Kevin Richardson to reunite with the Backstreet Boys

The prodigal son returns.

During their concert in London at the O2 Arena on April 29, the Backstreet Boys, consisting of original members Brian Littrell, Nick Carter, AJ McLean and Howie Dorough, announced that their fifth partner in crime, Kevin Richardson, would soon be re-joining the band.

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"I think we should let them in on the secret that we have. Since we love you guys so much, we are going to be back this year," Carter said before Littrell added in the exciting tidbit saying, "And Kevin is coming back!"

As the band tweeted from their official account, "Now everything is back to normal...welcome back, Kevin Richardson," the 40-year-old chimed in on the great news, writing, "Hello beau-ti-ful people. Yes, the cat is OFFICIALLY out of the bag. It's on and crackin'!"

Back in October 2011, Richardson hinted that a reunion was on the horizon when he called into Ryan Seacrest's morning radio show, telling him, "I would never say that it would never happen. I would love to perform with them again on a more regular basis. Our chemistry when we come together just feels like old times."

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Since his departure in 2006, Richardson has never been far from BSB and has occasionally performed with the band during select concerts and on television shows like their 2010 appearance on "The Oprah Winfrey Show."

In his time away from the wildly successful boy band, Richardson tried his hand at acting in flicks like the sexy vampire themed musical, "The Bloody Indulgent" and a movie that takes place in the 1960s called "The Casserole Club."

Right now, it truly feels like "Backstreet's Back" and yes, we want it that way!

Backstreet Boys — "I Want It That Way"

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