While she’s best known for her portrayal as Kate Roberts on “Days of our Lives,” actress Lauren Koslow will soon be returning to her original soap stomping ground at “The Young and the Restless,” where she will temporarily take over the role of Jill Abbott after portrayer Jess Walton was reportedly unavailable for taping due to a scheduling conflict.
According to TV Insider, which first reported the news, Walton, who has resided full-time in Oregon since 2011 and has been on recurring status with the soap since 2012, was unable to make it to Los Angeles to tape for an upcoming story arc, prompting the series to recast, albeit temporarily.
Koslow will reportedly appear in at least five episodes of the long-running daytime drama series, beginning Thursday, June 25, reports Soap Opera Digest.
Despite taking on another role at a rival soap, a spokesperson for “Days of our Lives” said in a statement to the outlet, “‘DAYS is happy to be able to share Lauren with ‘Y&R,’ and this does not affect her status with the show in any way.”
Koslow made her soap opera debut in 1984 on “The Young and the Restless,” playing Lindsey Wells opposite Brenda Dickson, who originated the role of Jill. By 1987, Koslow had left the series to take on the role of Margo Lynley on “The Bold and the Beautiful,” while Walton stepped in as Jill following Dickson’s exit.
After her exit from “The Bold and the Beautiful” in 1992, Koslow returned to soaps in 1996, this time playing Kate Roberts on “Days of our Lives,” replacing Deborah Adair. She has remained a staple ever since, working opposite several heavy hitters, including Deidre Hall (Marlena Evans) and the late Joseph Mascolo (Stefano DiMera).
“We’re extremely grateful to Lauren Koslow for returning to her ‘Y&R’ roots and temporarily stepping into the role of Jill,” said executive producer Sally McDonald and head writer Josh Griffith in a joint statement. “We want to extend our sincere thanks to [executive producer] Ken Corday and [co-executive producer] Noel Maxam at ‘Days of our Lives’ and Peacock. Their support embodies the collaborative spirit of the daytime television community.”
“Jess Walton is an enduring cornerstone of ‘Y&R,'” continued McDonald and Griffith. “We look forward to welcoming her back to Genoa City as her schedule permits and celebrating her extraordinary 40th anniversary as the iconic Jill Abbott.”
On Wednesday, it was announced Griffith had stepped down as executive producer at “The Young and the Restless,” though he remains the show’s head writer. McDonald, who was named co-executive producer in September 2025, is now the show’s sole executive producer.
