Who Is Coming, Who Is Going, and Who Is Doing the Most This Week Across Daytime

STEVE BURTON EXITS, BILLY FLYNN SAYS GOODBYE TO SALEM, CHRISTEL KHALIL IS BACK, AND DAYTIME WILL NEVER BE THE SAME!

TL;DR: The world of daytime has big changes coming! Steve Burton has filmed his final scenes on General Hospital ahead of a summer hiatus, Kirsten Storms is back as Maxie after six months, Billy Flynn airs his last episode as Chad on Days of Our Lives, Sal Stowers and Lamon Archey are returning to Salem full time, Christel Khalil is back from maternity leave on The Young and the Restless, Stacy Haiduk is about to be on two soaps at once, and Beyond the Gates keeps stacking new faces while The Bold and the Beautiful says goodbye to the DWTS boys.

General Hospital

The biggest General Hospital news is a departure that nobody was ready for. Steve Burton has filmed his final scenes as Jason Morgan and is stepping away from the soap for a hiatus. The actor shared on Instagram that he wants to spend time with his new wife and family, and says he plans to return this summer. His exit could not come at a worse time, with the Wyndemere conspiracy reaching a boiling point and Jason’s name tangled in every corner of it.

The flip side of that coin is a return fans have been waiting months for. Kirsten Storms made her long awaited comeback as Maxie Jones on February 12, waking from her coma in an emotional scene surrounded by her children and Felicia. Storms had stepped away from the soap in August 2025 to relocate to Tennessee and address a personal health issue. Her first full week back begins Monday, and the spoilers promise she will be stunned by what she has missed.

Friday brings something different entirely. GH will air a special tribute episode honoring the late Tony Geary and his legendary portrayal of Luke Spencer. The people of Port Charles will revisit some of Luke’s most iconic adventures in what promises to be a moving farewell to a General Hospital legend.

Which casting move has you the most emotional this week? Write to [email protected] and tell us if you are crying over a departure or cheering for a return!

Days of Our Lives

Tuesday is the end of an era on Days of Our Lives. Billy Flynn airs his final episode as Chad DiMera, a role he originated in 2014. Chad leaves Salem with his children Thomas (Cary Christopher) and Charlotte (Autumn Gendron), heading to Arizona to visit Sonny and Will. Matthew Ashford and Melissa Reeves return as Jack and Jennifer Deveraux to see the family off. Flynn is already on Y&R, where he has been playing Cane Ashby since last year.

The bigger Salem news may be that Sal Stowers and Lamon Archey are officially returning full time as Lani and Eli Grant. The couple has only made periodic appearances since their 2022 departure, but now they are back for good, with Eli partnering up with Rafe and the family moving back to Salem. Ivan G’Vera makes a surprise return on Friday as Ivan Marius, anxious to tie up loose ends in the wake of Vivian’s disappearance. And Louise Sorel has officially wrapped her brief return stint as Vivian Alamain on Days of Our Lives.

The Young and the Restless

Christel Khalil has reported back to work as Lily Winters on The Young and the Restless after her maternity leave. Khalil last appeared on January 7, when Lily announced she was leaving town to spend time with her daughter Maddie. She shared a selfie with costar Billy Flynn and a caption that fans took as confirmation she was back. Expect Lily on screen again in a few weeks.

The other major Y&R casting news has not happened yet but it is worth watching. Stacy Haiduk is set to reprise her role as Patty Williams after a ten year absence. Haiduk, who last played Patty in 2016 when the character was institutionalized, currently portrays Kristen DiMera and Susan Banks on DAYS and will appear on both soaps simultaneously. No word yet on when Patty’s first episode will air on The Young and the Restless.

The Bold and the Beautiful

It is a quiet week on the casting front for The Bold and the Beautiful. The Dancing With the Stars cameo from Gleb Savchenko and Marcquet Hill has officially wrapped after their turn as the entertainment at Daphne’s bridal shower last week. The pair portrayed male dancers at Steffy’s cliff house alongside the bridal party. No major arrivals or departures are on tap this week as the show’s focus shifts entirely to Eric’s health crisis and the fallout from his secret design work for Katie on The Bold and the Beautiful.

Beyond the Gates

Beyond the Gates has been rolling out new faces at a steady clip. Cecelia Specht debuted on February 13 as Dr. Lia Whitmore, the Chief of Staff at Garland Memorial. Her publicist confirms Specht is at the center of a juicy story arc, and speculation is already swirling about whether Dr. Whitmore could be connected to the Impaler investigation.

The past two weeks also introduced fresh players to Fairmont Crest. Milly Figuereo joined the cast as fashion designer Tatum Stewart, making her debut the week of February 6 and wasting no time pursuing Dani as a spokesperson. And Madison Alsobrook arrived as Francesca Belleclaire, the third young woman vying for the Platinum Deb title at the Cotillion alongside Samantha and Anastasia on Beyond the Gates.

Which new face has you the most intrigued and which exit has you screaming into the void? Sound off in the comments and share this with every soap fan who needs the full rundown!

WATCH THIS: What will we do without Jason Morgan?

@soapoperamag We love that Steve is putting his family first… Fear not, dear friend, he won't be gone long…But what will happen to Britt while he's away? Will she do the unthinkable and fall for someone else? #GeneralHospital ♬ original sound – Soap Opera Magazine