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It looks like Season 18 of <\/span>The Real Housewives of Orange County<\/em><\/a> is gearing up to feature some real drama with one former castmember returning as a Friend of the Housewives.<\/span><\/p>\n ET has learned <\/span>Alexis Bellino<\/a> is filming season 18 alongside the returning cast — Tamra Judge, Shannon Beador, Heather Dubrow, Emily Simpson, Gina Kirschenheiter and Jenn Pedranti. <\/span>TMZ<\/em><\/a> was the first to report the news.<\/span><\/p>\n While Bravo does not comment on casting rumors or reports, Bellino was <\/span>recently spotted dining with Dubrow and Simpson<\/a> while cameras were rolling.<\/span><\/p>\n Bellino was previously a castmember on <\/span>RHOC<\/span><\/em> beginning in season 5, before her departure in season 8. However, <\/span>due to recent relationship developments<\/a>, her possible inclusion in season 18 seems to some fans like an attempt to generate drama between Bellino and Beador.<\/span><\/p>\n Alexis is currently dating\u00a0John Janssen<\/a>, who was previously in a relationship with Shannon until they called it quits in late 2022 after more than three years together.<\/span><\/p>\n While at BravoCon in Las Vegas back in November, Beador opened up about her breakup,\u00a0<\/span>telling ET<\/a>\u00a0that she had not spoken to Janssen “for over a month and I don’t have any intention [to].”<\/span><\/p>\n In January 2023 while on SiriusXM’s\u00a0<\/span>Jeff Lewis Live<\/i><\/a>, Beador said she was “blindsided” by the breakup.<\/span><\/p>\n “We had finished filming [season 17 of] the show, and my relationship is always a topic of what’s going on,”\u00a0<\/span>she recalled<\/a>. “John and I filmed together and it was great. I thought, ‘God, we’re gonna get there.'”<\/span><\/p>\n But then, despite the romantic dinner they shared for the cameras, and kind words they exchanged, Janssen told her one week later that he wanted to end their relationship.<\/span><\/p>\n “So that’s why,” she said emotionally, “I felt blindsided.”<\/span><\/p>\n Meanwhile, Bellino’s relationship with Janssen seems to be thriving. This past weekend, Janssen celebrated Bellino’s birthday with a romantic excursion.<\/span><\/p>\n