Family Guy has confirmed that the tragic Brian twist in the latest season 16 episode is here to stay.
'The D in Apartment 23' saw one of Brian's offensive tweets go viral, forcing the Griffins to kick him out of the house, leaving him to take refuge in one of Quahog's sketchier neighbourhoods.
It marked one of the few times that Brian has left the Griffin house and he ended the episode sad and alone, with TVLine confirming that the twist isn't a temporary one.
The episode marked the first of a three-episode arc for the character, which will run through to the episode on December 3, while next week's episode will see Brian strike up a romance with a co-worker (voiced by Frozen's Kristen Bell) at a suicide hotline.
Family Guy fans will be forgiven for thinking Brian's departure from the house would be short-lived, given he's been killed off before and brought back to life by creator Seth MacFarlane.
Earlier this month, Family Guy producer Steve Callaghan revealed that they are making a farewell episode that will be a "respectful goodbye" to Carrie Fisher.
Fisher had voiced Peter Griffin's boss Angela since 2005 and had already recorded two final episodes before her death late last year, and her storyline will be wrapped up properly next year with a tribute to both her and her character.
Her final work on the show is due to appear in 'Three Directors' and Christmas episode 'Don't Be a Dickens at Christmas'.
