‘Days of Our Lives’ Boss Teases ‘Bright Future’ of Soap & ‘Great Surprises’ Coming in 2025
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Days of our Lives is marking its 59th anniversary on Friday, November 8, and this year, there’s additional cause for celebration — the show just received a one-year pickup from Peacock. “It’s great news that we’ve been renewed until September 2026,” enthuses Executive Producer Ken Corday, “That’s a way down the road but there’s much to accomplish between now and then. As I said to the cast and crew on the stage last Friday when we announced the news, ‘Let’s stop focusing on Season 60 or 61. Let’s start thinking about Season 65 because I believe it’s a reality.’”
Corday, whose parents, Ted and Betty Corday, and Irna Phillips created the show in 1965, admits he wasn’t completely confident about Days’ future when it unexpectedly moved to Peacock in September 2022. “Well, I was feeling 50/50 on it,” he concedes. “I couldn’t understand why NBC Universal was removing it from broadcast, but the numbers added up in subscriptions and our subscriptions have increased. We continually test consistently in the Top 10 of Peacock’s shows, which shows that our viewers didn’t totally stray. When we migrated, almost half of them stuck with us and it’s a delightful surprise that the show thrives on a new platform.”
One that he feels his parents would be firmly behind. “I’m sure my mother and father would be thrilled because he was the true pioneer, to leave radio for television and leave East Coast soap opera for West Coast TV and start a show that wasn’t your typical soap opera back in ’65,” offers the exec. “There’s always been this, ‘we’ll go first pioneering spirit’ about the show, so why not? I like being the tip of the spear.”
Corday adds he “feels fantastic” about the state of the soap, which has endured some turmoil over the past two years with the very public exit of former co-executive producer Albert Alarr in 2023 followed by the show’s head writer, Ron Carlivati, nearly a year later. Regarding Carlvati, Corday notes, “I just felt it was time for a different look at the show, a different foundation for the show, and a different story push. Our previous head writer had a wonderful, long run, but change is a constant and sometimes change is called for and this was a case where it was clear to me it was.”
Todd Williamson/Peacock
Those changes Corday references will take shape more fully in 2025. “There are powerful moments coming next summer, and just judging from the demeanor on the set, which is the best barometer of the show almost as much as the viewership is, everyone’s very excited about what we’re doing and where the show is going.”
That includes the team he has in place to make that happen. “I’m proud to say that I’m working with three women in positions of power,” declares Corday. “I have two female head writers [Paula Cwikly and Jeanne Marie Ford] and a female co-executive producer [Janet Spellman-Drucker] and it’s just wonderful. This is the first time in my run of 40 years as producer on the show that I’ve had this luxury. I think it’s important to dig into the serious female point of view and stories underneath the regular story beats.”
While things are indeed looking promising, the real-life losses of Bill Hayes (Doug Williams) in January, and more recently, Drake Hogestyn (John Black) in September, offset the jubilant spirit. “They’re both iconic and two of the seven great heroes on the show,” Corday praises. “Drake was Superman. Doug was Super Conman who became Super Supercouple. They’re itreplaceable, had decades on the show, and we’re paying homage to both of their characters.”
The first will be Hayes’ Doug on December 2, also the show’s 15,000th episode. “Bill had died in January and we were not too far away from writing this November at that time because we’re so far ahead,” Corday explains. “For lack of a better cliché, the stars aligned correctly. So as we came up to 15,000, we thought, ‘This is the time to do it. Play the character’s death on the show and how that impacts everybody and bring a lot of people back for that.’” In addition to beloved faves Kristian Alfonso (Hope Williams Brady) and Melissa Reeves (Jennifer Deveraux), blasts from the past that will take part in the tribute include Stephen Schnetzer (Steve Olson), Gloria Loring (Liz Chandler) and Maree Cheatham (Marie Horton).
The memorial for John Black, which was filmed prior to Hogestyn’s death from pancreatic cancer, will play out later next year. His death at age 70, has hit everybody including Corday hard. “Drake and I were very close,” Corday notes. “Drake was everybody’s good friend on set. He was the glue, he was like the captain on the floor, always knew his lines, always delivered, and was a perfect match for Dee [Hall, Marlena Evans]. We will pay proper homage to him as well.”
With a lot to be happy about, Corday says, “The future looks very shiny and bright. We are in for some great surprises by mid-2025. The stories will be wonderful and there will be many returns of familiar faces we’ve known or come to love in the past. I think it would be very rewarding for the viewers.”
Days of Our Lives, Weekdays, Peacock
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I am so happy for my favorite show. I’ve followed Dool for 35 years I’m asking as a long time viewer to put Nicole (Ari) back on contract! We need her❤️
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Yes bring Nicole back the show needs her
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Yes! I totally AGREE!
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With all of these positive changes, it would be so wonderful to do whatever it took to get Nicole (Ari) back.
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Bring INicole Hope Bo, their daughter and Shawn and Belle back to the show. These characters are greatly missed!!!
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Shawn and Belle ARE coming back on contract very soon, and Hope and Bo will be visiting as guests.
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Bring it back to nbc lots of fans dont stream.
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I moved to Peacock. Love that channel with no commercials been watching Days since 1978
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Not happy with Stefan leaving the show! What a big mistake!! I almost stopped watching but will see if they bring him back! Get rid of Clyde already!!
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Clyde I old news get rid of him , bring Nicole, Bo and fancy face back
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I have been watching days since I was young, as my mom watch it then.. I am in my 60\'s and wish you would put it back to NBC, I miss the show and don\'t get peacock..you should have a days reunion for Christmas with all old characters on NBC.
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Get Peacock. Totally worth the 9.99 a month no commercials. I’m so glad I have it. But, on vacation in the Dominican and unfortunately peacock isn’t available out of the USA
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I agree .. Nicole needs to come back !!! And I don’t like Body and Soul either !
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I love it’s going to keep on going!!! I have watched this show 59 years thank you Mom!! She watched so many Soaps!! The original Horton’s and the Brady fish market!! Still watch every episode!!!
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Bring Stephan back!! Get rid of weston
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I\'ve been watching since 1968 . I\'ve loved ot since , however I am not a fan of Body and Soul, it does not fit , I try not to watch it and fast forward , other than that I am a fan
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So am I, not a fan of body and soul, I fast forward it
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The last I was told; the show was filming EIGHT MONTHS ahead of airing (possibly more now). Being the 8th of November, this would take the show until July 8, 2025. If they were renewed until September 2025, that means only 2 more months of shows can be filmed. So, when they take their Christmas Holiday break, they would not be able to film ANY MORE SHOWS, as they would have enough in the can to air through September 2025! It seems unlikely Peacock would give DAYS another renewal date in just 2 months! Being renewed until September 2025 means DAYS would not make it to the 60th anniversary on November 8, 2025, which will kill me! We better start writing Peacock that we know this and ask them to renew DAYS an additional year, or at least until January 2026, so the show will air until its 60th anniversary! Also, did I misread the article, or did it say they filmed \"John\'s\" memorial BEFORE he died in real life?
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No, you read that correctly. Drake Hogestyn\'s final appearance aired a few months ago (August, I believe). From here on out, John will be mentioned but won\'t be seen. John, unfortunately, will die off camera. Drake left the show because of the pancreatic cancer diagnosis and his death was written into his storyline. From what I\'ve read, his \"death\" would\'ve given John the opportunity to \"come back from the dead\" had Drake\'s condition improved and he was able to get back to work on the set. Sadly, as we all know, it did not.
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Corday wanted to get Drake\'s input on the storyline on how he died, etc....that\'s why they wrote it before he passed away in real life. They said if he was able to beat the cancer, they surely would have had him come back. But this way they get Drake\'s sign off on how they allow the character to die on the show.
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September 2026, not 2025
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You are ABSOLUTELY RIGHT! When he said a 1-year renewal, I failed to notice he said through September 2026. Apparently, their current contract went through September 2025. Thank you for pointing this out!
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Re-read that first paragraph again. Days of Our Lives was renewed through September 2026. It will celebrate its 60th anniversary in November 2025 and then continue through at least September 2026.
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Thank you for clarification!
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I had watched Days since the beginning and nothing compares to those story lines. The Bill, Mickey and Laura was one of the best
storylines ever. Also Maggie and Mickey! What happened?
Marlene possessed? Are you kidding me?
That is when I stopped watching. Too far out there. How about everyday storylines? But no you get all weird, switch to Peacock etc. etc.
Wow way to go. You lost me...
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Make amends to bring Nicole back and ditch the Body and Soul storyline will definitely miss Doug and Drake. I was amazed that Julie (Susan) was able to perform the scenes regarding the death of Doug.
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I am glad aunt Marie is coming back she is the only child of Tom and Alice still alive. I think Sandy character should come back would love to know what happen to Tommy\'s daughter who was Tom and Alice oldest grandchildren.
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Drake left because of his deteriorating health. He wanted to spend more time with his family which made sense. Hello.
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I will continue to be faithful to Days. I\'ve been watching since early 1972. I laugh with them, I cry with them. That\'s the way to truly be in the show, as they are family... love the show. I really love having the previous actors coming back, it\'s like old times. I love that. Thank you and may it go beyond 2026 and further. Days is the reason I have Peacock...
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Ron Carlivati, saved Days from being canceled and Emmy winner for Days
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Heritage Project 2025 is going to blow the 2025 plan of DOOL”with Trump’s re-election
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Bring back Nicole.
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Have been watching DOOL for over 30 years. Miss seeing one of my favorites (Nicole)
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