Vicki Gunvalson says she will return to “The Real Housewives of Orange County” for its 20th season, discusses role mediating between Tamra Judge and Shannon Beador

Vicki Gunvalson is addressing what viewers can expect from her return to Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of Orange County” ahead of the reality series’ landmark 20th season, according to an interview published Monday by Page Six. Gunvalson stopped by the Page Six studio for a conversation with co-hosts Danny Murphy and Evan Real on “Virtual Reali-Tea,” where she discussed her “epic” RHOC comeback and the way she plans to position herself among the show’s ongoing disputes and alliances.

In the Page Six interview, Gunvalson framed her return as a major moment for the long-running franchise, which is set for its 20th season. The outlet described Gunvalson as “the OG of the OC,” and the studio chat focused on both her broader return and the interpersonal dynamics within the cast. The appearance comes as RHOC continues to evolve through shifting cast narratives, including longstanding tensions that have defined the show over multiple seasons.

A central theme of the conversation was Gunvalson’s account of playing a calming, mediator role between friends-turned-foes Tamra Judge and Shannon Beador. Page Six’s description of the interview says Gunvalson talked about how she intends to function as a “peacekeeper,” emphasizing her willingness to move between parties rather than remain solely aligned with one side.

Gunvalson’s comments, as characterized by Page Six, tie her role on the show to the audience-facing structure of RHOC itself, where relationship breakdowns and reconciliations typically drive plotlines from episode to episode. By describing herself as a mediator between two figures at the center of the franchise’s recent conflict narratives, Gunvalson indicated a potential shift in tone for at least some of the interpersonal framing surrounding those characters.

The Page Six segment also placed the discussion in the context of the studio outlet’s regular entertainment interview format, with “Virtual Reali-Tea” serving as the platform for off-show commentary. Murphy and Real’s conversation with Gunvalson was structured around unpacking the return and her approach to navigating cast relationships, rather than focusing on documentary-style background on production decisions or behind-the-scenes contracting details.

Page Six did not provide additional, independently listed information in its published description beyond the studio chat’s topics, including specific episode dates, production changes, or casting terms. The interview therefore functions primarily as a venue for Gunvalson to publicly describe her own perspective on the RHOC return and the “peacekeeper” framing between Judge and Beador, as previewed by the outlet.

With the RHOC 20th season approaching, Gunvalson’s remarks add to the media attention around the franchise’s continued circulation as a high-profile reality property. The comments also underscore how cast members’ public positioning, particularly around inter-personal conflict, can shape audience expectations for how relationship arcs are framed when a long-running series reaches a milestone season.