Jamey Giddens is living out his dream. The soap writer is now taking the helm at The Young and the Restless with co-head writer Dan O’Connor. For Giddens, this is a dream come true in more ways than one.
Key Takeaways
- Jamey Giddens and Dan O’Connor’s debut episode aired on November 11.
- Giddens’ previous work included Days of Our Lives and Beyond The Gates.
- The writer grew up a fan of Y&R and its creator, William J. Bell.
Jamey Giddens Learned From The Best
Giddens’ love of the soap genre has taken him far in his career. As a fan, he started Daytime Confidential, a site dedicated to covering the latest news and spoilers for daytime TV. Giddens then went from writing about soap operas to writing for them.
He created the OWN primetime drama Ambitions, then became a breakdown writer for DAYS and BTG. In 2026, he landed his biggest job as co-head writer for Y&R.
As a longtime fan of Y&R, this is a dream come true for Giddens, who wants to recreate the magic of the William J. Bell era. Bell is a pioneer in the soap world, and the late Y&R creator is an inspiration to Giddens.
”Not only did I grow up watching his shows, I grew up studying his interviews,” Giddens tells TV Insider. “And he talked about how the soap opera is the superior medium. So many people think of it as a stepping stone to primetime, but you never get to spend this much time with a character as you do in this genre.”
Giddens calls writing for Y&R “a tremendous honor” and already has the support of the Bell family. As for when it comes to the feel and style of the show, fans will be reminded of the early years. “We really want to pay homage to what Bell did with a contemporary feel for this modern era we live in and to keep these stories fresh and sexy and young and restless for many generations to come.”
Y&R New Writers Hit The Ground Running
Fans have been anxiously awaiting Giddens and O’Connor’s first episode, which debuted on November 11. The episode didn’t disappoint and had lots of viewers excited.
Mariah (Camryn Grimes) and Tessa (Cait Fairbanks) made a return as they discussed saving their marriage. Nikki (Melody Thomas Scott) and Diane (Susan Walters) were on fire by trading insults. And Sharon (Sharon Case) showed the strong, take-charge side that fans know and love.
Although it’s only one episode in, Giddens and O’Connor are already impressing fans with their work. And the drama is going to heat up once their tenure fully gets underway.
