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Ashlee Simpson Wentz is leaving Melrose with a bang. Heather Locklear has returned as Amanda Woodards but the steamy clench with a co-star on WB's Melrose Place gets attention. The 25-year-old singer/actress stripped off for some raunchy scenes involving her character Violet and Augle (Colin Egglesfield) in the re-launched version of the popular 90s series.

At one point, Violet whips off her vest and is pinned on a table by Augle as the pair get close in the outrageous clip. Simpson and her co-star Egglesfield have both been cut from the CW drama.

In a statement released after the announcement, Simpson-Wentz said, "Having the chance to play Violet on Melrose Place has been a thrill. Although I always knew her story would come to a final, insanely unpredictable end, playing a creepy, unstable character was something I always wanted to do, so I jumped at the chance. Thanks to CW and the entire cast and crew of Melrose Place for allowing me this opportunity."
The actors' departure comes just a few weeks after original Melrose alum Heather Locklear began filming scenes for upcoming episodes.

Actress Ashlee Simpson-Wentz, 25, has been dropped from Melrose Place. Simpson-Wentz and co-star Colin Egglesfield were written out of the remake of the former long-running network drama that now airs on the CW about the residents of a Hollywood apartment block.

Simpson-Wentz, who played Violet Foster, stated: "Having the chance to play Violet on Melrose Place has been a thrill. Although I always knew her story would come to a final, insanely unpredictable end, playing a creepy, unstable character was something I always wanted to do, so I jumped at the chance. Thanks to CW and the entire cast and crew of Melrose Place for allowing me this opportunity."

Melrose executive producer Todd Slavkin told an entertainment magazine: "We felt that once the murder mystery [involving their characters] was resolved, the tone of the show was going to shift and [Simpson-Wentz's] character would move on."
Slavkin added that Simpson-Wentz and Egglesfield took the news "like professionals". Meanwhile, co-executive producer Darren Swimmer revealed Heather Locklear's character will have a new love interest for at least three episodes. He said of the star, who has returned to show that made her name: "[Locklear is] in every episode moving forward. She’s a major focus."

Getting to work on the set, Heather Locklear was spotted plugging away on "Melrose Place" in Los Angeles on Thursday (October 15).

After showing up in casual garb, the Amanda Woodward actress headed to her trailer to change into a fancier ensemble before shooting a few scenes for the CW show.

Meanwhile, Miss Locklear's co-star Ashlee Simpson recently voiced her enthusiasm in having the show's original star as part of the cast.

“She’s great. She’s fantastic. I really, truly believe that she’s part of the heart of the show. She’s so sweet and has a great energy, so it’s great to have her on the show,” Ashlee told press.

“I’m interested to see where her character goes,” Miss Simpson added. “I think it will be fun, as we all are interested to see how our characters are going. She’s just fantastic and lovely to have around.”

Ashlee Simpson Wentz has said that new co-star Heather Locklear is the "heart" of Melrose Place. Ashlee, who recently turned 25, appears in the remake of the 1990s sitcom Melrose Place and the show's original star Heather Locklear will reprise her role of Amanda Woodward.

Ashlee said: "She's great. She's fantastic. I really, truly believe that she's part of the heart of the show. She's so sweet and has a great energy, so it's great to have her on the show."

Ashlee is as keen as the viewers to see what Heather will do with her character Amanda in the revamped show.
She said: "I'm interested to see where her character goes. I think it will be fun, as we all are interested to see how our characters are going. She's just fantastic and lovely to have around."

She was one of the most ruthless characters on the original “Melrose Place” series, and now Heather Locklear has returned to the CW’s revival.

Reprising her role as Amanda Woodward, Miss Locklear was spotted on the Los Angeles set yesterday (September 29) getting ready to wreak havoc on the iconic apartment complex and its tenants once again.

Heather looked like she meant business as she strolled around in between scenes, sporting a short red dress teamed with a pair of blue flip flops.

And Miss Locklear isn’t the only original cast member to reprise their role- Josie Bissett, Daphne Zuniga, Thomas Calabro and Laura Leighton are also slated to make appearances.

Spending her downtime doting on her young son, Ashlee Simpson was spotted making her rounds with Bronx in Beverly Hills on Sunday (September 27).

Offering up a big smile, the "Melrose Place" cutie helped her 10-month-old stopped for an iced coffee before continuing about with the day's agenda.

Meanwhile, Miss Simpson recently voiced her pleasure in getting the chance to work with Heather Locklear, who just signed on to appear on "Melrose Place".

"We’re all really thrilled that Heather is coming back!” Simpson told People magazine. “Of course we are — she was kind of the heart of the show. It’s been great to have a lot of the original cast, and to have Heather join is really incredible. I’m excited!”

While Locklear's episode doesn't air until November 17th, you can catch Ashlee and the gang in an all-new episode titled "Vine" - which airs on Tuesday (September 29) at 9/8C on the CW.

Melrose Place star Ashlee Simpson-Wentz said she was "thrilled" to meet one of the show's original cast members, Heather Locklear. Ashlee, 24, plays the role of Violet Foster in the 2009 remake of the 90s TV show. Heather, 47, appeared in the original TV series and it was recently revealed that she will be making a comeback and will make her first appearance in an episode to air on November 17.

Ashlee said to PEOPLE: "We're all really thrilled that Heather is coming back! Of course we are - she was kind of the heart of the show. "It's been great to have a lot of the original cast, and to have Heather join is really incredible. I'm excited!" She added: "I'm really looking forward to meeting her."

More TV...Simon Cowell could take British talent show The X Factor to American TV, according to reports. Simon, 49, has one last year left on his contract with FOX's top show, American Idol. The music mogul has made clear his wish to take The X Factor to the US, however his contract with Idol does not allow it.
It is claimed by The Hollywood Reporter that if a new contract is made, then Simon could co-produce The X Factor for FOX and also do American Idol through the 2011-12 season. Simon is reportedly set to make $50 million for each season of Idol as well as another $50 million for each series of The X Factor. It is not known if Simon will be a judge on the new show like he is on the British version.

Coming as a pleasant announcement, Heather Locklear will be returning to “Melrose Place”.

The 47-year-old will take the vixen role of Amanda Woodward on the new CW version of the show, making her appearance on Nov. 17.

"We're ecstatic to have the chance to bring Amanda Woodward back to Melrose Place," executive producers Todd Slavkin & Darren Swimmer said in a statement. "Heather's involvement in the show is something we've been working on for some time as we couldn't imagine creating and producing this show without the iconic character's inclusion."

One insider spilled that Locklear saw a pilot of the show and “was surprised at how much she liked it.”

Adding on, the source says her role is “a great comeback” for Locklear who recently had a DUI charge that was dropped and took treatment for anxiety last year.

“She is in great spirits and good shape. This is a perfect time to show everyone how well she is doing,” the source tells.

Details have kept quiet about Locklear’s role, but Josie Bissett, Thomas Calabro, Laura Leighton and Daphne Zuniga are all joining her back on the show.

The remake of hit 90s nightime soap opera Melrose Place got off to a dramatic start as Ashlee Simpson’s character found a dead body in the apartment complex’s swimming pool. The younger sister of Jessica Simpson made her bow on the new-look TV show by letting out a scream after discovering the apartments’ landlady floating stabbed in the pool.

Ashlee plays Violet Foster, the new tenant at the apartments, who producers say will turn out to be a “scheming minx”. The original Melrose Place series ran for seven years in the 1990s. It was set in a small apartment complex in West Hollywood and starred Heather Locklear as the resident maneater.

More TV...Victoria Beckham gave Ellen DeGeneres a big hug – despite the US chatshow host cheekily taking her place in the Beckhams’ famous Emporio Armani poster campaign. Ellen photoshopped her own face on to Posh’s body in the couple’s sizzling underwear ad – and revealed the result during her interview with Becks. Posh, Becks and their sons got to see the new version first-hand as Ellen unveiled the giant poster outside the Los Angeles TV studio where her show is filmed. But Victoria seemed impressed – hugging Ellen and telling her: “That is so funny.”
Becks cringed with embarrassment as Ellen revealed she had also put the spoof giant billboard up on LA’s Sunset Strip, Times Square in New York and Liverpool Street Station in London. She laughed: “Those are actually real. We actually had them up so you may be getting some phone calls saying, ‘When did you do that ad with Ellen?'” Ellen surprised Becks with the mock advert after joking with him about his photoshoot with Posh. She said: “I thought those came out almost as good as the ones we did together. “I don’t know why they didn’t end up in the magazines.” Ellen took Becks, Posh and sons Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz outside to see the revamped poster for themselves at the end of the interview.

Heather Locklear is in negotiations to reprise her role of Amanda Woodward in the upcoming "Melrose Place" spinoff, sources told E! News.

Locklear played the advertising executive and apartment complex landlady on the original series from 1992 to 1999. Her other TV credits include "Dynasty," "T.J. Hooker" and "Spin City."

E! News said the CW network hasn't commented on the report that she may play Amanda Woodward again.

The new series, which will feature appearances from original "Melrose Place" veterans such as Thomas Calabro, Laura Leighton, Daphne Zuniga and Josie Bissett, is to premiere Sept. 8.