All dates below refer to the original US broadcasts on CBS, unless otherwise indicated.
A sourcing limitation: I found official CBS material identifying episodes from this period as Season 43, but no accessible CBS or official YouTube archive explicitly establishing both season boundaries. The dates below therefore follow the September-to-September episode classification used by the episode guides; they should not be presented as independently verified official CBS premiere and finale dates.
1. Season dates
| Boundary | US broadcast date | Overall episode number |
|---|---|---|
| First episode | September 1, 2015 | #10,744 |
| Last episode | August 31, 2016 | #10,999 |
| Beginning of the following season | September 1, 2016 | #11,000 |
This classification gives Season 43 256 original episodes. CBS’s press photography confirms the Season 43 designation for autumn 2015, while CBS separately confirms that episode #11,000 aired on September 1, 2016. TheTVDB.com
2. Characters and actors — alphabetical by character surname
The roster below covers the principal characters, recurring roles, children and identifiable supporting characters. I cannot certify it as an exhaustive end-credit list of every day player across all 256 episodes. Children’s credits and brief appearances are particularly uneven in the surviving records.
Characters are filed under their familiar surnames: Chelsea under Lawson, Phyllis under Summers, and Lily under Winters, for example.
| Character — actor | Notes |
|---|---|
| Ashley Abbott portrayed by Eileen Davidson | Central to Jabot, the medical research project and the Ashley–Stitch–Abby triangle. |
| Billy Abbott portrayed by Burgess Jenkins; subsequently Jason Thompson | The season’s principal adult recast. |
| Delia Abbott portrayed by Sophie Pollono | Deceased character appearing in visions or imagined encounters. |
| Jack Abbott portrayed by Peter Bergman | Faces the consequences of Victor’s impersonation scheme and his wife’s growing attachment to Billy. |
| Jill Abbott portrayed by Jess Walton | Also known as Jill Atkinson; becomes involved in Billy’s personal life and Brash & Sassy. |
| John Abbott portrayed by Jerry Douglas | Spiritual or imagined appearances. |
| Johnny Abbott portrayed by Holden and Ryan Hare | Billy and Victoria’s son; Chelsea’s biological son. |
| Katherine “Katie” Abbott portrayed by Reese and Kennedy Staib; subsequently Sienna Mercuri | Billy and Victoria’s daughter. |
| Kyle Abbott portrayed by Lachlan Buchanan | Appears during the earlier part of the season. |
| Traci Abbott portrayed by Beth Maitland | Recurring Abbott family appearances. |
| Sandra Allen / Dr. Sandy Anderson portrayed by Elizabeth Bogush | The psychiatrist behind the Christian/Sully deception; filed under her original surname. |
| Marco Annicelli portrayed by Peter Bergman | Jack’s double; principally relevant through the continuing aftermath and retrospective material. |
| Cane Ashby portrayed by Daniel Goddard | Becomes a suspect in Hilary’s disappearance and struggles to repair his marriage. |
| Charlie Ashby portrayed by Aidan Clark | Cane and Lily’s son. |
| Matilda “Mattie” Ashby portrayed by McKenna Roberts | Cane and Lily’s daughter. |
| Colin Atkinson portrayed by Tristan Rogers | Recurring involvement in the Ashby, Chancellor and Abbott stories. |
| Michael Baldwin portrayed by Christian LeBlanc | Represents characters caught in the season’s criminal investigations. |
| Constance Bingham portrayed by Sally Kellerman | Returns in a vision; her death becomes central to the case against Adam. |
| Christine Blair Williams portrayed by Lauralee Bell | District attorney and Paul’s wife. |
| Bethany Bryant portrayed by Chrishell Stause | Becomes involved with Billy and the concealment of his affair. |
| Joe Clark portrayed by Scott Elrod | Lily’s lover and Cane’s adversary. |
| Mariah Copeland portrayed by Camryn Grimes | Involved with Kevin and drawn into Sharon’s secret. |
| Travis Crawford portrayed by Michael Roark | Victoria’s new romantic interest. |
| Hilary Curtis Hamilton portrayed by Mishael Morgan | Her disappearance, recovery and ambitions drive several major stories. |
| Lauren Fenmore Baldwin portrayed by Tracey E. Bregman | Michael’s wife and a continuing business and family presence. |
| Kevin Fisher portrayed by Greg Rikaart | Central to the computer-related stories and the Mariah–Natalie–Chloe relationships. |
| Meredith Gates portrayed by Alicia Coppola | Victor’s prison doctor. |
| Devon Hamilton portrayed by Bryton James | Searches for Hilary and faces the revelation of Neil’s actions. |
| Anita Lawson portrayed by Catherine Bach | Chelsea’s mother; recurring appearances. |
| Chelsea Lawson Newman portrayed by Melissa Claire Egan | Supports Adam through his exposure, prosecution and imprisonment. |
| Dylan McAvoy portrayed by Steve Burton | Marries Sharon and raises “Sully,” unaware of the child’s identity. |
| Leslie Michaelson portrayed by Angell Conwell | Recurring legal role. |
| Bella Mitchell portrayed by Cali May Kinder | Chloe’s young daughter, introduced to viewers during her return. |
| Chloe Mitchell portrayed by Elizabeth Hendrickson | Returns repeatedly; remains consumed by Delia’s death. |
| Elise Moxley portrayed by Jensen Buchanan | Judge with a past connection to Victor. |
| Simon Neville portrayed by Michael E. Knight | Treats Hilary and develops an experimental medical treatment. |
| Abby Newman portrayed by Melissa Ordway | Marries Stitch and faces a devastating pregnancy loss. |
| Adam Newman portrayed by Justin Hartley | His identity is exposed; later framed for Constance’s murder. |
| Christian Newman / Sullivan “Sully” McAvoy portrayed by Jamie and Alister Tobias | The same baby under two identities. |
| Connor Newman portrayed by Gunner and Ryder Gadbois | Adam and Chelsea’s son. |
| Faith Newman portrayed by Alyvia Alyn Lind | Nick and Sharon’s daughter. |
| Nicholas “Nick” Newman portrayed by Joshua Morrow | Believes Christian has died, then loses Sage. |
| Nikki Newman portrayed by Melody Thomas Scott | Torn between Victor and the rest of her family. |
| Noah Newman portrayed by Robert Adamson | Involved with Marisa and responsible for accidentally running over Billy. |
| Sharon Newman McAvoy portrayed by Sharon Case | Initially deceived about Sully, then conceals his true identity. |
| Summer Newman portrayed by Hunter King | Becomes romantically involved with Luca. |
| Victor Newman portrayed by Eric Braeden | Faces prosecution, imprisonment and a family rebellion. |
| Emma Randall portrayed by Alice Greczyn | Gwen’s sister and a hospital employee. |
| Gwen Randall portrayed by Nadine Nicole | Helps Neil conceal and treat Hilary. |
| Benjamin “Stitch” Rayburn portrayed by Sean Carrigan | Marries Abby; struggles with his son Max’s behaviour. |
| Max Rayburn portrayed by Jared Breeze | Stitch’s son, introduced onscreen in January 2016. |
| Daniel Romalotti Jr. portrayed by Michael Graziadei | Returns near the end of the season. |
| Luca Santori portrayed by Miles Gaston Villanueva | Marisa’s estranged husband; later Summer’s fiancé. |
| David Sherman portrayed by Robert Gant | Supporting legal role. |
| Marisa Sierras portrayed by Sofia Pernas | Noah’s girlfriend and Luca’s estranged wife. |
| Natalie Soderberg portrayed by Mara McCaffray | Computer specialist behind Pass Key. |
| Nurse Stephens portrayed by Jill Lover | Accomplice in Christian’s abduction. |
| Phyllis Summers Abbott portrayed by Gina Tognoni | Pursues revenge against Victor and begins an affair with Billy. |
| Shawn Taylor portrayed by Devon Martinez | Pregnant woman considering letting Nick and Sage adopt her baby. |
| Esther Valentine portrayed by Kate Linder | Chloe’s mother and Bella’s grandmother. |
| Ian Ward portrayed by Ray Wise | Adam’s dangerous partner in the Paragon scheme. |
| Sage Warner Newman portrayed by Kelly Sullivan | Christian’s mother and Nick’s wife. |
| Patty Williams portrayed by Stacy Haiduk | Returns at Fairview and becomes a crucial witness to the baby deception. |
| Paul Williams portrayed by Doug Davidson | Investigates the season’s crimes. |
| Lily Winters Ashby portrayed by Christel Khalil | Her affair with Joe threatens her marriage. |
| Neil Winters portrayed by Kristoff St. John | Secretly holds the injured Hilary while trying to save her. |
The casting records support the season’s new recurring roles, while the child credits identify the Gadbois twins as Connor and Cali May Kinder as the first Bella. Nurse Stephens is credited to Jill Lover. CBS Wiki
3. Principal storylines
Adam’s identity is exposed — and the Paragon attack escalates
Adam’s life as Gabriel Bingham unravels. Chelsea must confront the truth about her husband, while Billy demands accountability for Delia’s death. Meanwhile, Adam’s alliance with Ian Ward produces the Paragon computer attack against Newman Enterprises. The scheme becomes increasingly uncontrollable and reignites the Newman–Abbott corporate war. Rotten Tomatoes
The conflict culminates in the Halloween gala fire at Newman Towers, beginning on October 30, 2015. Guests become trapped, enemies must cooperate, and Adam risks himself to save others. Ashley and Stitch’s closeness during the crisis complicates his relationship with Abby. Photos
Christian is stolen and becomes “Sully”
Sage gives birth prematurely to Christian, whom Nick believes is his biological son. Dr. Anderson arranges for the baby to be stolen and his death fabricated. At Fairview, she drugs Sharon and persuades her that she is still pregnant following her earlier miscarriage. Christian is then presented to Sharon as her newborn son.
Sharon and Dylan name him Sullivan “Sully” McAvoy. Dr. Anderson is subsequently exposed as Sandra Allen, a woman seeking revenge against Nick over their teenage past. Patty kills her before the deception can be fully uncovered. en.wikipedia.org
In April 2016, Sharon learns that Sully is Christian. Sage discovers the truth as well, but dies following a car accident before she can tell Nick. Sharon continues raising the baby with Dylan and confides in Mariah. Nick does not regain Christian during this season; that revelation comes in November 2016. soapoperadigest.com
Hilary’s disappearance exposes Neil’s betrayal
Devon’s search for his missing wife dominates the opening months. Neil has been secretly keeping the injured, unconscious Hilary while attempting to obtain treatment for her. Gwen helps him, and Dr. Simon Neville becomes involved in her recovery.
Hilary’s awakening brings memory problems and renewed emotional confusion involving Neil and Devon. The treatment subsequently develops into a research venture involving Neville, Ashley and members of the Winters family. Fandom
Billy’s accident, recovery and affair with Phyllis
Billy’s gambling and self-destructive behaviour culminate in a severe beating and an accident: Noah unknowingly runs him over. His family gathers at his hospital bedside as his survival becomes uncertain. Jason Thompson assumes the role during this storyline. soapoperanetwork.com
After recovering, Billy grows closer to Phyllis through their shared anger at Victor. Their relationship becomes a sexual affair in May 2016. Jill discovers their involvement and pressures Phyllis to recommit to Jack. The full exposure to Jack falls in September, after this season’s cutoff. Résumé et réactions| Soap-Passion
Abby and Stitch’s marriage is devastated by Max
Abby and Stitch marry, but their new household is unsettled by Max, who blames Abby for his mother’s death. When Abby becomes pregnant, Max deliberately rigs a tripwire on a staircase. Her resulting fall causes a miscarriage.
The investigation exposes Max’s actions, and his medical condition becomes part of the explanation for his increasingly disturbing behaviour. The loss places enormous pressure on Abby and Stitch’s marriage. Wikipedia
Luca moves from Marisa to Summer
Luca arrives seeking Marisa and uses information about their daughter, Ava, to exert pressure on her. His involvement with the Newman business creates further conflict with Noah and Victor.
He later becomes involved with Summer and seeks a stronger position within Newman Enterprises. Their engagement disintegrates when his deception concerning the company’s oil operations is exposed. Luca is arrested on August 29, 2016, although his final appearance comes the following month. Fandom
Pass Key and the struggle for business control
Natalie’s computer-security project becomes the focus of a business struggle involving Kevin, Billy, Phyllis and Victor. Personal loyalties and commercial ambitions collide, while Kevin’s relationships with Natalie and Mariah become increasingly complicated. Wikipedia
Victor’s imprisonment and Adam’s new ordeal
The consequences of Victor’s crimes, particularly the Marco impersonation scheme, lead to his imprisonment. He develops a relationship with prison doctor Meredith Gates.
Later, fabricated evidence implicates Adam in Constance Bingham’s death. Chloe’s concealed involvement and Victor’s manipulations drive the closing storyline. By August 31, Adam and Chelsea are trying to escape together with Connor. The cabin explosion occurs on September 1, outside the boundaries used here. Fandom
4. Births
| Child | Date or period | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Christian Andrew Newman | October 7, 2015 | Born prematurely to Sage; Adam is his biological father, although Nick believes he is the father. Adam assists with the delivery. |
| David, Shawn Taylor’s son | Late March–early April 2016 | Nick and Sage hope to adopt him, but Shawn decides to keep her baby. The precise delivery date is not securely established in the sources consulted. |
Christian’s birth date is recorded as October 7. His later presentation as “Sully” is not a second birth. en.wikipedia.org
Bella Mitchell is introduced during Chloe’s 2016 return, but she was born offscreen before her introduction. She should therefore be listed as a newly introduced child, rather than an onscreen birth in Season 43. Soap Opera Digest
5. Recasts and SORAS
| Character | Casting change | Date | Nature of change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billy Abbott | Burgess Jenkins → Jason Thompson | Jenkins last appears January 5, 2016; contemporary reporting places Thompson’s first appearance on January 13, 2016 | Adult recast; not SORAS. |
| Katie Abbott | Reese and Kennedy Staib → Sienna Mercuri | 2016, with July identified in available appearance records | Child recast; no child-to-adult transformation. |
There is a January 13/14 discrepancy in published accounts of Thompson’s debut. The contemporary Soap Opera Network report explicitly describes his introduction in the January 13 episode; later anniversary coverage gives January 14. CBS confirms January 2016 without specifying the day. soapoperanetwork.com
For Katie, the replacement of the Staib twins by Mercuri is established, but I could not verify the exact first broadcast day from an official archive. soapoperadigest.com
No major child-to-teen or child-to-adult SORAS is securely documented within this season. In particular:
- Dax Randall’s debut as Moses Winters is November 22, 2016, in the following season.
- Brandin Stennis’s replacement of Aidan Clark as Charlie Ashby comes in December 2016.
- The teenage versions of Charlie and Mattie arrive in 2017. Michael Fairman TV
6. New characters
| Character | First appearance | Introduction |
|---|---|---|
| Emma Randall | September 9, 2015 | Gwen’s sister. |
| Luca Santori | September 16, 2015 | Marisa’s estranged husband. |
| Dr. Sandy Anderson / Sandra Allen | September 18, 2015 | Sharon’s psychiatrist at Fairview. |
| Christian Newman | October 7, 2015 | Sage’s newborn son. |
| Dr. Simon Neville | October 15, 2015 | Doctor recruited to treat Hilary. |
| Judge Elise Moxley | November 13, 2015 | Judge with a past connection to Victor. |
| Max Rayburn | January 6, 2016 | Stitch’s previously mentioned son makes his onscreen debut. |
| Natalie Soderberg | January 15, 2016 | Computer specialist connected to Kevin. |
| Shawn Taylor | March 1, 2016 | Prospective birth mother for Nick and Sage’s adoption. |
| Dr. Meredith Gates | April 13, 2016 | Physician at Victor’s prison. |
| Travis Crawford | April 29, 2016 | Bar owner who meets Victoria. |
| Bethany Bryant | May 25, 2016 | Waitress who becomes involved with Billy. |
| Bella Mitchell | July 2016 | Chloe’s daughter is introduced during her return. |
These dates are supported by casting reports and character appearance records. Natalie’s records contain an occasional January 16 reference, but the episode-based date is January 15. soapoperadigest.com
7. Departures
| Character / actor | Last appearance or period | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Emma Randall — Alice Greczyn | December 2, 2015 | Recurring role ends. |
| Joe Clark — Scott Elrod | December 11, 2015 | His scheme against Cane is exposed; his story ends with arrest and extradition. |
| Gwen Randall — Nadine Nicole | December 23, 2015 | Disappears from the active story following the Hilary/Neville storyline. |
| Billy Abbott — Burgess Jenkins | January 5, 2016 | Actor leaves; the character continues with Thompson. |
| Dr. Anderson — Elizabeth Bogush | February 2016, as a living character | Murdered; subsequent appearances must be distinguished from her death. |
| Elise Moxley — Jensen Buchanan | March 15, 2016 | Recurring run ends. |
| Kyle Abbott — Lachlan Buchanan | April 26, 2016 | Leaves the active cast. |
| Sage Newman — Kelly Sullivan | April 29, 2016, as a living character | Dies; later visions or retrospective appearances follow. |
| Max Rayburn — Jared Breeze | May 17, 2016 | Leaves the onscreen story as his treatment becomes central. |
| Meredith Gates — Alicia Coppola | July 11, 2016 | Prison-doctor storyline ends. |
| Simon Neville — Michael E. Knight | July 27, 2016 | Leaves the medical research storyline. |
| Bethany Bryant — Chrishell Stause | August 17, 2016 | Leaves after her involvement in Billy and Phyllis’s deception. |
Two departures belong to Season 44 under this cutoff: Justin Hartley’s last appearance as Adam is September 1, 2016; Miles Gaston Villanueva’s last appearance as Luca is September 9, 2016. Sofia Pernas’s move to recurring status in March 2016 is a contractual change, rather than Marisa’s final departure. TV Source Magazine
8. Returns of former characters
| Character | Date or period | Nature of return |
|---|---|---|
| Patty Williams — Stacy Haiduk | September 2015 | Reappears at Fairview and becomes involved in Sharon’s storyline. |
| Chloe Mitchell — Elizabeth Hendrickson | October 2015 | Returns around the anniversary of Delia’s death and targets Adam. |
| Chloe Mitchell — Elizabeth Hendrickson | July 2016 | Returns to the continuing story; her apparent recovery conceals her vendetta. Appearance records place her onscreen by July 14. |
| Constance Bingham — Sally Kellerman | May 2, 2016 | Appears in Adam’s vision; she has not returned to life. |
| Daniel Romalotti Jr. — Michael Graziadei | August 25, 2016 | Returns during Summer and Luca’s engagement storyline; meets Mariah. |
John Abbott and Delia Abbott’s appearances are likewise spiritual or imagined encounters. Traci, Jill, Anita and other established recurring characters make visits, which should be distinguished from a sustained return after a formal exit.
9. Weddings
| Couple | Date or period | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Sharon Newman and Dylan McAvoy | December 2015 | Marry in a small, improvised ceremony officiated by Paul, dressed as Santa. I could not securely verify the exact US broadcast day. |
| Abby Newman and Ben “Stitch” Rayburn | December 30–31, 2015 | Their New Year’s wedding unfolds across these episodes, with Ashley’s collapse interrupting proceedings. |
The contemporary December report confirms Sharon and Dylan’s wedding, while the episode guide identifies December 30 as the gathering for Abby and Stitch’s ceremony. tvbanter.net
Summer and Luca do not marry: their engagement ends when Luca’s deception is exposed and he is arrested. Nick and Sage’s wedding, and Devon and Hilary’s wedding, took place in August 2015, before this season begins. Soap Central
10. Deaths and pregnancy losses
| Character / event | Date or period | Circumstances |
|---|---|---|
| Jenna Kieran, Max’s mother | Death reported in January 2016 | Dies offscreen in a car accident associated with New Year’s Eve; the news brings Max into Stitch and Abby’s household. |
| Dr. Sandy Anderson / Sandra Allen | February 8, 2016 | Stabbed by Patty Williams. |
| Abby and Stitch’s unborn baby | April 2016 | Abby miscarries after Max deliberately causes her staircase fall. |
| Sage Warner Newman | April 29, 2016 | Dies from injuries sustained in a car accident after discovering Christian is alive. |
The following should not be counted as deaths during Season 43:
- Christian: his reported death is fabricated.
- Billy: survives his injuries.
- Hilary: survives her disappearance and coma.
- Constance: already dead before this season; the investigation revisits her death.
- Adam: his apparent death in the cabin explosion airs on September 1, 2016, in the next season. en.wikipedia.org
11. Y&R / B&B Crossovers
| Direction | Crossovers during September 1, 2015–August 31, 2016 |
|---|---|
| Y&R characters appearing in B&B | No character crossover identified in the records consulted. |
| B&B characters appearing in Y&R | No character crossover identified in the records consulted. |
The available crossover chronology identifies activity in 2014, then again from 2017, without listing a crossover in this season’s period. This supports reporting none found, rather than inventing crossover dates. Fandom
For clarity, Gloria’s B&B appearance aired on November 20, 2014, outside Season 43. Actors appearing in both soaps as different characters also do not constitute character crossovers. en.wikipedia-on-ipfs.org.ipns.s402.de
