Lauren Koslow, best known as Kate on Days of our Lives, is stepping in soon as Jill Foster Abbott on The Young and the Restless. Her first appearance is coming up any day now. But what about Jess Walton, who has played the part of Jill since 1987? Head writer Josh Griffith is speaking out on Koslow stepping, and when Walton may be back in Genoa City!
Jess Walton’s Future as Jill
Griffith told Soap Opera Digest that the show loves Jess Walton. “She is Jill to the masses,” the scribe added. That said, there are no announced air dates for Walton and the show. Griffith hopes that as the show moves forward, there will be an opportunity to see Walton as Jill “based on her availability.”
Koslow’s no stranger to Griffith’s writing. He wrote for her as Kate when he was on DAYS. Plus, the actress got her start in daytime on Y&R as calculating Lindsey Wells, a woman who fell in love with Jack Abbott (then, Terry Lester; now, Peter Bergman).
After wrapping up in Genoa City, Koslow was asked to join the original cast of The Bold and the Beautiful as Margo Lynley. Koslow appeared in B&B’s first episode as Eric Forrester’s (John McCook) right hand at Forrester Creations. Her romantic feelings for Eric were evident.
In fact, in B&B’s second episode, Stephanie (Susan Flannery), Eric’s wife, suspected that there was more to Eric and Margo’s relationship than mere work. Margo moved on to a marriage of convenience with Bill Spencer, Sr. (Jim Storm). She had a fling with Clarke Garrison (Dan McVicar) and gave birth to their son, Mark.
Margo was involved in a groundbreaking story when her brother, Jake Maclaine (Todd McKee), accused his father, Ben (John Brandon), of sexually molesting him when he was just a child. (His true assailant was his Uncle Charlie, played by Chuck Walling.)
Margo left the B&B canvas in 1992. Nearly four years later, Koslow popped up as Kate on DAYS. The character was presumed dead, or at least lost, in a plane crash. She came back like gangbusters and immediately resumed her love affair with Victor Kiriakis (John Aniston) and her feud with Vivian Alamain (Louise Sorel).
Soon, Kate had Sami’s (Allison Sweeney) number as Sami had her sights set on Kate’s son, Austin (Austin Peck). Kate and Sami went on to have an epic feud!
Family Drama
Watch for family drama during Koslow’s tenure as Jill. She’s going to try to get her son, Billy (Jason Thompson), and her stepson, Cane (Billy Flynn), to get along.
“She wants [Billy] to accept that Cane will be running this company that Billy has coveted for so long,” Griffith previews.
In addition to playing negotiator, Jill has a secret. She’s going to guard some information that could have “major consequences” should Billy learn the truth.
Ideally, if Jill has her way, Billy and Cane will come together and put a pin in the fighting. Griffith says that it’s going to be an up-mountain battle.
It’ll be a “together again for the first time” situation if Koslow’s Jill encounters Jack Abbott. Koslow’s original Y&R character, Lindsey, interacted with Jack, but that was back when Lester played him.
Do you think Jill will succeed in uniting Cane and Billy? Sound off in the comments section below!
Edited by Michael Maloney