Heather Locklear returning to ‘Melrose Place’

LOS ANGELES - Heather Locklear will reprise her role as scheming vixen Amanda Woodward on “Melrose Place,” Access Hollywood has learned. The actress will make her return appearance on November 17.

“We’re ecstatic to have the chance to bring Amanda Woodward back to ‘Melrose Place,’” executive producers Todd Slavkin & Darren Swimmer said in a statement released to Access. “Heather’s involvement in the show is something we’ve been working on for some time as we couldn’t imagine creating and producing this show without the iconic character’s inclusion.”

As previously reported on AccessHollywood.com, Locklear’s former and future co-stars were excited about the possibility of the actress’ return when Access caught up with them in August.

“No one is Heather,” Daphne Zuniga, who has signed on to return as Jo Reynolds for two episodes, told Access last month. “Nobody. The new [bitch on the show], I think her name is Ella, she’s lovely, she’s great as being a bitch, but nobody is Heather Locklear as far as that goes.”

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Katie Cassidy, who stars as Ella Sims, the newest blonde cutthroat female on the show, said she would welcome Locklear to the set with open arms. “I think it’s great. Heather Locklear is amazing and we would be more than thrilled – Heather — if you came on our show,” Katie, the daughter of David Cassidy, said.

Cassidy said she feels there could be some potential catfights with Amanda if Heather chooses to return. “They’re both business women,” Cassidy noted. “I think there could be some really fun material happening there. It would be an honor to have her on. So hopefully… We’ll see.”

Locklear joined the popular ’90s series at the end of its first season and stayed on throughout the series’ successful seven-year run. She joins original castmates Laura Leighton, Thomas Calabro, Josie Bisset and Zuniga in the updated version for The CW.

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