The shocking truth behind Patrick Dempsey’s exit from Grey’s

Spoilers ahead!

Fans of the long-running medical drama Grey's Anatomy were left shocked last month when one of the show's most beloved actors, Patrick Dempsey, ended his eleven year tenure on the show in a tragic episode which saw him being killed off.

However now it seems that Patrick's departure was not his own decision, but that of the show's producers, after the actor got involved in an "inappropriate relationship" on set.

According to a new report by InTouch, Patrick's onscreen wife Ellen Pompeo found out about his romantic involvement with "a young woman who worked on the set," and told both Patrick's wife of eleven years Jillian Fink and the show's creator Shonda Rhimes, leading to ABC's decision to fire him from the show.

News of Patrick's sudden exit from Grey's Anatomy came just months after Jillian filed for divorce, something it's strongly believed is linked to the revelation that Patrick had been unfaithful.

In Dr Shepherd's final episode, which aired in the US on April 23rd, the neurosurgeon is seen stopping to help the victims of a car crash on an open road when he is slammed into by a truck.

Having suffered major head trauma, he is later declared brain dead, bringing his time on the show to a tragic close.

Despite the behind-the-scenes drama, Shonda Rhimes issued a touching tribute after the show aired, saying, "Derek Shepherd is and will always be an incredibly important character – for Meredith, for me and for the fans. I absolutely never imagined saying goodbye to our 'McDreamy'… His loss will be felt by all."

As for Patrick, he said his own goodbye with a message on Twitter which read, "I want to thank all the fans, what an incredible 11 yrs, I love you all."

The actor has three children with his estranged wife Jillian, 13-year-old Talula and eight-year-old twins Darby and Sullivan.