A popular star has exited The Young and the Restless… for now. Here’s the soap’s latest comings and goings casting news for the week of January 12-16. Find out if any popular performers from yesteryear are joining the show, if any newcomers are boarding in contract, recurring, or day-player roles, and if any actors or actresses are leaving the CBS drama.
Key Takeaways
- Christel Khalil began maternity leave, and Lily exited Genoa City to visit Charlie and Mattie.
- Cait Fairbanks receives increased airtime as Tessa, including a pivotal scene with Sharon.
- Roger Howarth continues his arc as Matt Clark/Mitch Bacall following his surprise return.
- Lily’s absence reshaped multiple storylines tied to Cane, Devon, and the Winters family.
- Tessa’s upcoming decision signals a possible turning point in her romantic storyline.
The Week of January 12, 2026
Christel Khalil has officially begun her maternity leave. The actress, who is pregnant with her third child, has two sons: Michael, 15, and Remy, a toddler. Her character, Lily Winters, announced that she was exiting Genoa City last week to visit her children, Charlie and Mattie, for a few weeks. Khalil revealed that she was expecting last October, via a video on social media.
Cait Fairbanks gets more screen time as Tessa Porter. Look for Tessa to make a tough decision about her complicated love life with some help from Sharon Case’s Sharon on Wednesday, January 14.
Roger Howarth continues his story arc as Matt Clark/Mitch Bacall. (Here’s how Y&R fans feel about the character’s surprise return, after being declared dead some 20 years ago.)
