"Wish Drake Hogestyn was there for her return"— Martha Madison's return to Days of Our Lives sparks fans' nostalgia for John Black

Days of Our Lives premiered on NBC in 1965, where it stayed for 57 years, until a move to Peacock in 2022. With its intense family sagas, confused relationships, and unforgettable characters, the show has enthralled viewers for decades now.

Belle Black, played by Martha Madison, is one of the main characters on the daily soap because of her relationship timelines and complicated family relations— she is John and Marlena’s daughter. Having left the show in November 2023, Martha Madison's character returned to Days of Our Lives on November 8, 2024, to mark the show’s 59th anniversary.

With this, fans have taken to social media and voiced their thoughts. Some were disappointed that John Black, played by Drake Hogestyn, and Shawn was not there at the anniversary party, even if many are thrilled to see her return to the role of Belle Black.

"Good to see her back. Just wish Drake Hogestyn was there for her return," a fan, with the username Rose Sharpe, wrote.

A few fans mentioned that they missed Abigail, and were frustrated by her absence as seen in the comments of the Facebook post announcing Martha's return. Some of these comments include:

Fan reactions (Image via Facebook/Days of our Lives)

Fan reactions (Image via Facebook/Days of our Lives)

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More details about Martha Madison's return

Martha Madison’s character, Belle Black, seems to be returning to stay. This brings memories of Belle's involvement with her father, Drake Hogestyn's John Black— one of the show's most popular characters, whose history is stark and tattered.

From being an amnesiac to a private detective, and further on to a devoted family man, his story has been one of transformation. As Martha Madison made a full-time return to Days of Our Lives at the annual Day of Days fan event with excitement, she expressed gratitude towards the fans for supporting her. In a statement to Michael Fairman TV, she said:

“I can tell you it has changed with the new writers (Paula Cwikly and Jeanne Marie Ford). We are back full-time and have been since April. It is the best stuff I’ve ever done in 20 years on this show. So if you are a fan of Shawn and Bell start watching.”

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Days of Our Lives: Overview of Belle's character

Belle Black made her first appearance on the show Days of Our Lives in 1993. She was added to both the Black and Brady families, with the two families being fundamental parts of Salem.

Belle Black, a character initially portrayed by multiple child actresses, was revamped and reintroduced to the show with Kirsten Storms in 1999. After the temporary replacement of the role by Charity Rahmer, Madison took on the role of Belle in 2004 and remained with it for four years.

Her on-again, off-again status with the show persisted, bringing her back in 2015 to be part of the show's 50th-anniversary celebration. Madison returned for her latest stint in 2020 but left the show again in November 2023. She is returning to the show once again in November 2024, this time reportedly on a full-time basis.

Belle's love life forms the central point. Shawn-Douglas Brady, Bo and Hope Brady's son, is her main love interest. Shawn and Bell's relationship has been marked by challenges— they have been through every phase of misunderstanding and separation.

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Closing thoughts

Martha Madison’s return adds to the soap opera’s intensified drama. However, this is not the only storyline developing on the show. According to the current plot, Brady changes their future by giving Kristen an ultimatum. While Xander hopes Kate will stop him, Philip causes trouble at Titan, and Steve and Roman doubt Clyde's intentions.

Fans can watch the next episodes of this soap opera on Peacock.