Soap Opera Digest August 8, 2022

Ayda Field returns to day-time this week as B&B mystery woman Cecile over two decades after she wrapped as Angela Moroni on DAYS. Field, who played the mafia princess in Salem from 2000-01, was excited to delve back into daytime. “I miss my soap days,” she shares. “It’s always been a really warm spot in my life and it was fun to revisit it. It was a kick for me and I brought my mom and my daughter Teddy to set with me, so it was really great to share this part of my life that has meant so much to me.” Field also enjoyed that Cecile is French. “I speak French and my grandmother spoke French and I just had a really nice full-circle moment with it,” she explains. And though…

After Finn escapes Sheila’s clutches, he jets off to Monte Carlo to reunite with Steffy, whose state of mind is less than optimal. “She is depressed,” says her portrayer, Jacqueline MacInnes Wood. “Her true love, the father of her baby, her Prince Charming and her happily ever after, is gone. And, he died tragically. I think that, in addition to being utterly sad and grief-stricken, Steffy is also angry and guilt-ridden. There are so many what-ifs.” Removing herself from familiar surroundings turned out to be healing for Steffy. “Being in Europe has been good for her and the children,” notes Wood. “[There’s] so much trauma to deal with. Being somewhere where there isn’t a constant reminder of their lost love — and Sheila — is good for her. She’s getting the…

Phyllis, Nikki and Ashley meet to strategize about getting Diane to leave Genoa City. “They absolutely believe they have a shot at accomplishing this,” says Co-Executive Producer/Head Writer Josh Griffith. “Between the three of them, they’re confident that there’s no way that Diane will best them.” The co-conspirators agree that they can’t sit back and wait for Diane to implode on her own. “Why should they wait if they can push it along?” Griffith reasons. “They know she’s just a time bomb ready to explode, so why not light the fuse? Waiting to let her light it herself could take too long.” Since Ashley wasn’t present for the first meeting, Phyllis and Nikki go over their plan, which involves Phyllis securing a job at Marchetti to secretly sabotage their target. “At this…

with Michelle Stafford (Phyllis, Y&R) What was your first reaction when you found out that Diane was coming back? “[Wondering] who they were bringing in to play Diane. They kept it a secret and there were a few names floating around of who it would be. There were some that I was like, ‘Oh, that would be interesting,’ and some where I was like, ‘That might be hard to play.’ I didn’t find out Susan [Walters] was coming back until she walked into hair and makeup and I was like, ‘Oh, it’s you!’ I was really excited because I love Susan. I love working with Susan and I love everything about Susan. She’s just a good time. Now, I don’t want that to be misunderstood that I didn’t like Maura [West,…

A nasty confrontation breaks out after Nikolas confesses to Ava that he slept with Esme. “Ava is ready to unload on her,” sets up Co-Head Writer Dan O’Connor. “Esme broke up her marriage, targeted Trina, and when she finds her at Wyndemere, Ava is done — done — mincing words with her.” She arrives as Esme is packing up her things to leave the estate for good, and among her belongings are items that could tip Ava off to arguably the biggest secret she’s keeping: that she’s Ryan’s daughter. Continues O’Connor, “So, as this conversation is going on, Esme is gathering up the possessions that could link her to Ryan and [expose] their biological connection — and something in their conversation leads Ava to question if Esme has been targeting her…

BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL Steffy and Li argue about Li’s decision to keep Finn from his family. The Forresters learn vital information about Sheila Carter. Thomas shocks Hope with a plan to permanently reunite with Douglas. DAYS OF OUR LIVES Shawn and Jada bond at work. Li visits Rolf. Brady tries to make a deal with Kristen. Sarah and Xander make an important discovery. GENERAL HOSPITAL teasers were unavailable at press time. YOUNG AND RESTLESS Chance and Kevin chase a lead. Chelsea crosses the line. Elena confronts Nate about Imani! Phyllis puts her plan into action. RATINGS RACE: WEEK OF JULY 4 The numbers listed after each show are ratings points. Each ratings point represents 1,224,000 homes. These numbers now reflect DVR playback within the same day. • YOUNG AND RESTLESS 2.29• BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL 2.06• GENERAL HOSPITAL…