After five years away, Heather Dubrow is making her triumphant return to the Real Housewives of Orange County for season 16.
The Bravolebrity exclusively sat down with DailyMailTV host Thomas Roberts to dish about her 'surreal' return to the series and the reason behind why she agreed to step in front of the cameras once more.
Heather, 52, was a fan-favorite on the franchise during her original tenure from 2012 to 2016 and confirmed in July that she was officially rejoining the cast.
Heather Dubrow talks about her return to Real Housewives
She's back! Heather Dubrow exclusively sat down with DailyMailTV host Thomas Roberts to dish about her 'surreal' return to the series and the reason behind why she agreed to step in front of the cameras once more
'It feels great. It's actually a little surreal,' Heather told DailyMailTV of being a Housewife once more.
After leaving the series in season 11, Dubrow always kept the door open to return with a 'never say never' mentality and she told Thomas Roberts that the time was finally right.
'Here's the thing, my daughter Max came out as bisexual a couple of years ago, and we were just flooded with such incredible support, amazing comments,' she began.
'And I thought, wouldn't it be kind of cool to show what our version of a normal family looks like? And maybe we can continue these conversations that we've been having in our home and maybe help some other people? Wouldn't that be cool?'
'Here's the thing, my daughter Max came out as bisexual a couple of years ago, and we were just flooded with such incredible support, amazing comments,' she began. 'And I thought, wouldn't it be kind of cool to show what our version of a normal family looks like?'
Max came out to her family and the public at large in 2020 at the age of 17. With the support of Heather and husband Dr. Terry Dubrow, Max recently penned a book for other parents about dealing with teenage sexuality, I’ll Give It to You Straightish.
Returning to the show was 'surreal' for the reality star who explained that filming was complicated, feeling both the same and different the second time around.
'If you see the first episode, we sit down and we have a family dinner. What's so crazy is five years gone, cameras everywhere, having this family dinner and we do the whole thing,' she revealed. 'We all looked at each other and went, "oh, that was so weirdly normal."
Heather Dubrow jokes with DailyMail TV host Thomas Roberts
Close ties: Max came out to her family and the public at large in 2020 at the age of 17. With the support of Heather and husband Dr. Terry Dubrow, Max recently penned a book for other parents about dealing with teenage sexuality, I’ll Give It to You Straightish
'But I will say this like it's not just like riding a bike,' Heather added. 'It felt different this time. I felt like, how many times do you get to go back and try something again?'
This time around Dubrow says she is 'a little more relaxed and a little more unplugged'.
'Well, wait a minute, so you're not going to be fancy pants Dubrow anymore?' Roberts asked, incredulous.
'Well, I'm always fancy pants, of course, but you know, there's different shades of being fancy, aren't there?' Heather laughed.
Heather Dubrow understands why Kelly Dodd has been 'canceled'
'If you see the first episode, we sit down and we have a family dinner. What's so crazy is five years gone, cameras everywhere, having this family dinner and we do the whole thing,' she revealed. 'We all looked at each other and went, "oh, that was so weirdly normal."
'But I will say this like it's not just like riding a bike,' Heather added. 'It felt different this time. I felt like, how many times do you get to go back and try something again?'
The cast has been almost completely overhauled since Heather departed several seasons ago with mainstays Tamra Judge and Vicki Gunvalson gone and a new crop of women added.
'It was definitely strange coming back to the show without Tamra and Vicki because like five seasons previously, we're with them and I have very fond memories of being with them,' Heather said.
Shannon Beador is the only overlapping cast member from Heather's first run on RHOC and things between Shannon and Heather are as frosty as ever in season 16.
'Shannon and I, you know, we haven't really spoken that much over the last five years texted run into each other a little bit,' Heather said, adding: 'I think we both came into this season with the best of intentions and it very quickly goes off the rails.'
'Shannon and I, you know, we haven't really spoken that much over the last five years texted run into each other a little bit,' Heather said, adding: 'I think we both came into this season with the best of intentions and it very quickly goes off the rails.'
Heather Dubrow reveals if she would ever return to RHOC
As seen in the RHOC trailer, Heather quickly becomes the reigning queen of the show this season and forges an almost instantaneous bond with returning housewife Gina Kirschenheiter.
Received well by seemingly all, housewife Emily Simpson, 45, says 'I love Heather,' while Gina concurs 'She brings me to fancy s**t.' But Heather and Gina's close friendship seems to spark jealousy in housewife Shannon Beador, 57, who is seemingly hellbent on keeping Dubrow for herself.
In addition to the returning cast, Shannon, Gina and Emily, Heather will be joined by two newcomers this season, Dr. Jen Armstrong and Noella Bergener.
The Real Housewives of Orange County returns tonight Wednesday 12/1 at 9 ET/PT on Bravo.
All new! The Real Housewives of Orange County returns tonight Wednesday 12/1 at 9 ET/PT on Bravo (Pictured L-R Jen Armstrong, Emily Simpson, Shannon Storms Beador, Heather Dubrow, Gina Kirschenheiter, Noella Bergener)
