Bravo has confirmed the much-anticipated return of former cast member Carole Radziwill to *The Real Housewives of New York City* (RHONY) for its sixteenth season, which is set to premiere in 2025. The announcement comes a year after the conclusion of season 15 and marks Radziwill’s first return to the show since she departed in season 10, nearly eight years ago.
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On March 2, Bravo made the revelation through an Instagram post, praising audience loyalty as a key reason for Radziwill’s comeback. The caption read: “In the marathon of life, loyalty is everything. And because of Bravo fans’ loyalty, Carole Radziwill is returning to #RHONY as a friend-of for Season 16!!! 🍎” In this role, she will be featured in several episodes throughout the season but will not be part of the main cast.
Radziwill, who is also a prominent author and journalist, was part of the RHONY cast from seasons five through ten. Her return coincides with the announcement of the full cast lineup for the upcoming season. Alongside Radziwill, returning members Erin Lichy, Jessel Taank, and Sai De Silva will continue their journey on the show. Season 16 will also welcome three new faces: celebrity fitness trainer Erika Hammond, makeup artist Daisy Toye, and public relations expert Hailey Glassman.
The announcement of Radziwill’s return is part of an evolving relationship with Bravo’s production team. The former housewife has gradually re-entered the Bravo scene in recent months. Notably, she made a surprise appearance on *Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen* in August 2025, marking her first public engagement with the network since her exit and fraught moments with executive producer Andy Cohen.
During her appearance at BravoCon 2025 in November, Radziwill shared insights into her decision to rejoin the franchise. She reflected on the struggles she faced after her exit and remarked, “I thought when I left eight years ago, I could go quietly into the night,” before adding that she had identified a “sisterhood” among the housewives. “It’s really powerful,” she said, expressing a sense of connection with some of the new cast members.
In late 2024, at Bravo Fan Fest in Miami, Cohen revealed to *People* that he and Radziwill had recently reconnected, putting aside past differences. “It feels great,” he remarked, noting their long-standing friendship that predates her role on RHONY. Radziwill echoed this sentiment, stating they had come to realise their past disagreements stemmed from the pressures of the show rather than their personal relationship.
Season 15 of RHONY had a diverse cast, which included Lichy, Taank, Ubah Hassan, De Silva, Jenna Lyons, Brynn Whitfield, and Racquel Chevremont, who joined as a friend of the group. However, since the season finale, both Whitfield and Lyons have announced their departure from the series.
As excitement builds for the new season, fan anticipation for Radziwill’s return is palpable. Her reintegration into the RHONY family seems set to stir dynamics among the cast and provide viewers with fresh narrative developments.
*The Real Housewives of New York City* continues to be a much-talked-about reality show and is available for streaming on Peacock, allowing fans to catch up on past episodes as they await the new season.