Grey’s Anatomy boss promises ‘big episode’ ahead for fan favourite character

Grey's Anatomy will be devoting an entire episode to a fan favourite - and one of its longest running characters - in season 16.

Shworunner Krista Vernoff promised a "big episode" ahead for Richard Webber, who has been a key character at Grey Sloan Memorial since Grey's Anatomy began. However, it won't quite be the stereotypical character-centred Grey's episode. She told TVLine:

"We have big episode for him this season. I don't feel like he's quite been given his due. “The standalone episodes are always evolving. They were born out of scheduling, because we could shoot them simultaneously with other episodes. "But my hope for this season is to make those episodes feel a little more like our traditional episodes.”

She referenced season 14's single-day episode, which ended up focusing on Owen Hunt, April Kepner and Meredith Grey, as the way stand-alone episodes will continue going forward. She said:

"That was a standalone, but it didn't feel like one. So we're trying to make those episodes feel a little more cohesive with the rest of the season."

It comes as Vernoff previously told the publication she was hoping to bring a beloved character back for next season. “I’m trying to get someone back,” she told them earlier this month at the Television Critics Assoc. summer press tour. "I'm trying to get someone back. There's someone I'm hoping will make an appearance this year, [but] it's a real maybe. I'm trying." OK, so she didn't specify just who the possible returnee would be - but given that she's hoping they will make an "appearance", it doesn't look like the mystery person may be sticking around for very long.