompeo told Deadline in September.

“I’ll be back atGrey’s for the finale, and we’ll see if we can keep it going,” she continued. “I’m gonna always be a part of that show – I’m an exec producer on that show, I’ve spent two decades of my career on that show, it’s my heart and soul, and I’ll never truly be gone as long as that show’s on the air.”

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Grey’s Anatomyreturns Feb. 23 on ABC.

source: people.com