As announced by TVLine, Freema Agyeman will not be returning to New Amsterdam for season 5. Agyeman’s Dr. Helen Sharpe has been a staple of the show since the very beginning and will be deeply missed in the final season.
It’ll be interesting to see how the show goes about her exit, with the fourth season ending on a major cliffhanger with Helen calling to tell her partner, Max (Ryan Eggold), that she didn’t leave London. This left Max standing alone at the altar where he was waiting for her.
In a statement from Agyeman, she says:
“Dearest Dam Fam.
First off I would like to say a huge heartfelt thank you for your unending, dedicated and deliciously ferocious support! I feel very fortunate to have connected with so many of you over these past few years, while rolling around in the skin of Ms. Helen Sharpe, and witness every ebb and flow of your emotional investment. What a ride! Thank you for being on it with me. She has meant so much to me, but the time has come for me to hang up her white coat, as I officially share the news that I will not be returning for the final season of New Amsterdam. While I am saddened, I am also incredibly excited to see how the story concludes as a fan of the series. It has been such a joy to play Dr. Helen Sharpe for 4 seasons — those writers built a badass! Beyond grateful for the opportunity to tell some of her stories! Fanfic — it’s over to you to tell the rest!!
Lots of love Fam!“
The creator/showrunner of New Amsterdam, David Schulner, released a statement alongside executive producer Peter Horton, which states:
“We wish Freema the best of luck on her next chapter, and the doors of New Amsterdam will always be open if she wishes to return! We are extremely proud of the impact Freema and Dr. Helen Sharpe have made over these past four seasons and are so grateful to have been a part of that story. As we head into the fifth and final season, we want our #Sharpwin fans to know we still have a few surprises in store for them.”
New Amsterdam returns Tuesday, September 20 on NBC at 10 p.m. EST. Stay tuned for more updates!