Days Of Our Lives
Martha Madison and Brandon Beemer Preview Their Returns to Days of our Lives and Pay Tribute to Drake Hogestyn
Today, on November 8th marks the 59th anniversary of Days of our Lives. The soap opera originally premiered on NBC back on November 8th, 1965. For 57 years it remained on the network, but then back in 2022, the series transitioned to its new home streaming on Peacock. Last week, the series was renewed for its 61st season which will take it through the 2025-2026 television and streaming season.
On today’s anniversary episode, Martha Madison returned to her role as Belle Black, the daughter of Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall) and John Black (Drake Hogestyn). In story she returns for Jarlena’s wedding anniversary along with her half-brother Paul Narita (Christopher Sean), although no Shawn is present, nor John for that matter.
However, Madison will soon be in story full force, as she previewed to Michael Fairman TV at last week’s 2024 Day of Days event; along with her longtime on-again off-again on-screen husband Shawn played by Brandon Beemer. As DAYS fans have been privy to via the 2024 extended fall preview for the soap, Belle and EJ (Dan Feuerriegel) will soon hit the sheets, with EJ getting shot by someone, and the imminent return of Belle’s half-sister, Sami Brady (Alison Sweeney).

Photo: JPI
Martha teased that there is big story ahead, “I can tell you it has changed with the new writers (Paula Cwikly and Jeanne Marie Ford). We are back full-time and have been since April. It is the best stuff I’ve ever done in 20 years on this show. So if you are a fan of Shawn and Bell start watching.” From the sounds of it, the upcoming story which fans will see down the line, puts Madison back as a leading lady on the show, to which she confirmed for all those who have w, “It’s coming.”
Brandon shared that when viewers see Shawn again, he won’t be in the same shape he was battling the bottle when we last saw him. “Nope. I’m not gonna be a drunk. I’m not at all,” revealed Beemer. “It’s a lot of good story to tell. They are writing Shawn as Bo (Peter Reckell) and Hope’s (Kristian Alfonso) son. He’s more like the son of Bo vs. the ‘woe is me’ whiny Shawn anymore.”

Photo: JPI
In addition, the actors are back at the show without the presence of the beloved Drake Hogestyn, who for decades played Martha’s on-screen dad, John Black. “It feels like losing a member of your family,” Madison shared as her emotions ran high. “We’ve worked together and known each other for two decades. I called him dad for 20 years. There’s something to that. It’s deep and it’s meaningful. It’s not the same without him.”

Photo: JPI
Madison also expressed how it was for her to tape John’s memorial episodes which we will see in 2025. “I thought it was beautifully done. I think everybody hoped he would come back. I think the combination of shooting so far in advance and really expecting that he would make a recovery, and come back to work really delayed us addressing it in a formal way. But, we have now. I think it was an important way for us all to come together to honor him.”

Photo: JPI
In remembering his co-star, Brandon shared on Drake, “I think that sometimes after a scene where you’re maybe a little bit insecure, he would come up to you and go, ‘Good job, kid. Good job. Yeah. Good job.” He just gave so much love. I think that he could see it in people’s eyes, but he was sort of one of those buoys to hold onto.”
As viewers soon will see more of Belle and Shawn, Martha revealed why her and Brandon still click on-screen. “The reason we work well together is I think we love each other in real life,” admitted Madison. “I heard Jessica Chastain once say, that to have a really good connection on-screen, you have to let yourself fall a little bit in love with them (co-star) in real life. I think that’s true for us.”
Make sure to catch all the Michael Fairman Channel interviews with the cast from Day of Days 2024.
Now let us know, are you looking forward to seeing Belle and Shawn back in action? What did you think of Martha and Brandon’s sentiments on the late Drake Hogestyn? Comment below.
My grandmother finds it interesting that there seems to be no comments on Drake’s death made by Wayne Northrop.
I am more than happy the Shawn and Belle are back on days . I love them both and their characters on the show . I am so sorry for how they will return as far as John Blake death . I am so happy that they will be having around for the log haul
It is about time. No disrespect to the vets, but Belle/Shawn really should be front and center on this show as they are the next generation. Philip and Chloe need to return as well. They should also bring back Carrie and Austin, Mike Horton, Greta, and Eric Brady as well.
Breaking News
Robert Kelker-Kelly, ‘General Hospital,’ ‘Days of our Lives’ and ‘Another World’ Star Dies at 62

Robert Kelker-Kelly, who became prominent as a one of the leading men in soap operas back in the late 80s and 90s has died at the age of 62. TMZ first reported the news of Robert’s passing on Saturday, October 3 at his home in St. Peters, Missouri.
According to the St. Peters police report, officers responded to call at around 8:16 pm about an unconscious man who was not breathing, as paramedics and other EMS were en route. Kelker-Kelly had reportedly complained of chest pain shortly before becoming unresponsive and the circumstances appeared consistent with a medical event.
Officers and paramedics administered life-saving measures, but were unsuccessful in reviving Kelker-Kelly. The cause of his death is still unknown and under investigation.

Photo: NBC
Daytime fans first saw Robert back in 1987 when he was cast as Sam Fowler on Another World. He played the role for three year suntil 1990. Two years later, he took over the role of Bo Brady on Days of our Lives replacing Peter Reckell, who at that time decided to leave the show.
As Bo, Kelker-Kelly was major in story playing opposite the likes of: Crystal Chappell as Dr. Carly Manning, Kristian Alfonso as Hope Williams and Lisa Rinna as Billie Reed. When Peter Reckell returned to his signature role in 1995, Kelker-Kelly left the show.
Next, Robert returned to his original stomping grounds at Another World but this time as race car driver, Bobby Reno who was actually Dr. Shane Roberts. His second AW stint lasted from 1996-1998.

Photo: ABC
Eventually, the actor would begin his run as the evil Stavros Cassadine on General Hospital in 2001, then make returns in 2002 and 2003. In 2013, he briefly returned as Stavros as part of the show’s 50th anniversary celebration, and made one last appearance in 2014.
Robert has also became a professional pilot full from 2003 to 2015 and had been married to former Days of our Lives star, Miriam Parrish (ex-Jamie Caldwell) from 1997-2011, but the couple divorced in 2011. Since that time, he has not remarried.

Recently, Robert was back in the news when Lisa Rinna talked about her time working with her former Days of our Lives co-star in her recently released memoir, You Better Believe I’m Gonna Talk About It.
Rinna shared on her then on-screen love interest, “Behind the scenes, we hated each other. Remember when Kathy Hilton said I was the biggest bully in Hollywood? Not true. Not even close! I have legit stories about the real bullies in this town. Robert Kelker-Kelly is one of those bullies.”
The former Billie Reed and reality star even punctuated that with, “He made my life a living hell on the set of DAYS, He was horrible to me, I’d go so far as to say verbally abusive. He was passive-aggressive, manipulative and played weird mind games.”
Besides his role in the soaps, Kelker-Kelly appeared on primetime on Touched by an Angel and Rescue 77 , and played Bo in the Days of our Lives specials Night Sins and Winter Heat in the early 90s.
Michael Fairman TV will provide further updates as they become available on the death of Robert Kelker-Kelly.
Now, share your remembrances and condolences on the loss of Robert Kelker-Kelly via the comment section below and let us know of all his daytime roles, which was your favorite.
Days Of Our Lives
DAYS OF OUR LIVES Preview: Kristen Locates an Alive Sophia, How Much Does Rita Know About the Birth of Dominic Marino?

Next week, expected surprises and schemes on Days of our Lives. In official spoilers for episodes streaming on Peacock from October 5-9, it looks like Kristen (Stacy Haiduk) has hunted down a very much alive Sophia Choi (Rachel Boyd), while Marlena (Deidre Hall) admits a deeply concerning confession to her daughter Belle (Martha Madison), and more.
As previously reported, Tajh Bellow (ex-TJ Ashford, General Hospital) is stepping in for one day for Tyler Joseph Andrews in the role of Theo Carver and will share scenes with Gabi (Cherie Jimenez), where Theo finally agrees to go along with Gabi’s plan, after she offered him a job.
Meanwhile, Gabi may have her hands full with Philip (John-Paul Lavoisier) whose big win in Monte Carlo may have sparked his gambling addiction … all over again, but Philip reveals her has a plan.

Photo: Corday Productions
Sydney (Sydney Malekeh) is in for a shock when Dante (Franco LoPresti) arrives in Salem. Why is he in Salem? Is he part of the unraveling of the Dominic Marino mystery, since we know he seemed like he was talking to the man in Monte Carlo?
Will Marlena ever figure out what Rita (Maggie Carney) is hiding about the mystery of Dominic, and if Marlena is truly his birth mother or did something more suspicious go on and how deeply involved is Rita in this whole story?
EJ (Dan Feuerriegel) finally demands answers of his own from Rita after overhearing on today’s Cliffhanger Friday her conversation with Marlena. Will Rita cop to anything?
Then as noted, while everyone thinks Sophia took her own life, after Kristen “murdered” her, Kristen is infuriated to find she is somehow alive working as waitress in a diner in Kentucky. Will Kristen try to kill Sophia yet again?
Take a look at some of the additional spoilers for next week’s action on DAYS below.
Monday, October 5
Joy worries about her future.
Alex surprises Stephanie.
Chanel supports Johnny through a difficult decision.
Tuesday, October 6
Rachel gives Brady cause for concern.
Roman surprises Kate.
Wednesday, October 7
Leo’s good day takes an unexpected turn.
Brady is forced to make a difficult call.
Thursday, October 8
Paulina refuses to give up on Lani.
Chanel asks Johnny for a promise.
Friday, October 9
Stephanie and Alex steal a private moment.
Steve gets troubling news from Johnny.
So, what do you think will happen when Kristen finds that the woman she thought she murdered and framed (making it looking like a suicide) is alive and well and working in a diner far away from Salem? Was Rita more involved with Stefano DiMera than we even know? Who is the birth mother of Dominic? Is it really Marlena or did someone else carrying her child? And what of Dante? Why is he back in Salem? To get at Philip, or something else? Weigh-in via the comment section below.
Days Of Our Lives
‘General Hospital’ Alum Tajh Bellow Fills In for ‘Days of our Lives’ Tyler Joseph Andrews in the Role of Theo Carver

After an earlier post on Thursday, October 1 about General Hospital alumni Tajh Bellow’s (ex-TJ Ashford) upcoming project from Issa Rae’s HOOPAE Digital, comes word that Bellow is temporarily stepping into the role of Days of our Lives Theo Carver to fill in for Tyler Joseph Andrews on the Peacock streaming soap opera.
According to TV Insider, Bellow will be making a one-day appearance next week on the October 6 episode of DAYS as Andrews was unable to make the tape date that was shot 10 months ago on a day last December. Andrews (pictured below) took over the role of Theo in September of 2025.
In Bellow’s upcoming episode as Theo, he will share scenes with Cherie Jimenez (Gabi Hernandez). A DAYS spokesperson tells the outlet that Bellow “stepped seamlessly into the role, and the cast and crew were grateful for his professionalism and commitment, albeit for only one episode.”

Photo: JPI
TAJH WILL BE SEEN IN MULTIPLE PROJECTS IN OCTOBER
As General Hospital fans know, Tajh played the role of TJ Ashford from 2018 to his last appearance in December of 2024. Along the way, he received two Daytime Emmy nominations for his performances as TJ, the last being in 2025 in the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Daytime Drama Series category.
In addition, bellow along with Y&R alum Loren Lott will be seen starting on October 14 in the new Love Island spoof series, The Compatibility Experiment. The show will drop exclusively on TikTok and the PineDrama platform.
The Compatibility Experiment gives a satirical look at reality dating shows, think Love Island! The story centers around Kelvin (Bellow) and Camila (Lott), whose relationship is put to the test when they join a reality show to try to win a the million dollar prize.
So, what do you think of Tajh stepping in for Tyler Joseph Andrews as Theo on DAYS? Perhaps, the soap opera liked his work that he might be considered for another role in the future bringing Bellow back to the soaps? Let us know your thoughts via the comment section below.
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