Nick Confronts Ridge and Brooke’s Toxic Relationship on The Bold and the Beautiful
Could Nick Marone be the one to finally separate Brooke and Ridge for good on The Bold and the Beautiful? Jack Wagner certainly believes so.
Wagner, 65, shared insights about his return to the iconic CBS soap, with his first episode set to air on Monday, June 16, during an exclusive interview with Us Weekly.
“[Showrunner and producer] Brad Bell and I play at the same golf course. We bumped into each other about four or five months ago,” Wagner reflected. “I was on my way to Italy for the summer, and I said, ‘If you need me for any press for the show, remember I did that one-day thing for Brooke in [2022].’ About six weeks later, he called and asked, ‘Would you be interested in a summer story arc before you head back to When Calls the Heart?’”
Wagner mentioned that things had become “complicated” for Nick before his exit in 2012. For his comeback, he wants to center on Nick’s relationship with Brooke (Katherine Kelly Lang) as she deals with her heartbreak over Ridge (Thorsten Kaye) and Taylor’s (Rebecca Budig) reunion.
“Things became a little complicated, with marrying the daughter [Bridget] and then marrying the sister [Katie]. What I appreciate about my return is the focus on Nick’s love for Brooke,” Wagner explained. “He discovers that she’s heartbroken over Ridge and Taylor, and he returns to Los Angeles to help her break free from this toxic cycle and hopefully win her heart back.”
The Melrose Place star expressed his enthusiasm for working with Lang, who has been a part of B&B since its inception in 1987.
“She’s a delightful person, and she’s truly dedicated to making the material the best it can be,” he told Us. “They let me modify my dialogue and restructure scenes, which Katherine is very supportive of. She’s always looking to elevate the bar. I love that Nick is decisive and very clear about his intentions. He directly communicates what he sees. They share memories and have some fantastic flashbacks, allowing them to connect and possibly open a new chapter together.”
Viewers will witness a different side of Nick in 2025 — “We had to reassess his wardrobe; he’s now a shipping tycoon running Maroney industries,” Wagner explained to Us — and so will Ridge.
“When Ridge enters and starts confronting him, Nick remains unfazed, exuding complete confidence, treating Ridge like a mere fly,” Wagner teased. “I had the opportunity to poke fun at Ridge repeatedly. I don’t think Thorsten or Ridge are used to that. We got along great; we’re both playful guys on set with a good sense of humor. We enjoyed a lot of friendly banter.”
Wagner is confident that fans will appreciate the storyline focusing on Nick and Brooke’s romance.
“I believe it will pay off because it won’t be diluted in any way. I told Brad, ‘I don’t want to be involved in any other storyline. This has to be Nick’s primary goal: to win back Brooke’s heart and help her realize that he is the decisive man who loves her and only her,’” he stated.
The Bold and the Beautiful airs on CBS weekdays at 1:30 p.m. ET.
