‘Days of Our Lives’ Shakeup: Former Co-Head Writer Returns to NBC Soap

Days of Our Lives has officially installed a new writing team as part of the show’s ongoing long-term story development strategy, TV Insider can exclusively confirm.

Ryan Quan, most recently a breakdown writer at General Hospital, will join Jeanne Marie Ford as co-head writer beginning in July 2026. Current co-head writer Paula Cwikly will transition into a consultant role, continuing her longstanding relationship with the series.

“We are lucky to have Ryan back in the fold,” executive producer Ken Corday tells TV Insider. “There are very few people who have such a deep knowledge and understanding of our show’s history. Stay tuned!”

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A graduate of UCLA, Quan originally joined Days as a writer’s assistant in 2007 after working on Passions. Over the course of nearly two decades with the show, Quan has held a variety of writing positions, developing an extensive knowledge of its history, characters, and legacy. Quan previously served as co-head writer from 2016-17, working alongside Dena Higley. At the time, he told Soap Opera Digest, “I just want to make the show feel like the show I grew up watching that had a mix of mystery and adventure and romance and fun.”

Beginning in 2017, Quan worked closely with the show’s former head writer Ron Carlivati as a story consultant. Following Carlivati’s departure in 2024, Quan joined General Hospital the following year.

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After the Days writing team won the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing Team for a Drama Series in 2022, Carlivati and Quan discussed their creative partnership with soap journalist Michael. Reflecting on Quan’s contributions, Carlivati said, “He will admit that I, once a week, 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.”

Because of the show’s unique production schedule, episodes written under this new creative team’s vision are expected to air in mid-2027.

The news comes on the heels of NBCUniversal Media Chairman Matt Strauss announcing that Peacock, the six-year-old streamer where Days airs, is expected to turn a profit for the first time in the current quarter, underscoring continued corporate investment in the long-running daytime drama.

Days of our Lives, Weekdays, Peacock

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