Grey’s Anatomy season 17 ‘breaks internet’ with twist ‘most of the actors’ didn’t even know about

‘It took me a moment to remember how to breathe,’ one stunned fan wrote

It's an exciting time to be a Grey's Anatomy fan.

Viewers of the long-running medical drama were overjoyed and extremely surprised to see the return of a beloved character in the show's season 17 premiere.

*Spoilers follow – you have been warned*

After teasing a "shocking, jaw-dropping ending", the series brought back Patrick Dempsey's Derek Shephard, who returned for the first time since his death in 2015.

He appeared in a dream sequence after Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) collapsed in the car park of Grey Sloane Memorial hospital – and, according to internet sleuths, more old characters are on the way.

Fans couldn't believe their eyes as Dempsey's character appeared in a beach-set scene at the end of an episode that was dedicated to frontline Covid-19 workers.

Showrunner Krista Vernoff told Deadline the decision was inspired "to bring joy, escape and fan candy" to viewers. 

Find out what Dempsey himself said about his return to the show here.

She revealed on Twitter: "Most of the actors didn’t know. Some of the writers didn’t know. Most of the good folks at the studio & network didn’t know."

Fans reacted accordingly on social media, with one writing: "I'm legit in shock. It took me a moment to remember how to breathe."

"I'M NOT OKAY AFTER THIS," another emotional fan wrote.

"I still can't believe what happened tonight," someone else wrote.