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PETER RECKELL KNOWS BO

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Peter Reckell describes his first day back as Bo Brady on “Days of Our Lives” (a role he created in 1983, left in 1987, and reprised from 1990-92) in one word: “exciting.”

The actor adds with a smile, “The whole feeling on the set was energized. Kristian Alfonso [Hope Brady] was really excited. It’s like being back home again.”

“To be doing a scene with Frank Parker [Shawn Brady)]and have all this history there between us as father and son or to be working opposite Frances Reid,” Reckell continues, his voice trailing off. “I don’t have to do a lot of homework, because it’s so much a part of me. Bo is so much a part of my life. It’s just like dropping back into a suit. Maybe I’m a little bit taller, maybe it needs a few alterations, but it still fits.”

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Reckell says, however, that a daytime return was not really a career turn he expected. He has been busy with numerous projects since leaving “Days of Our Lives.” He appeared in the foreign film “First Bridge,” guest-starred on “Woman of the House,” and most recently starred in the play “Brigadoon.” He also was working on a TV movie with “Days of Our Lives executive producer Ken Corday.

When Corday called and offered Reckell his old soap gig back, the actor was “shocked. I was like, ‘Huh? Well, maybe,’ ” recalls Reckell. “Then I thought about it a little bit and decided it should happen.”

Robert Kelker Kelly, who played Bo from 1992-95, was out, and Reckell was growing back his token Bo Brady beard.

“I hate to shave,” says the actor. “So I already had a three-day growth on my face when Ken called.”

Beard intact and properly rested from the daytime grind, Reckell was ready to tackle it all over again. “Taking a break helps,” he says. “That’s why I feel ecstatic. I’m back with a whole new energy. It will be good for me and the show. It’s going to be a new experience, too, because I’m at a new place.”

And so is Bo, as Reckell has learned since brushing up on the character’s recent past. For one thing Bo has a new wife, Billie, played by Lisa Rinna. Jumping into that relationship has not frazzled Reckell a bit.

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“When I’ve done guest spots and back in my early days on ‘Days,’ somebody would come on the show and you’d be in bed with them,” says Reckell. “It was like, ‘Hi! Your name is what?’ Besides, Lisa’s great. We work really well together.”

In Alfonso, Reckell finds a very familiar leading lady with whom he has always shared a special magic. “It’s still there,” asserts Reckell. “We have a lot of history together. It’s really pretty incredible.”

But how does Reckell feel about replacing someone else as Bo?

“I don’t have any nervousness about that,” Reckell maintains. “I know it will be a little stutter step for some of the people who don’t know me. But I feel real good about myself.”

“Days of Our Lives” airs weekdays at noon on NBC.

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