Like sands through the hour glass, so are the days of our lives. Despite fans’ fears that it would be cancelled, NBC has renewed Days of our Lives through the 2016-17 television season. The soap celebrated its 50th anniversary, November 8, 2015, and is now in its 51st year. It was last renewed back in 2014, through September of 2016.

The current cast of Days of our Lives includes: Kristian Alfonso, Melissa Reeves, Arianne Zucker, Galen Gering, Eric Martsolf, Billy Flynn, Drake Hogestyn, and Deidre Hall. Days is produced by Corday Productions Inc. in association with Sony Pictures Television. Ken Corday executive produces, with co-executive producers Greg Meng and Albert Alarr. Dena Higley and Josh Griffith head up the writing team.

Last month, we reported NBC was hopeful about the soap’s renewal chances. Still, ever since the great Sony e-mail hack, there have been whispers that the Peacock Network was hoping to rinse the suds of its last soap off the schedule.

Due to budgetary reasons, Days shoots about five to six months ahead and the serial is already scripted through September, 2016. While the renewal was being negotiated, the writers were told to stop writing, just in case the deal went south. When Daytime Confidential broke that news, Days devotees were afraid the grains of sand were running out.

Not long after, Daytime Confidential reported NBC wanted the soap to revert to a more traditional production schedule. As discussed here in January, shooting so far ahead does not allow the production to course correct  — at least not in any way that could be called nimble.

Deadline‘s Nellie Andreeva broke the renewal news, which has not yet been released by NBC. According to that report, this renewal might include an option for an additional year. If additional information is released, we will let you know.

Are you a Days of Our Lives fan? Are you surprised NBC renewed it, or were you expecting Days to be cancelled? How are you enjoying the new writing regime? Sound off, in the comments.