A part of Y&R’s rich history.

In the wake of the news that Sally Sussman replaced Chuck Pratt as headwriter at “The Young and the Restless,” comes a report that Kay Alden, who worked on the soap alongside its co-creator Bill Bell beginning back in 1974, is returning. Alden is being brought on as a story consultant, which many see as fantastic news, not only due to her experience, but to her wealth of knowledge about “Y&R’s” roots and core characters. Recent writing regimes took a great deal of criticism for a lack of integrity where the history and the fundamentals of the characters were concerned.

Alden began as a scriptwriter on “Y&R” in 1974, and worked in various capacities on the writing team until 1998 when she took over as headwriter from Bill Bell when he stepped down from the role. For a year after her departure in 2006, she worked as a story consultant on “All My Children,” “One Life to Live,” and “General Hospital.” From 2008 – 2013 Alden was co-headwriter at The Bold and the Beautiful, “Y&R’s” sister soap. Amid numerous nominations, Alden won three Daytime Emmy Awards for Best Writing with “The Young and the Restless,” and one with “The Bold and the Beautiful,” and she also earned two Writers Guild Awards for Best Writing on “Y&R.”

Notable storylines Alden was involved in writing were Jennifer Brooks’ breast cancer storyline and Cassie’s death, which highlighted the issue of teen drinking.

Many are thrilled about the news of Alden’s return, including longtime Genoa City cast member Melody Thomas Scott, who shared her enthusiasm on Twitter:

Soaps.com welcomes Kay Alden back to “The Young and the Restless.”

Follow Soaps.com on Twitter and Soaps.com on Facebook.

Photo credit: Howard Wise/JPI

– Candace Young