Who’s definitely leaving after Grey’s Anatomy Season 14?

While Grey’s Anatomy Season 15 isn’t yet confirmed, there will be two characters not returning for it if (read: when) it happens.

Grey’s Anatomy Season 15 still hasn’t yet been confirmed, although there are extremely high chances that it is going to happen. If (more like, when) it does happen, there will be two characters not making their way back to Grey Sloan Memorial. Jessica Capshaw and Sarah Drew have both confirmed they will be leaving the series.

This was a decision by the producers, according to Deadline. The producers pick those who will be staying and leaving at the start of the year and this year Arizona Robbins and April Kepner were the two doctors chosen to leave. They will be the only series regulars to leave the series, which is good news for Meredith Grey, Richard Webber, Miranda Bailey, Alex Karev et al fans.

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The decision not to bring the characters back is purely for creative reasons. While it is off the back of Ellen Pompeo’s wage increase (and other benefits), the decision to remove the two female characters has nothing to do with it.

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It doesn’t look like we’ll be saying permanent goodbyes–that means it doesn’t look like they’ll be killed off. The two characters are extremely important in the Grey’s Anatomy storyline, due to sexuality and religion. Shonda Rhimes has stated that there’s a chance to see them again, so you can stop panicking about dealing with deaths. Hopefully, the character exits will be handled similarly to Jerrika Hinton’s exit, which saw her character Stephanie decide to live life to the fullest after suffering major burns when saving a young girl from a fire.

The two characters will certainly be missed, and not just because they represent two groups of people who don’t get a lot of representation on TV. Arizona has grown to become a fan-favorite for her devotion to the little tiny humans and their moms, while April has proven time and time again that she can remain calm in a difficult situation and keep the trauma center running.

It will certainly be interesting how both will leave. April’s will be the most interesting, as Jackson will remain at Grey Sloan Memorial. If April isn’t going to be killed off, what does it mean for little Harriet?

This doesn’t look like old news to the actresses either. Sarah Drew took to Twitter to say that she wasn’t ready to say her thank yous or goodbyes just yet. She’s had the information about her character’s fate for 48 hours, so was possibly planning on renewing her contract if given the option.

Drew has played the character for nine years now, eight of those as a series regular. Capshaw is still to say anything, although is likely feeling the same shock and sadness as her co-star. Robbins has been part of the show for a year longer than Kepner.

The stars feel just the same as us. Here’s to making the last few episodes with them the best! They will both certainly add to our list of Grey’s Anatomy characters we want to see return!

Next: 18 Grey's Anatomy characters fans are desperate to see return

Are you shocked at the decision for Capshaw and Drew to leave Grey’s Anatomy? How do you think the storylines will be handed? Share in the comments below.

Grey’s Anatomy airs Thursdays at 8/7c on ABC.