Now in its 18th season, Grey’s Anatomy has become one of ABC’s longest-running shows, with the medical drama picking up multiple Emmys over its 16-year run, while countless cast members have come and gone.
Speaking of cast members, season 18 will see a number of stars return to Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital in the upcoming series, including Kate Walsh as Addison Montgomery, Greg Germann as Thomas Koracick and even Kate Burton as Meredith’s late mother Ellis.
As for the future of the show, Grey’s Anatomy showrunner Krista Vernoff recently revealed that she’d already had some thoughts on how it might end, teasing: “I have something percolating in my mind.”
Read on for all the details we have so far about Grey’s Anatomy season 18.
Grey’s Anatomy season 18 release date
Grey’s Anatomy season 18 premiered on Wednesday 10th November at 9pm on Sky Witness.
The drama series is currently on a break and is off-air but returned in the US on Thursday 24th February 2022, so we shall hopefully see new episodes in the UK soon.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Grey’s Anatomy season 17 got started slightly later than usual in the United States, premiering in November as opposed to the show’s typical late September slot.
Production began on season 18 back in August, with Ellen Pompeo sharing a video of her back in the make-up chair on Instagram, captioned: “Guess what time it is? #GreysSeason18”
How to watch Grey’s Anatomy season 18 in the UK
Grey’s Anatomy season 18 will be broadcast in the UK on Sky Witness and NOW, as has been the case for several years now.
If you want to catch up with earlier seasons (or have a marathon rewatch), Grey’s Anatomy seasons one through to 16 are available to stream on both Disney Plus and Amazon Prime Video (as of November 2021).
Greys Anatomy season 18 cast
The main cast members of Grey’s Anatomy season 18 are as follows.
- Ellen Pompeo as Dr Meredith Grey
- Chandra Wilson as Dr Miranda Bailey
- James Pickens, Jr. as Dr Richard Webber
- Kevin McKidd as Dr Owen Hunt
- Caterina Scorsone as Dr Amelia Shepherd
- Camilla Luddington as Dr Jo Wilson
- Kelly McCreary as Dr Maggie Pierce
- Kim Raver as Dr Teddy Altman
- Jake Borelli as Dr Levi Schmitt
- Chris Carmack as Dr Atticus “Link” Lincoln
- Richard Flood as Dr Cormac Hayes
- Anthony Hill as Dr Winston Ndugu
- Scott Speedman as Dr Nick Marsh
Good news! Grey’s Anatomy secured its three remaining original cast members – Ellen Pompeo (Meredith Grey), Chandra Wilson (Miranda Bailey) and James Pickens Jr (Richard Webber) – for the 18th season.
There had been some doubt over whether the trio would reprise their roles once again, but a return was agreed after what Deadline describes as “lengthy” contract negotiations.
Kevin McKidd, Kim Raver, Camilla Luddington and Caterina Scorsone, among others, also returned for the new season.
Greg Germann, who has played Dr Tom Koracick on Grey’s Anatomy since season 14, will return as a guest star on multiple occasions but his time as a series regular has come to an end.
At least two popular actors will not be returning season: Jesse Williams (Dr Jackson Avery) is moving on to new projects after a 12-year stint on the show, while Giacomo Gianniotti (Dr Andrew DeLuca) has also departed the series.
While earlier this year, Deadline confirmed that Kate Burton would be returning to play Meredith’s late mother Ellis Grey, who died in season three, in multiple episodes – however, it’s unclear how the character will be reintroduced. She has so far appeared in a dream sequence.
Also returning to the cast in season 18 is Abigail Spencer, who is reprising her role as Dr. Megan Hunt, as well as Kate Walsh, who played fan favourite Dr. Addison Montgomery from 2005 until 2012 on Grey’s and its spin-off series Private Practice.
Meanwhile, Scott Speedman, who guest-starred as Nick Marsh in season 14, has joined the cast as a series regular for season 18. In the season premiere, Meredith bumps into Nick Marsh whilst opening a library dedicated to her mother in Minnesota and goes for a drink with him.
The OC star Peter Gallagher joins in a recurring capacity as Dr David Hamilton, Lynn Chen plays new arrival Dr Michelle Lin, and Greg Tarzan Davis plays a new doctor keen to learn from Bailey, Dr Jordan Wright.
Non-binary actor E.R. Fightmaster also portrays Dr Kai Bartley, a non-binary character who becomes a love interest for Amelia.
In the second half of the season, Rome Flynn has also been cast as Wendell Ndugu, the brother of Winston, while Skylar Astin portrays Todd Eames, an environmental sciences expert.
Is Grey’s Anatomy ending with season 18?
No, as Grey’s Anatomy has been renewed for a season 19.
Ellen Pompeo has been confirmed to be returning as Dr Meredith Grey for another season of the hit medical drama, along with fellow remaining original cast members Chandra Wilson and James Pickens Jr.
The Hollywood Reporter reports that Pompeo received “another salary increase and remains broadcast television’s highest-earning actress in a primetime drama series.”
Dana Walden, chairman of entertainment at Walt Disney Television, said: “Grey’s Anatomy is a true phenomenon, beloved by audiences around the world. Whether they catch it live on ABC, or stream it on Hulu or globally on Disney+ or Star+, it’s clear that fans can’t get enough of Shonda Rhimes’ brilliant creation.”
They added that they hope the show’s storytelling will “resonate deeply with loyal fans for years to come.”
So maybe don’t expect season 19 to be the last, either!
Kate Walsh to return to Grey’s Anatomy
It was revealed prior to season 18 returning that Kate Walsh would be reprising her role as Dr Addison Forbes Montgomery in a recurring capacity in the new episodes.
After returning for two episodes in the first half of the season, Addison will also be back for an episode airing in the US on Thursday 5th May 2022.
It is unknown currently when this new appearance will air in the UK.
Richard Flood leaves Grey’s Anatomy
Irish surgeon Dr Cormac Hayes will be waving goodbye soon as he will resign from his position and depart the hospital – meaning fans hoping for him to find love with Meredith shall be gravely disappointed.
Hayes departs in the tenth episode of the season, titled Living in a House Divided, after resigning in the previous episode due to a twist in a storyline involving Dr Owen Hunt.
Flood’s exit comes after last season saw exits for three series regulars in the form of Giacomo Gianniotti (Dr Andrew DeLuca), Jesse Williams (Dr Jackson Avery) and Greg Germann (Dr Tom Koracick) – although Germann has since returned as a guest star.
Is there a trailer for Grey’s Anatomy season 18?
ABC shared a promo for the season 18 premiere back in September, teasing Teddy and Owen’s wedding as well as Meredith’s doubts over her plans for the future.
Meanwhile, those excited for the return of Kate Walsh as Addison Montgomery are in luck as ABC released a sneak-peek of her grand entrance in episode three.
In a callback to her iconic introduction in the very first season, the clip shows Addison greeting the hospital staff with: “And you must be the group that’s been screwing up the programme.”
What happened in Grey’s Anatomy season 17?
It was an emotional season for longtime viewers of Grey’s Anatomy as lead character Meredith Grey has been in a coma for much of it, suffering from a severe case of COVID-19.
The writers have prevented the show from becoming too bleak by gifting Meredith with some touching dream sequences as she lay unconscious, which have taken the form of picturesque beach reunions with long-absent friends.
The confirmed return of Ellen Pompeo always indicated that Meredith would wake up and recover from her illness, after some fans had worried she could succumb to her serious condition.
Meanwhile, in the real world, life at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital remains very busy indeed, with the one of the biggest developments being Jackson Avery’s decision to leave the medical facility.
Following recent traumatic events, he now strives to create “real racial equity” in medicine and will move to Boston in order to work towards that goal.
In Jackson’s final episode, which aired in May 2021, Grey’s also bid farewell to another of its biggest personalities, that being Dr Tom Koracick (played by Greg Germann), who decided to team up with Jackson on his new endeavour.
However, Koracick isn’t leaving the medical drama permanently, as showrunner Krista Vernoff has confirmed the character will return as a guest star in the future.
Grey’s Anatomy seasons 1-16 are available to stream on Disney Plus and Amazon Prime Video. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide to see what’s on tonight.
