Heigl to return to 'Grey's Anatomy'

Katherine Heigl will return to the next series of 'Grey's Anatomy'.

The 31-year-old actress - who took a break from the US medical drama show to look after her adopted daughter Nayleigh with husband Josh Kelley - will reprise her role as Dr Izzie Stevens for the next cycle of episodes.

Creator and writer Shonda Rhimes confirmed: "She's written into the next script."

In the latest series of the show - which is based around the life of staff and patients at the Seattle Grace Hospital - the character almost died from cancer.

Another character definitely returning to the screen is the medical centre's Chief of Surgery Richard Webber - played by James Pickens.

However, the character has a troubled journey ahead of him as he faces a stay in a rehab centre during season seven for his problems with alcohol.

Rhimes said: "I love James Pickens and I think we're going to get to see a lot more of him and what happens to his character and explore what happens to a doctor when they go to rehab and come out the other side."

The new storylines will also focus on Jesse Williams' alter-ego Dr Jackson Avery, who is due to get mixed reports from fans of the US series.

Rhimes added to America's OK! magazine: "We developed his character a little more and illuminate who he is a little more to give more time to him. I think it was nice to bring in people that the audience would hate and our characters would have to rise against."