Young and the Restless fans are in it for a major shocker this 2022 as Richard Burgi confirmed his exit on the show. The 63-year-old veteran actor made the big announcement as his character, Ashland Locke, fights a fatal illness.
Now, avid viewers of the show are wondering if the Locke-Ness Monster will soon meet his demise on the show to align with the actor's exit.
Young and the Restless News: Richard Burgi Confirms Exit on the Show
It looks like fans of the long-running CBS soap Young and the Restless will soon see the end of Ashland Locke. This is after Richard Burgi confirmed his plans to leave the show.
In an Instagram post, Burgi revealed that he's wrapping up his run on Y&R almost a year after joining the series. The actor did not reveal further details but said he's "moving on from the show."
"I want to say thank you to all of you wonderful folks who have been so kind and generous and supportive with your words," the Young and the Restless actor wrote. "I have such gratitude for the support. I'm moving on from the show."
Pic credit: CBS
An End of an Icon
Richard Burgi goes on to express his gratitude to his Young and the Restless family for the experience. He also thanked his fans for loving and supporting his character Ashland Locke.
"I've had a great year on Y&R, and I've just thoroughly enjoyed the great cast and crew. Such wonderful people," Burgi added. "And I wish you all a good start to 2022 — luck, health, love, joy. God bless."
Richard Burgi first joined the cast of Young and the Restless in March 2021. Since day one, his character was warmly welcomed, making him a great addition to the show.
Ashland Locke became even more prominent on Y&R, thanks to his undeniable chemistry with his wife, Victoria Newman (Amelia Heinle).
Pic credit: CBS
Y&R: How Will the Show Write off Ashland Locke?
Many are now curious as to how Richard Burgi's role, Ashland Locke, will be written off Young and the Restless. The actor did not reveal the fate of the Locke-Ness Monster, but there are a couple of possibilities.
It's no secret that Ashland is dealing with a mystery illness. His experimental treatment supposedly started working, which was good news to Victoria Newman.
But could it be that the treatment ends up failing after all? Will Ashland Locke's health take a turn for the worse and lead to his death?
There's also a possibility that Ashland Locke is faking the disease. Perhaps he'll get caught and will take time away from Victoria Newman to escape the consequences.
Of course, a recast is not entirely out of the picture. It's something quite common on Young and the Restless. For now, it's unclear when exactly Richard Burgi will leave. One thing is for sure, though. The show will never be the same without Ashland Locke.