‘The Real Housewives Of New Jersey’: Teresa Giudice Considering Returning To Series Following Prison Sentence

Teresa Giudice may be returning to “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” after all. Despite multiple reports claiming Bravo planned to move forward with Season 7 without her, Us Weekly is now claiming the network “wants Teresa back.” Giudice, who is currently serving a 15-month prison term, will reportedly rejoin the series upon her release. These claims come just over a week after husband Joe Giudice told ET his family would not appear on the show unless they were offered a serious payout.

As was previously reported, whether Teresa returns or not, Bravo is looking to shake up the cast in the coming season. According to NJ.com, former NFL player Tiki Barber’s wife, Traci Lynn Johnson, was being considered for the new cast. New reports suggest Lisa Valastro, who is married to “Cake Boss” star Buddy Valastro, and Erica Levy, Geraldo Rivera’s wife, are also in the running. Controversial newcomer Amber Marchese as well as longtime housewife Melissa Gorga have both confirmed their return to the series. It is believed Gorga’s storyline will take center stage this series if Teresa does not return. It is not known at this time whether Dina Manzo or twins Nicole Napolitano and Teresa Aprea will be returning for the new season.

Whether the Giudices decide to appear on “Real Housewives” or not, Joe assured viewers we haven’t seen the last of them. During an interview with Extra on April 1, the 42-year-old New Jersey husband revealed that he is currently working on his own spinoff series. The show would focus on his life as a single dad, trying to raise his four daughters while Teresa is behind bars. According to E! News, the show will follow Joe and his girls up until his entry into prison, which is slated for March 2016. He hopes the show will allow viewers to get a sense for who his family really is, rather than drawing conclusions about them. He added that he and his wife are “not bad people.”

Teresa and Joe were each sentenced to time in prison after a New Jersey judge found them both guilty of multiple counts of fraud, among other charges. Teresa received a lesser sentence, as she was believed to have limited involvement in the crimes. Joe, however, was slapped with a 41-month sentence and forced to pay $200,000 in restitution. The judge agreed to stagger their sentences, allowing one parent to be home with their children at all times.

According to Extra, Teresa is adjusting well to life in prison. Joe told the site she maintains as much of her normal routine as possible and has found a group of women to spend most of her days with.

Bravo has not yet confirmed any details on the cast or a release date for “The Real Housewives of New Jersey.”