The Bold and the Beautiful is making news for recasting a role - and for snagging a big name star from a rival soap. The CBS soap has confirmed that former Days of our Lives star Kyle Lowder (ex-Brady Black) will join the soap next month in the role of Rick Forrester.

The recast is surprising since the show had previously featured an Emmy-winning actor in the role of Rick. However, the recast will allow the show to take the character in the "different direction" so often cited by soaps when they recast a role.

When last spotted on B&B, Rick Forrester was portrayed by Justin Torkildsen. Torkildsen, a three-time Daytime Emmy nominee, was a contract player on The Bold and the Beautiful from October 1999 through 2003. Since that time, Torkildsen has appeared on an as-needed recurring basis. In 2001, Torkildsen earned a Daytime Emmy in the Outstanding Younger Actor category.

Lowder was wildly popular with DAYS fans during his five-year run with the NBC soap. Though not an Emmy winner, Lowder received a nomination of his own in the Outstanding Younger Actor field in 2003.

For daytime viewers who are unfamiliar with the latest addition to the B&B cast, here is a little background on the actor. Lowder joined the cast of Days of our Lives in 2000. While working on DAYS, Lowder met the woman he would eventually marry: Arianne Zuker (ex-Nicole Kiriakis). In September 2005, Soap Central reported that DAYS execs had decided not to renew Lowder's contract. Since leaving DAYS, Lowder has kept a relatively low profile.

It is unclear if B&B approached Torkildsen about returning to the show.

Lowder has already reported for work at his new show and will first air on January 25, 2007.