‘The Young and the Restless’ Creator Bill Bell Revamped ‘Days of Our Lives’ With ‘Psychosexual’ Storylines

The Young and the Restless is one of only three long-running daytime soap operas still on the air. But prior to its creation, Bill Bell was an integral part of the writing team behind Days of Our Lives. His time of him on the show left an indelible mark on Days of Our Lives. Here’s how Bell changed that soap opera, bringing a fresh approach that set the stage for years to come.

Bill Bell created ‘The Young and the Restless’

Even longtime fans of daytime soap operas might not realize how integral Bell was in creating the modern crop of shows. In the 1950s and 1960s, Bell co-created and served as a co-head writer on Another World. He also wrote for As the World Turns, ultimately becoming co-head writer there. After that, Bell became head writer for Days of Our Lives in the late 1960s.