Coming to an end ... Amy Brenneman and Kate Walsh in medical drama Private Practice.
Grey's Anatomy spin-off Private Practice will end mid season, according to the show's creator Shonda Rhimes.
Rhimes sent out a tweet confirming the show will finish at episode 13 of series six, saying it was "heartbreaking" to see it end.
"I'm sad to say that Private Practice's run will end after episode 613 this season. There was a lot of discussion and debate but, in the end, the guys at the network and the studio and I all decided that Private Practice was reaching its finish line."
The show is set in a family medical clinic and centres around neonatal surgeon Dr Addison Montgomery, played by Kate Walsh. Walsh had announced earlier in the year that this would be her last season but at the time the ABC network said it was committed to continuing without her if the ratings held up. Rhimes had previously told TV Guide that Private Practice had "a lot of budgetary issues".
"It's heartbreaking to end. Truly," wrote Rhimes today. "I feel so lucky to write for these characters and tell these stories and I truly feel this show has taught me so much as a writer. And there's a family here, of crew and cast, people who have bonded over these past five and a half seasons."
Private Practice celebrated its one hundredth episode in August this year and was a success story for Rhimes who failed with another medical drama Off The Map. She is also the creator of Scandal, a political drama starring Kerry Washington currently showing on Seven.
"It's rare for a show to go for more than 100 episodes and we are incredibly proud to have been such a show. And we're grateful to all of you for spending time with us for an hour every week for the last 6 years. It's meant the world. Thank you."
