In a bombshell announcement, Days of our Lives enduring and ever-popular star, Kristian Alfonso (Hope Williams) has decided to make her exit from the NBC daytime drama series after more than 37 years in her role.

Kristian made her debut as a teenaged Hope Williams in 1983 and quickly rose to popularity and became soap-famous; along with her on-screen romance to Bo Brady then played by Peter Reckell. Together as one of soaps most all-time popular duos and separately, Alfonso has remained one of soap opera’s most notable performers.   There were only two times throughout her time in Salem, that Kristian took breaks from the show; during one of them she starred on CBS’s Falcon Crest.

According to Deadline who broke the news; in a statement to the outlet, Alfonso shared, “I feel blessed and honored to have been invited into people’s homes for over three decades. However, it is now time for me to write my next chapter.”

And it appears its already a wrap for Alfonso, who will not be returning to the series when the show is planned to return to production in the fall and come early September.

Kristian added:  “I will not be returning to Days when it resumes production in September.  I’ve already filmed my last episode several months ago.”

In a heartfelt post on her Instagram account, the actress gave special thanks to the late Betty Corday (mother of DAYS EP Ken Corday), and of course, her millions of fans who loved her as Hope throughout her time on the soap.  You can read it in full below.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

#❤️ #😘

A post shared by Kristian Alfonso (@kristianalfonso) on Jul 6, 2020 at 3:00pm PDT

So, what do you think about Kristian Alfonso’s exit from Days of our Lives?  Are you heartbroken to see her go? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.

Looks like Salem and Days of our Lives will be back in full-swing come September, if the target date holds true as revealed today by Deadline.

According to their sources, Corday Productions, who produces the long-running NBC daytime drama, sent out an email to cast members on Thursday notifying them of their intent to resume production come September 1st.

However for this article; reps for NBC, Corday and Sony Pictures TV declined to comment.

Days of our Lives has had enough shows banked through early October of this year, so was not pressed to get back into production amidst the coronavirus pandemic as much as CBS’ The Bold and the Beautiful (which went back into production a week and half ago), and The Young and the Restless and General Hospital who are targeting a mid-July restart.

All three of the shows, except for DAYS ran out of original episodes to air, back at the end of April of this year.

So, excited to hear that their may be plans ahead come fall for DAYS to come to back and tape new episodes? Comment below.

In a tweet late on Thursday, the supervising producer of The Bold and the Beautiful, Casey Kasprzyk, shared his enthusiasm at completing the first major hurdle for the soap going back into production during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Showing a viewing copy on disc of the first new episode produced for B&B in months, Casey said: “Just finished viewing our first produced episode since starting production back up! So proud of Team Bold & Beautiful. Great shows airing soon”

The disc had airshow number #8321 on it, and a question mark as to when it will make it to air.

The fact that The Bold and the Beautiful is the first daytime drama to get one new episode completed is a step forward amidst the spike in COVID-19 cases in Los Angeles County and the state of California.

Now soap fans will have to wait and see if General Hospital and The Young and the Restless begin their productions in the middle of July; as last projected by both series, or if there will be further delays due to the ongoing crisis for the safety of everyone involved at the shows.

So, excited to learn Casey’s news that there is a new episode of B&B on the horizon for viewers to see? Comment below.

Just finished viewing our first produced episode since starting production back up! So proud of Team Bold & Beautiful. Great shows airing soon 📺 👍 #BoldandBeautiful @BandB_CBS pic.twitter.com/ZNRDJJyjtQ

— Casey Kasprzyk (@CaseyKasprzyk) July 3, 2020