The cast shake-ups for The Real Housewives of Orange County just keep getting (orange) juicier this month, as long-time fan favourite (and current star of The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Ex-Wives Club) Tamra Judge has officially confirmed her return to RHOC for season 17.
While there have been hints of Judge’s return (ahem, Jill Zarin), the official confirmation came via Wednesday’s episode of Watch What Happens Live. Never one to shy away from the drama, Judge sauntered into the set, grabbed an orange and said: “The Judge is back, and drama is in session.”
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Further confirming the news, Watch What Happens Live host Andy Cohen jumped in, adding, “Ladies and gentleman, it’s true — Tamra Judge is returning to The Real Housewives of Orange County.”
As Page Six reports, Judge and Cohen chatted further about her feelings about rejoining the cast (after leaving the show in 2020).
“I think that being off for two years was probably the best thing you could have done to me, even though I didn’t like it. I was on the show for 12 years, and once you’re on that long, you become a professional ‘Housewife,’” she said.
Related: Interview: Heather Dubrow on returning to ‘RHOC’ and being ambushed by Nicole James’ lawsuit.
Judge’s return follows a year of ups-and-downs for RHOC, which included the return of Heather Dubrow in season 16 and the recent departures of one-season wonders Noella Bergener and Dr. Jen Armstrong.
