Soap Opera
‘Days of Our Lives’ Casts a Major Behind-the-Scenes Shakeup as Fan-Favorite Writer Defects from ‘General Hospital’
Ryan Quan returns to Days of Our Lives as co-head writer alongside Jeanne Marie Ford. His content hits Peacock in May 2027 due to the shows advanced filming schedule.
It’s official: beloved writer Ryan Quan is returning to Days of Our Lives this time as co-head writer alongside Jeanne Marie Ford.
As originally reported by Daytime Confidential‘s Melodie Aikels, Quan began his daytime career working on the NBC soap opera Passions in 1999. The writer then joined the writing team of Days of Our Lives in 2007, where he held multiple roles including writer’s assistant, story consultant, and co-head writer.
Paula Cwikly, current Days co-head writer will transition into a consultation role.
Quan left the soap in 2025 to work as a breakdown writer for General Hospital, but will once again return to Salem, according to TV Insider, beginning this July.
Due to Days of Our Lives‘ advanced filming schedule, though Quan will begin writing this summer, his content will not appear on-screen until May of 2027, at which point a transitional period has historically taken place as the incoming regime ties up loose ends before beginning their original content.
In an interview with soap journalist Michael Fairman for his YouTube channel, Michael Fairman Online, Quan and former Days of Our Lives head writer Ron Carlivati spoke after winning the 2022 Outstanding Writing Team award.
Carlivati shared, “Once a week I say, Ryan, do you want this job, and he always says no, but he could do it, and I could not do mine without him.”
Quan is known for his love for the genre, especially Days of Our Lives, and served as a ‘historian’ for Ron’s tenure, and is credited with assisting in the accurate portrayal of the soaps history, including references, relationships, and anniversaries.
Fans react
Fans excitedly took to social media to share their excitement about the news.
Days of Our Lives podcaster Ariet, host of Soap Dish Salem Style, shared, “I have good faith in him. He knows the show and its history.”
A second user wrote, “I finally have a little hope back for Days. The man is basically a Days encyclopedia and actually understands Salem history. That matters.”
A third wrote, “Looking forward to seeing what he brings to Salem.”
Days of Our Lives airs new episodes weekdays on Peacock.
