BravoCon — the third edition of the fan convention for all things Bravo — is taking place in Las Vegas from Nov. 3 through Nov. 5, and Variety is there, bringing you all the news. Among other notable moments, it was the first time fans heard from the “Vanderpump Rules” cast as a group since those revelatory reunion episodes in June that were taped after the show’s #Scandoval — and the result was a tonnage of booing for the show’s villain, Tom Sandoval.
On Friday, Shannon Storms Beador of “The Real Housewives of Orange County” spoke about her recent DUI arrest for the first time, calling it a “terrible, terrible mistake.” Bravo’s Andy Cohen was the first panel of the day, and though he played nice when asked by a fan about Bethenny Frankel’s so-called “reality reckoning,” he told Variety later in the press room that a recent investigative Vanity Fair story about Bravo was an “inaccurate rehash.”
The first real news to break from the convention is that “Vanderpump Rules” will be returning to Bravo in January, though the exact date hasn’t been announced yet. Later on Friday, Bravo announced that Captain Kerry Titheradge will take over for Captain Lee Rosbach on “Below Deck” when the show premieres on Feb. 5.
Join us here, for all the updates — especially since Ramona Singer has already managed to get herself kicked out of BravoCon, before it had even started.
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Post-#Scandoval ‘Vanderpump Rules’ Season to Premiere in January
Image Credit: Courtesy of Casey Durkin/Bravo Season 11 of “Vanderpump Rules” will premiere in January, Bravo announced on Nov. 3. According to the press release, the show returns in “January and follows the former SURvers as they pick up the pieces following a scandal that sent shockwaves through the zeitgeist. With resentments, acceptance and shifting alliances, this group attempts to navigate the lines drawn in the sand while rebuilding friendships, developing their businesses and healing from past relationships. The cast includes Lisa Vanderpump, Ariana Madix, James Kennedy, Katie Maloney, Lala Kent, Scheana Shay, Tom Sandoval and Tom Schwartz, along with friends Ally Lewber and Brock Davies.”
Notably, that cast list doesn’t include Rachel Leviss, with whom Sandoval had a secret relationship during Season 10 — causing the breakup between him and longtime partner, Ariana Madix — an affair that was called the #Scandoval. More than a month after the news of the affair broke, and the cast filmed an additional episode to capture the fallout, Leviss entered into a mental health facility in Arizona, where her family lives, and stayed there for months.
Though Leviss had lengthy negotiations with Bravo and the producers of “Vanderpump Rules” over potentially returning to the show, she ultimately announced she was quitting by going on Bethenny Frankel’s podcast in August.
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First Captain Lee-Less ‘Below Deck’ Will Premiere on Feb. 5 — Captain Kerry Titheradge Taking Over Flagship Show
Image Credit: Vincent Cerone/Bravo Captain Kerry Titheradge will take over from Captain Lee Rosbach at the helm of “Below Deck,” Bravo’s flagship yachting series — Rosbach left the show’s 10th season during filming because of health issues. In the teaser for Season 11, Captain Kerry — who viewers already know from “Below Deck Adventure,” says, “I know I have big shoes to fill.”
Season 11 of “Below Deck” is set in Grenada, and will premiere on Feb. 5 of next year with a 75-minute episode. Returning cast members from Season 10 will be Chief Stew Fraser Olender and lead deckhand Ben Willoughby. According to the show’s logline, “In his second season as Chief Stew, Fraser vows to be a firmer leader by delegating more and not worrying himself with befriending his stews. However, his new leadership style may not be enough to wrangle the strong personalities in his department. On deck, Ben’s firsthand experience with the ship causes a rift with his Bosun, Jared.”
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‘The Real Housewives of Dubai’ Adds a New Cast Member
Image Credit: Courtesy of Bravo During BravoCon weekend — when Season 2 of “The Real Housewives of Dubai” will screen its season premiere, and also have a panel — Bravo has announced a new addition to the cast. Taleen Marie will join “Dubai,” which is the first officially sanctioned international edition of the “Real Housewives” franchise. As of Friday at BravoCon, there’s been no announced premiere date for the show’s second season, but Marie will join returning cast members Chanel Ayan, Caroline Brooks, Lesa Milan, Sara Al Madani and Caroline Stanbury.
Season 1 of “The Real Housewives of Dubai” ran from June to September 2022, and has not yet caught fire with the Bravo faithful.