Drake Hogestyn’s death following a battle with pancreatic cancer devastated his Days of our Lives family, but play daughter Martha Madison (Belle Black) assures that the soap did right by the actor and his much-loved character.
Martha Madison On Drake’s Passing, John’s Memorial
“Losing [Drake] feels like more than losing a colleague… yet not quite like losing your own parent,” the actress mused to Woman’s World. “When you’re an actor playing family for 20 years, you’ve spent some of your most vulnerable moments together. Drake came to my wedding and was around when my daughter was born. We went through all these huge real-life moments and then on the show, though it’s fake and scripted, you’re mourning together, rescuing each other, and going through it all together.”
Though Madison grants that reacting to John’s death and the subsequent memorial scenes were “hard” there does exist a silver lining. “We were all doing this sendoff together, like a real family. Drake deserved nothing but the best, and to be able to honor him the way we did was really beautiful. I think he would be very proud.
Daily Drama News Nuggets
* Be sure to check out General Hospital grad Vinessa Antoine’s (ex-Jordan Ashford) socials, where she diligently keeps fans abreast of her upcoming projects.
In about a month’s time, she’ll be back in Grey’s Anatomy, where she plays Skye Williams. On June 5, season three of Ginny and Georgia drops on Netflix. Antoine first appeared on the mother-daughter dramarama during its sophomore run, and she’s continuing in the role of Simone, Zion Miller’s new squeeze.
* The BBC has announced that the previously ordered, wholly live episode of EastEnders — which will coincide with the soap’s 40th anniversary — will air on Thursday, February 20th. The installment will see Natalie Cassidy’s Sonia Fowler take center stage and feature the unmasking of Cindy Beal’s Christmas Day assailant and the final results of an interactive storyline that has seen viewers vote on whether Denise Fox should choose swarthy Ravi or estranged husband Jack.
In related news, Natalie Cassidy has released a statement revealing that she’s tendered her resignation. It reads in part: “After another 11 solid years back on The Square, I have decided it’s time to move on to pastures new. EastEnders is in my bones so I will never forget where I started my career and I will continue to love the show.”
* TVInsider has dropped an exclusive look behind-the-scenes at Beyond The Gates.
* While Tracey Bregman (Lauren Fenmore Baldwin, The Young and the Restless) isn’t one to complain…per se…she’d certainly relish the chance to put some meow back into her once catty alter-ego.
“I feel like Lauren’s swung too far into the nice realm,” she shared with Woman’s World. “I’m every gal’s best friend and hey, I’m always happy to be at work…but I wish we saw a little bit more of Lauren’s edge.”
* Britain’s Coronation Street and Emmerdale are scaling back their weekly output in a permanent schedule change that is set to go into effect early next year.
Kevin Lygo, ITV’s Managing Director of Media and Entertainment, said in a statement: “The new commissioning pattern is viewer-led. We already give more choice than ever to viewers on how they watch us through ITVX and we want to present their favourite soap to them in the most digestible way.
“In a world where there is so much competition for viewers’ time and attention, and viewing habits continue to change, we believe this is the right amount of episodes that fans can fit into their viewing schedule, to keep up to date with the shows.
“Research insights also show us that soap viewers are increasingly looking to the soaps for their pacey storytelling. Streaming-friendly, 30-minute episodes better provide the opportunity to meet viewer expectations for storyline pace, pay-off and resolution.
“Whilst viewing is growing on ITVX, we know a significant proportion of our soaps’ audience still watch us via the schedule. This new pattern is in the DNA of the soap genre – nobody else does 30-minute drama this successfully.
“It creates a soap power hour that’s consistent, and easy to find in the linear schedule, for the UK’s biggest soaps.”
“This new commissioning pattern will mean five hours of soaps a week, rather than the current six. We are conscious this will have an impact for the people who work on the soaps team. We will support our colleagues in ITV Studios as they work through these changes, and will do what we can to mitigate the impact on our people.”
* The Young and the Restless‘ Cait Fairbanks (Tessa Porter) has changed up her do:
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* The Lindsay Hartley(ex-Theresa Lopez-Fitzgerald Crane, Passions) directed thriller-flick Tempted will premiere on Tubi on February 14. Get a first look below:
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* Tanner Novlan’s (Finn Finnegan, The Bold and the Beautiful) ‘Bad Actor’ is once again peddling Liberty Bibberty Insurance…well, make that, arguing with a talkative toddler over how to perfectly pronounce the insurance company’s name. (Yes, yes….We know it’s really Liberty Mutual!)
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* The Young and the Restless pulled off quite the coup with the revelation that Nate Owens is playing Holden, and not Damian, as fans (and indeed the soap opera press) were led to believe.
In an interview with Soap Opera Digest, Owens teased that Holden “has a past with someone in town…and maybe a certain lady,” and that his alter-ego will be “busy keeping secrets as he settles in.” Juicy stuff indeed!
* Carlo Rota (Jenz Sidwell, General Hospital) will appear in an upcoming episode of The Rookie, scheduled for February 11th. In ‘The Gala,’ “It’s Valentine’s Day, and Lieutenant Grey gives Tim and Lucy an unromantic assignment, while John and Celina track down a missing girl. Later, the team sharpens up for a charity gala where multiple relationships come to a head.”
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