The Doctor Is In: Ian Buchanan Makes His B&B Return

Ian Buchanan has been killed off on Days of Our Lives and General Hospital, but The Bold and the Beautiful has wisely kept Buchanan’s alter-ego Dr. James Warwick alive!

And, now, both Buchanan and his psychiatrist persona are coming back to the half-hour susder!

According to TV Insider , the Emmy-winner started taping shows on July 5 and will be back on air starting Wednesday, Aug. 16.

Oh, Sheila!
Buchanan told TV Insider that he was happily surprised to get the call from his former soap.

“I’d heard Kimberlin was back, but it never entered my head that I’d also be getting a call,” Buchanan said. “Every time I go to the Beverly Center or to the Grove, I look very fondly toward the CBS building. I loved my time at B&B. I actually spent more years there than I ever did at GH.”

Of course, it’s James’ ex-wife Sheila (Kimberlin Brown) that brings the good psychiatrist back to the storyline. Eric asks James to examine Sheila to find out if she’s really changed.

Cat And Mouse
We suspect that Sheila will do her best to convince James she’s changed whether or not she truly has. (And let’s face it, does anyone really want Sheila to truly change her wicked ways?)

It’s no secret that Sheila’s managed to get the upperhand against James before; at one point, she kept him hostage in the dungeon basement of the home she shared in Holmby Hills with Eric.

The Doctor Is Staying?
TV Insider says that while Buchanan isn’t reporting to the show as a contract player his stay is open-ended. And given the number of dysfunctional souls there are on B&B, there’s plenty of story to keep James around for quite some time!

The actor is staying in some historic digs during his stay at B&B; on his first day back, he was assigned to the dressing room once regularly occupied by his pal and former B&B castmate Susan Flannery (ex-Stephanie)!

The Bold and the Beautiful airs weekdays on CBS. Share your thoughts, leave a comment in the section below. Win exclusive member-only B&B spoilers, prizes, and more: sign up here! Also, join the conversation on our Facebook page.