Sandra Oh's exit from Grey's Anatomy just got a whole lot juicier since her onscreen ex is expected to return.

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Isaiah Washington is set to reprise his role as Dr. Preston Burke for one episode in May. His appearance will play a significant role in the departure of Oh's character, Dr. Cristina Yang, at the end of the season.

"It's important to me that Cristina's journey unfolds exactly as it should," said show creator Shonda Rhimes in a statement. "Burke is vital to that journey - he gives her story that full-circle moment we need to properly say goodbye to our beloved Cristina Yang."

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Washington's character was written out on the season 3 finale in 2007 after Preston left Cristina at the altar.

He was let go from the ABC show that season after he allegedly used a homophobic slur to refer to his former and openly gay costar T.R. Knight. The incident occurred while he engaged in an argument with his other costar Patrick Dempsey.

During an interview that year, the actor defended himself and said that he never used a derogatory term against Knight.

"I used the word during a disagreement with Patrick," Washington told the Houston Chronicle. "I apologized for that. We shook hands and went back to work."

He added: "I knew T.R. was gay, but I would never attack him because of his sexual orientation. That's stupid. I've been working with lesbians and gays for 21 years in this business."

Oh's decision to leave the show is far less controversial. The 42-year-old actress, who appeared on the show since season 1 premiered in 2005, said she wants to start a new chapter in her life.

"Creatively, I really feel like I gave it my all, and I feel ready to let her go," Oh told The Hollywood Reporter. "It's such an interesting thing to play a character for so long and to actually get the sense that she wants to be let go as well."

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