The star of the acclaimed TV series Little House on the Prairie will appear on Hallmark Channel’s When Calls the Heart. Actress Melissa Gilbert will join the cast of WCTH in Season 12 for a two-episode story arc, according to Hallmark Media. The announcement was made at the Hearties Family Reunion, a fan event held […]
Pascale Hutton and Kavan Smith catch a killer in new Hallmark mystery
Pascale Hutton and Kavan Smith must track down a killer in the Hallmark mystery Nelly Knows Mysteries: A Fatal Engagement. This is the fifth Hallmark movie that Smith and Hutton, who play Lee and Rosemary Coulter on the TV series When Calls the Heart, will star in together. Also featured in the film is actor Nelson […]
Melissa Gilbert promotes new faith-based series written by When Calls the Heart creators
Little House on the Prairie star Melissa Gilbert asked her fans to support a new series created by the team behind Hallmark’s When Calls the Heart. “Hey everyone! My dear dear pal Michael Landon Jr has a potential tv series that I’d love to see get picked up at @angelstudios_inc,” she wrote in a Facebook […]
When Calls the Heart renewed for 12th season
Hallmark Channel has renewed its hit series When Calls the Heart for a 12th season. “A dozenth season!!!” wrote Erin Krakow in an Instagram post. Hearties also reacted with enthusiasm. “Definitely doing the happy dance, so excited!!” wrote one fan on Facebook. “So happy!! I look forward to Sunday night each week! This is my favorite TV show and […]
Michael Landon Jr to When Calls the Heart fans: “I wish my dad could see this.”
An emotional Michael Landon Jr. told fans of Hallmark Channel’s When Calls the Heart that he wished his dad could have seen the show and met the fans. “There’s nothing like this,” Landon said. “You guys are so special.” When Calls the Heart Landon, who created the series with Brian Bird, was addressing When Calls the […]
Why did Fiona leave When Calls the Heart?
Why did Fiona leave When Calls the Heart? That’s the question Hearties have been asking since the start of Season 11. “What happened to Kayla Wallace?” one fan wrote on the show’s Facebook page. “Are we going to see her at all this season?” Why did Fiona leave When Calls the Heart? Kayla Wallace joined the […]
Viv Leacock and Natasha Burnett find magic in Hallmark romance movie Legend of the Lost Locket
When Calls the Heart co-stars Viv Leacock and Natasha Burnett will headline the new Hallmark romance movie Legend of the Lost Locket. The actors, who play Joseph and Minnie Canfield on When Calls the Heart, play strangers searching for an enchanted antique in the Legend of the Lost Locket, which will premiere as part of […]
Hope Valley will soon see another wedding
Another wedding is coming to Hope Valley. Writers for the hit Hallmark series When Calls the Heart said someone will be getting married in Season 11. However, they are keeping their lips sealed about which couple on the show will tie the knot. “There’s going to be a wedding in Season 11,” said Brian Bird, […]
Kevin McGarry: “I think Nathan was created for Elizabeth”
Kevin McGarry said he believes that his character on When Calls the Heart, Nathan Grant, was meant to be with Elizabeth (played by Erin Krakow). “I have always liked Nathan and Elizabeth as a couple,” he told Entertainment Tonight. “I think Nathan was created for Elizabeth.” McGarry spoke to ET’s Deidre Behar ahead of the […]
Hallmark gives fans a first look at Season 11 of When Calls the Heart
Hallmark has shared a first glimpse at Season 11 of When Calls the Heart. In several short video clips released on the Hallmark Channel website, fans get a look at Elizabeth, Rosemary, Nathan, and the rest of the Hope Valley crew. The clips make a point of teasing a budding romance between Nathan and Elizabeth, […]
When Calls the Heart spinoff a possibility after series finale
A Hallmark exec recently spoke about the possibility of a spinoff of the network’s hit series When Calls the Heart. But she made it clear that a spinoff would likely only occur once When Calls the Heart comes to an end. In an interview with Variety, Lisa Hamilton-Daly said that company executives have considered creating […]
When Calls the Heart stars will reunite in new Hallmark movie
Daniel Lissing and Erin Krakow, who co-starred for five seasons on the hit Hallmark series When Calls the Heart, will reunite onscreen in a new Hallmark movie. The actors will appear in Santa Tell Me, a romantic comedy that is currently in production. The movie will mark the first time the two have shared the […]
Hallmark announces premiere date for 11th season of popular series
Hallmark has announced a return date for Season 11 of its hit series When Calls the Heart. The network also shared a poster for the new season, which showed Elizabeth (Erin Krakow) and Nathan (Kevin McGarry) gazing at each other with longing. “Season 11 poster & premiere date hard launch!” wrote Erin Krakow in an […]
When Calls the Heart co-creator weighs in on Lori Loughlin return to Hallmark
The co-creator of Hallmark’s hit series When Calls the Heart told fans that “good conversations” are happening about Lori Loughlin returning to the show. “Our attitude always has been, as the producing team around the writing team around When Calls the Heart, that what better place for second chances than Hope Valley?” Bird said in […]
Hallmark responds to rumors about Lori Loughlin returning to popular TV series
A representative for Hallmark Media has responded to the rumors that actress Lori Loughlin will be returning to the TV series When Calls the Heart. Fans have been asking whether she would be back ever since the Season 10 finale of the show aired in October. In that episode, titled Starry Nights, Henry Gowen (Martin […]
When Calls the Heart fans divided over Season 10
When Calls the Heart fans took to social media to share their opinions on Season 10 after Sunday night’s finale ended on an emotional cliffhanger. Some were thrilled with the developments, including Lucas and Elizabeth breaking off their engagement and Henry becoming a godfather. Others were furious. “Absolutely the worst season ever!” wrote one Heartie […]
Morgan Kohan shares sad news about When Hope Calls
Actress Morgan Kohan shared the sad news that the TV series When Hope Calls is unlikely to come back for a second season. “It’s a show that keeps popping by to say, ‘Hi,’ but you never know,” she told Hello magazine. “I think it’s a really beautiful world and I’m so happy for my time […]
Erin Krakow promises romance and ‘jaw-dropping’ drama in Season 10 of When Calls the Heart
In a recent interview, Erin Krakow said Hearties can expect jaw-dropping moments in Season 10 of When Calls the Heart. “Season 10 is packed,” Krakow said during an interview with ET’s Deidre Behar. “We are truly leveling up the When Calls the Heart experience.” When Calls the Heart Season 10 Season 10 of Hallmark’s longest-running […]
It’s all good, Hearties. A second trailer for Season 10 of When Calls the Heart includes glimpses of both Lucas and Nathan. (Phew.)
It’s all good, Hearties. A new trailer for Hallmark’s hit series When Calls the Heart includes glimpses of both Lucas (Chris McNally) and Nathan (Kevin McGarry). Some Hearties were concerned when a previous trailer didn’t show either of the Hope Valley favorites. “Where are Lucas and Nathan?” one fan wrote on the show’s Facebook page […]
When Calls the Heart star calls fatherhood his favorite job
Chris McNally, who plays Lucas Bouchard on the Hallmark series When Calls the Heart, recently called fatherhood his “favorite job.” In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, the actor said that he loves being a dad. “Fatherhood is fantastic. It’s my favorite job,” he says. “It’s a job I’ve always wanted to do.” McNally welcomed a […]
When Calls the Heart merch up for grabs in auction to benefit Ukrainian orphans
Some When Calls the Heart swag — along with a private Zoom call with two of the show’s stars — are among the items on the block in a silent auction to benefit Ukrainian orphans. Loretta Walsh, who plays Florence Blakely-Yost on the hit Hallmark series, made an Instagram post urging fans to take a […]
Fans get a sneak peek at Season 10 of popular Hallmark series
Hearties got a sneak peek at Season 10 of When Calls the Heart in a new trailer released by Hallmark Channel. In the 1-minute clip, Hearties see Elizabeth Thornton (Erin Krakow) writing in her diary. As she writes, she also narrates. “Over the past few months, one thing has become clear to me,” she says. […]
A wedding, a baby, and a new romance are all in store on Season 10 of When Calls the Heart
A writer for the hit Hallmark show When Calls the Heart dropped some exciting hints about upcoming developments in Season 10. These included mentions of Elizabeth’s upcoming wedding to Lucas, the birth of Lee and Rosemary Coulter’s baby, and a possible romance for Nathan. “I hope the Hearties are feeling as excited as we are […]
Good news, Hearties! Your favorite show just got renewed
Hearties, the news you have been waiting for is here! When Calls the Heart has been renewed for another season. “Season 11! I’m over the moon!” wrote Erin Krakow in an Instagram post. “Thank you so much @hallmarkchannel and thank you to our #Hearties – the best fans in the universe!” View this post on […]
Is Rosemary having twins? Hearties weigh in after getting a look at Pascale Hutton’s baby bump
Is Rosemary having twins? That was the question many fans had after getting a look at actress Pascale Hutton’s (faux) baby bump. Hutton recently shared a clip to Instagram in which she and her co-star Kavan Smith held hands and walked into a field while the song “Baby Love” by The Supremes played. Hutton then […]
Five fascinating facts you didn’t know about When Calls the Heart star Erin Krakow
For the past 10 years, Erin Krakow has starred on Hallmark’s longest-running original series When Calls the Heart. The Philadelphia native has also starred in the Hallmark movies A Cookie Cutter Christmas, Sense, Sensibility & Snowmen, Finding Father Christmas, Engaging Father Christmas, and Marrying Father Christmas. Here are a few fascinating facts about the actress: […]
Kayla Wallace and Kevin McGarry are engaged!
When Calls the Heart stars Kayla Wallace and Kevin McGarry announced in a social media post that they are engaged. “Forever,” wrote Wallace in the caption of an Instagram video that showed a diamond glittering on her ring finger. “Beautiful!!!! Congratulations,” wrote When Calls the Heart co-star Pascale Hutton. “Our forever friends found their forever!” […]
Andrea Brooks gives birth to Baby No. 2: Find out his name
When Calls the Heart star Andrea Brooks gave birth to Baby No. 2 over the weekend. The actress posted a photo of herself on Instagram holding her child and smiling. “Perfection,” wrote her When Calls the Heart co-star Pascale Hutton in the comments. “Congratulations mama!!!” “So happy for you guys!!!” wrote Erin Krakow. View this […]
When Calls the Heart stars are having a little too much fun on TikTok
The stars of Hallmark’s hit series When Calls the Heart have taken to TikTok and they are having a blast. In a recent post, Erin Krakow and Pascale Hutton danced to Meghan Trainor’s Made You Like while in costume, makeup, and hair for the show. “Dancing in my trailer to @meghantrainor!” wrote Krakow in an […]
Pascale Hutton shares throwback photo of Lori Loughlin on When Calls the Heart
Pascale Hutton gave Hearties a treat when she posted a throwback photo of former castmate Lori Loughlin on When Calls the Heart. The black-and-white pic, which she posted on her Instagram account, shows Hutton, Loughlin, and actress Erin Krakow posing outside a restaurant. “If you’re missing #WCTH tonight — here is my gift to you!” […]
Paul Greene hints at a return to When Calls the Heart
Share on facebook Facebook Share on twitter Twitter Share on linkedin LinkedIn Share on email Email Paul Greene may return to When Calls the Heart. The actor, who played Dr. Carson Shepherd on the hit Hallmark series, says he has discussed with producers the possibility of coming back. “There have been talks about some different […]
Paul Greene may return to When Calls the Heart. The actor, who played Dr. Carson Shepherd on the hit Hallmark series, says he has discussed with producers the possibility of coming back.
“There have been talks about some different approaches to completing that storyline or expanding that,” he said during a recent interview with TV Insider.
A return to When Calls the Heart
Greene played Dr. Carson Shepherd on When Calls the Heart from 2017-2021. His character first arrived in Hope Valley to work on the railway. After an injury left him unable to go back to his old job, he got work at Abigail’s Cafe. He became close to a local nurse, Faith Carter (played by the awesome Andrea Brooks), though he never revealed that he was a doctor.
When Abigail’s adopted son Cody became sick, Shepherd correctly diagnosed him with appendicitis and performed an operation that saved his life. He finally admitted that he was a trained doctor who had stopped practicing medicine after the death of his wife.
He eventually became the town’s doctor and began courting Faith Carter. She eventually left town to pursue her medical studies in Chicago. When she returned to Hope Valley, the two picked up where they left off. Carson Shepherd was ready to propose when he got word that he had been accepted into a prestigious surgical fellowship in Baltimore.
He accepted the fellowship and left Hope Valley — and Faith Carter — far behind.
In the off-season
Fans were hoping to see Carson Shepherd return in Season 9, but apart from a few mentions by Faith, he wasn’t on the show.
During a May 2021 appearance on The Bubbly Sesh” podcast, Greene said he wasn’t sure if his character would come back.
“A lot can happen in the off-season,” he said. “There’s a big-time jump in between seasons. Faith’s character became a doctor in the off-season. There’s so much that can happen.”
Busy career
In his most recent interview, Greene said he’s loved being part of When Calls the Heart, but that he is also busy with other things. The actor has a son with Kate Austin, a musical career, and films that will soon be released.
In the CBS film Fit For Christmas, he co-stars with Amanda Kloots. In Great American Family’s I’m Glad It’s Christmas, he will share the screen with Gladys Knight and Jessica Lowndes.
“When you’re on a series, you might be able to sneak in one or two things,” he said. “I loved being on it, but there are so many other projects I wanted to do. I helped produce a pilot. I’ve been involved in a film for two years that I’m proud of. If I was on a series, that all wouldn’t happen. I also had a baby and was able to be there for the whole pregnancy. I would never give up any of that for extra seasons. I have my gift…I make music, I have a podcast. I’m writing a parenting book. I try to be as present for all the little things.”
Erin Krakow and Pascale Hutton promised fans that Season 10 of When Calls the Heart will be one of the best.
“It’s going to be one of the most engaging and electrifying seasons yet,” Krakow wrote in an Instagram post.
“That’s a wrap on the Coulters (all three of them),” wrote Hutton, alluding to her character’s pregnancy on the show. “Oh Hearties — do we have a season for you!!!!!!”
Season 10 of When Calls the Heart
Filming has finished on Season 10 of the hit Hallmark series. The show’s stars have been sharing photos and videos from the set on MacInnes Farms in Langley, British Columbia. (The farm has a great Facebook page, which can be found here.)
“That’s a wrap!” called Jack Wagner in a short video with co-star Kevin McGarry.
In the post that accompanied the video, Wagner wrote, “S10 in the Books!! Incredible to be a part of such a magical show. I hope you all enjoy S10…”
Sadness, wonderment, hope, and joy
In another post, Krakow quoted her onscreen character.
“Elizabeth Thatcher once said ‘For what is life but a bittersweet mixture of sadness, wonderment, hope, and joy.’ As we wrap our 10th season of @wcth_tv, I’m feeling all of those things and more! 10 seasons of stories & memories, friendship & love, and laughter & tears. I’m overwhelmed with gratitude and pride!”
She also thanked Hallmark for continuing to produce the show.
“Thank you @hallmarkchannel for continuing to be such champions of WCTH; we still have lots more stories to tell! Thank you to our crew & cast for your friendship and for all of your hard work this season! And of course thank you to our #Hearties for your unwavering support and passion – we wouldn’t be here without you!”
Season 11?
Andrea Brooks, who is pregnant with her second child, hinted at the possibility of Season 11.
“Bumping my way across the finish line! Last day of shooting for season 10,” she wrote. “Could not have done it without all the support from this incredible cast and crew. Love you guys to pieces. Thank you @hallmarkchannel for continuing to allow us to tell stories from Hope Valley. Season 11 would be… heaven?”
When Calls the Heart premiered on Hallmark Channel in 2014. Based on a series of books by Canadian author Janette Oke, the show followed a wealthy woman, Elizabeth Thatcher (played by Erin Krakow), who moved to a small Canadian mining town to work as a teacher. She fell in love with and eventually married a mountie — short for Royal Canadian Mounted Police —named Jack Thornton (played by Daniel Lissing).
The series has had its share of controversy. At the end of Season 5, Jack Thornton was killed shortly after his wedding to Elizabeth. In Season 6, two men were brought in to replace him, and they vied for Elizabeth’s hand until she chose between them in the Season 8 finale.
Many fans were upset when Elizabeth chose businessman Lucas Bouchard (Chris McNally) over Mountie Nathan Grant (Kevin McGarry). Some vowed never to watch the show again.
In August, Hallmark Media Exec VP President of Programming Lisa Hamilton Daly told reporters at a press event that Season 10 of When Calls the Heart would premiere in the middle of 2023.
Andrea Brooks is pregnant with her second child. The When Calls the Heart star revealed she has been filming Season 10 of the show while expecting.
“At this point, I feel like I could almost write a book on how to hide a pregnancy on television,” Brooks said during an interview with Entertainment Tonight. “This is the second time I’ve shot a season of When Calls the Heart while pregnant — the last time was Season 7 — and I am forever grateful to Hallmark Channel, our writers, showrunner, directors and producers, for all of their continued support!”
Andrea Brooks is pregnant
Brooks, who plays Dr. Faith Carter on Hallmark’s hit series, gave birth to her daughter, Viola, in December 2019. In an interview shortly before Viola’s birth, Brooks said she was trying to keep a level head.
“I’ve been attending my pregnancy classes and trying to avoid spending too much time on Google,” Brooks said. “I’m already a worry-wart, and sometimes the internet keeps me up worrying about some pretty strange things.”
When Calls the Heart cast
Brooks said her co-workers have been incredibly supportive.
“The major benefit of being a part of a show that’s been on-air for nearly a decade is the tight-knit community we’ve formed as a cast and crew,” Brooks said in an interview with Entertainment Tonight. “It’s been so exciting to see so many people from our show grow up, get engaged, get married, and start families. We also have a LOT of parents on our show. I’ve had so many meaningful conversations on set about preschool, babies, parenting, and balancing it all. Pascale Hutton is always able to answer any question I have about raising kids and I’m always so appreciative of her advice. Also, the costume department left me an adorable crochet baby hat in my trailer the other day.”
It’s a boy!
Brooks said she is expecting a boy at the end of the year. She has a list of possible names in mind but it is constantly changing.
“Viola, on the other hand, has already named the baby!” she said. “If we’re not careful I’m afraid she might sign the birth certificate on our behalf.”
As for cravings, Brooks said she has been eating lots of hummus and veggies and drinking hot chocolate. During her first pregnancy, she craved pickles, eggnog, and Subway sandwiches.
“Erin Krakow still texts me pictures of subs to this day because it was such an integral part of my last pregnancy,” she said.
BFFs and When Calls the Heart co-stars Erin Krakow and Pascale Hutton tried the social media trend known as the Tortilla Challenge and the results ae hilarious.
The Tortilla Challenge has become a sensation on TikTok, with more than 943 million views and celebrities from The Rock to Kevin Hart giving it a try. In the try-not-to-laugh challenge, both participants fill their mouths with water and take turns slapping each other with tortillas.
Krakow and Hutton gave it a try on the set of When Calls the Heart. They wore sweats and sneakers but were in full hair and makeup for filming. Hutton went first, but the two were laughing too hard after the first try to go on.
Erin Krakow and Pascale Hutton
Erin Krakow and Pascale Hutton have been close friends since they began working together on Hallmark’s When Calls the Heart in 2014. Their characters, Elizabeth and Rosemary, originally clashed on the show but eventually became friends.
After a few tense moments during Season 8, the pair became closer than ever. In an interview earlier this year, Hutton said Rosemary will always be on Elizabeth’s team.
“Hands down, and this has always been unwavering, Rosemary has always been Team Elizabeth,” she said. “She just wants Elizabeth to find love again. There’s no bigger champion of love than Rosemary of love in Hope Valley.”
The Tortilla Challenge
In the video, Hutton goes first, slapping Krakow with a soft tortilla. Krakow immediately spits out her water, spraying Hutton in the face. Both begin to laugh but then Hutton remembers she is wearing her makeup for the show.
“Pam’s going to be so mad,” she says to Krakow, referring to When Calls the Heart’s lead makeup artist Pam Anseeuw.
“I’m so sorry!” Krakow says.
“You have to go tell Pam!” Hutton says.
The video, which has close to 27,000 “likes” on Instagram, also inspired an abundance of comments.
“You two win for the best #TortillaChallenge!!!” wrote one fan.
“I am crying laughing!!!” wrote one of the show’s crew members.
Anseeuw weighed in with the comment, “You are both grounded.”
The cast of When Calls the Heart is currently filming Season 10 of the hit series. Krakow and Hutton may or may not still be grounded.
Author Janette Oke shared a faith-filled, heartwarming message with fans of the hit series When Calls the Heart during a recent appearance at Hope Valley Days. Oke, who wrote the book series that inspired the Hallmark series, spoke to Hearties at an annual event that allows fans to tour the set and meet the stars, crew, and creators of the show.
During a question-and-answer session with fans, Oke was asked what she hoped future generations would take away from the stories told on When Calls the Heart.
“I hope it still makes people connect,” Oke said. “Those emotional needs as individuals are to be shared. If we hold them to ourselves often we stagnate or we go in the wrong direction or we don’t understand our neighbor.”
When Calls the Heart fan reunion
Hope Valley Days takes place on the set of the Hallmark show. Over the course of two days, fans were able to explore the town of Hope Valley and meet the people who bring the show to the small screen.
When Calls the Heart, which debuted on Hallmark Channel in 2014, has amassed a huge following of loyal fans who refer to themselves as “Hearties.” Based on a series of books by Oke, they tell the story of a wealthy young woman who moves to a small coal-mining community to work as a teacher. The books and the show are filled with messages of faith, hope, and kindness.
In a recent interview with JLJ Media, the show’s co-creator, Brian Bird, described the show as a healing agent.
“I think we’re doing good work and I think we’re doing the right work on the show, but it’s not because of us, it’s that the audience is starved to death for this,” he said. “And when you give people food, they will just love you, they’ll be so loyal to you. And that’s why the audience keeps coming back every Sunday night. Shows this deep into their lifespan can get old, can get long in the tooth, and we’re not yet.”
Janette Oke
During her appearance at the convention, Oke — who is a devout Christian — said that God created us to be part of a community and that she hopes the stories told by the characters of Hope Valley continue to help people come together.
“Because even though our world changes — maybe we’ll be living on the moon — we still will be people and we still will those needs,” she said.
Season 10 of When Calls the Heart will premiere in 2023 on Hallmark Channel.
Filming has begun on Season 10 of When Calls the Heart, and cast members appear to be having a great time on set. Erin Krakow, Andrea Brooks, Ava Grace Cooper, and Chris McNally have been posting pics and videos on Instagram of all the fun they’re having behind the scenes.
In a 17-second clip Jack Wagner shared, he and Erin Krakow pretend to be lost in the woods. “Whaaa? wheeer? whooo? What’s happening??” he wrote in the caption. “Lost not to be found?”
In the video, he says, “Any clue why Bill and Elizabeth would be trudging through the wilderness? You’ll have to wait for the premiere of Season 10 of When Calls the Heart.”
Cast members Andrea Brooks and Pascale Hutton responded in the comments.
“Remind me NEVER to go into the woods with either of you!!! 😂” Hutton wrote.
“Blair Witch vibes!” added Andrea Brooks.
Season 10 of When Calls the Heart
Filming began in July on the new season and production is expected to wrap up in November. The show is filmed on MacInnes Farms in Langley, British Columbia, which is located near Vancouver in western Canada. (The farm has a great Facebook page, which can be found here.)
Ava Grace Cooper, who plays Opal Weiss on the series, shared a photo of herself in costume standing in front of her trailer.
“#wcth #opal #set #filming,” she wrote in the caption.
Ben Rosenbaum, who plays Mike Hickam on the show, had fun altering photos of himself and Chris McNally to show what they would look like on Season 40.
“@hallmarkchannel give us 30 more years and let’s see how accurate this turns out to be,” he wrote.
McNally shared his photo with the caption, “@ben_rosenbaum fixed me up for WCTH season 40.”
When Calls the Heart
When Calls the Heart premiered on Hallmark Channel in 2014. Based on a series of books by Canadian author Janette Oke, the show followed a wealthy woman, Elizabeth Thatcher (played by Erin Krakow), who moved to a small Canadian mining town to work as a teacher. She fell in love with and eventually married a mountie — short for Royal Canadian Mounted Police —named Jack Thornton (played by Daniel Lissing).
The series has had its share of controversy. At the end of Season 5, Jack Thornton was killed shortly after his wedding to Elizabeth. In Season 6, two men were brought in to replace him, and they vied for Elizabeth’s hand until she chose between them in the Season 8 finale.
Many fans were upset when Elizabeth chose businessman Lucas Bouchard (Chris McNally) over Mountie Nathan Grant (Kevin McGarry). Some vowed never to watch the show again.
In August, Hallmark Media Exec VP President of Programming Lisa Hamilton Daly told reporters at a press event that Season 10 of When Calls the Heart would premiere in the middle of 2023.
Fans anticipating the Season 10 premiere of the beloved Hallmark series When Calls the Heart have been left hanging after a network executive said the show will air sometime in the middle of 2023.
Lisa Hamilton-Daly, Hallmark Media’s executive vice president of programming, didn’t give a specific date for the premiere. But fans have become accustomed to seeing the first episodes in February. Last year, Hallmark saw pushback when the show didn’t premiere until March 6.
Season 10 of When Calls the Heart
Filming began in July on the new season and production is expected to wrap up in November. The show is filmed on MacInnes Farms in Langley, British Columbia, which is located near Vancouver in western Canada. (The farm has a great Facebook page, which can be found here.)
The stars of the show have been posting photos and videos from the set.
Erin Krakow (who plays Elizabeth Thornton on the series) shared a beautiful video of the set on her Instagram page with the message, “Season 10. So grateful for this show and this place. Hoping for 100 more eps.”
Ava Cooper, who plays Opal Weise, shared a photo of one of the horses from the show.
“Back on set! The horses are always so sweet!!” she wrote in the caption.
Andrea Brooks (Dr. Faith Carter) posted a photo on Instagram with the caption, “Looking *forward* to all the stories we get to tell in SEASON 🔟 of @wcth_tv! Thank you @hallmarkchannel, the entire team, and to all the #hearties for tuning in for the past… decade(‼️). Can’t wait to get back to Hope Valley. Let’s do this!.”
Viv Leacock (who plays Joseph Canfield) posted a photo with his co-star Natasha Burnett (Minnie Canfield), with a caption that read, “SEASON 10 y’all!! Joseph and Minnie are ready to help @wcth_tv and @hallmarkchannel celebrate #100episodes feed your souls!! #Hearties we are looking forward to seeing y’all in person!! Who’s up for it??!!”
New showrunner
Hallmark execs also shared that Lindsay Sturman would replace John Tinker as showrunner for Season 10.
“We are also excited to welcome to the family our new showrunner, Lindsay Sturman, who brings her immense talent to the show,” said Laurie Ferneau, senior vice president of development at Hallmark Media told ET Online.
Sturman has written for the TV series Supergirl, Nightflyers, Teen Wolf, and Battle Creek.
Is Jack Wagner leaving Hallmark? Fans have been wondering about the star following several developments, including the death of his son.
During Season 9 of When Calls the Heart, Wagner’s character, Bill Avery, struggled with poor health. After several visits to Dr. Faith Carter (Andrea Brooks) for a persistent cough, she urged him to go to a nearby city for an X-ray. His symptoms suggest he had tuberculosis.
Though Wagner has been a member of the cast since the first season of When Calls the Heart, several beloved characters were written off the show last year. Jesse (Aren Buchholz) and Clara (Eva Bourne) moved to Montana to try homesteading. Dr. Carson Shepherd (Paul Greene) also left Hope Valley so he could pursue his dream of becoming a surgeon. Fans have speculated that if these characters can be written off the show, so can Wagner’s.
Is Jack Wagner leaving Hallmark?
Wagner’s other major project with Hallmark was the Wedding March film series. The actor played Mick Turner, a widower and former rock star who runs a Vermont inn. He falls for Livvy Phillips-Pershing (played by Josie Bissett), and the two end up getting married in the sixth and final movie in the series, Sealed With a Kiss: Wedding March 6, which aired in August 2021.
In an interview to promote the movie, Wagner said he was taken aback by how emotional he became filming the wedding.
“I don’t think we knew what to expect,” Wagner said. “The emotion was unbelievably raw and in the moment and real.”
A move to GAC Family?
Hearties were thrilled when Hallmark announced in June that When Calls the Heart was coming back for another season. But while other stars of the series posted about it on social media, Wagner was preoccupied with the loss of his son Harrison, who passed away at the age of 27.
Some fans have wondered if the loss will prevent Wagner from returning to the Hallmark series. Others have unearthed an October interview with the CEO of GAC Family Bill Abbott, in which he said that Jack Wagner will eventually be featured on the family-friendly network.
“He will be part of the family ultimately too,” Abbott said.
(The interview can be seen here.)
Erin Krakow was all smiles in a Facebook post on Friday in response to the news that When Calls the Heart has been renewed for a 10th season.
“Celebrating the great S10 news from Italy! We’re thrilled!!!” Krakow wrote in a post featuring her castmates Kayla Wallace, Kevin McGarry, and Ben Rosenbaum.
Fans were thrilled to hear the news.
“YES!!!! I could not be happier!!! So happy for you and even more happy for us!” wrote one fan in response to the news.
“Woohoo!!!!” another wrote. “Best show ever. Congratulations to everyone!!”
When Calls the Heart has been renewed
Hallmark Channel announced the news on Friday.
“When Calls the Heart continues to push the limits as to what we can achieve with this show,” said Lisa Hamilton Daly, executive vice president of programming of Crown Media Family Networks. “There are many more stories still to be told about the lives of the beloved characters in this series and we cannot wait for everyone at home to tune in to see what unfolds.”
Hallmark recently announced it will produce two new television series, The Way Home and Ride, for primetime. Both of the shows will begin production this summer and will air in 2023.
Hallmark canceled two long-running shows — Good Witch and the lifestyle series Home and Family — in the summer of 2021. Another of the network’s shows, Chesapeake Shores, is in production for its sixth and final season.
About the show
When Calls the Heart premiered on Hallmark Channel in 2014. Based on the bestselling series by Canadian author Janette Oke, the show follows a privileged young woman (played by Krakow) who moves to a small coal-mining town to teach school. Though she struggles at first to adapt to her new way of living, she grows to love her students and the people in the small town. She also falls in love and marries the local constable.
Fans have been desperate to find out about Season 10 since the Season 9 finale aired in May. In an interview, the show’s co-creator said that the series would continue even if Hallmark didn’t produce it.
“Whether or not the Hallmark Channel wants to keep us around forever doesn’t matter,” said Brian Bird. “There will be somebody else who wants it because it is so unique. And we will keep making the show as long as those Hearties want to show up and watch the show.”
The co-creator of Hallmark Channel’s longest-running original series told fans that one way or another, there will be a Season 10 of When Calls the Heart.
“Whether or not the Hallmark Channel wants to keep us around forever doesn’t matter,” said Brian Bird in a recent interview. “There will be somebody else who wants it because it is so unique. And we will keep making the show as long as those Hearties want to show up and watch the show.”
Season 9 of the series finished in May with an action-packed finale that saw Lucas propose to Elizabeth and Rosemary share the news with Lee that they were expecting a baby.
Though fans were pleased overall with the ending, many have been left wondering when they will be able to find out what comes next. In the past, Hallmark Channel has announced a new season almost immediately following the finale. But so far, there has been no word from the network.
In his interview, Bird dropped hints that another network could pick up the series. GAC Family, which was started by former Crown Media CEO Bill Abbott, has already picked up the show’s spinoff series, When Hope Calls. But GAC Family hasn’t said whether it will pick up When Calls the Heart.
About the show
When Calls the Heart premiered on Hallmark Channel in 2014. Based on a series of books by Canadian author Janette Oke, the show followed a wealthy woman, Elizabeth Thatcher (played by Erin Krakow), who moved to a small Canadian mining town to work as a teacher. She fell in love with and eventually married a mountie — short for Royal Canadian Mounted Police — named Jack Thornton (played by Daniel Lissing).
The series has had its share of controversy. At the end of Season 5, Jack Thornton was killed shortly after his wedding to Elizabeth. In Season 6, two men were brought in to replace him, and they vied for Elizabeth’s hand until she chose between them in the Season 8 finale.
Many fans were upset when Elizabeth chose businessman Lucas Bouchard (Chris McNally) over Mountie Nathan Grant (Kevin McGarry). Some vowed never to watch the show again.
Season 10 of When Calls the Heart
Soon after the Season 9 premiere, Bird posted a letter to social media telling fans their support would be crucial to having a Season 10.
“If indeed there is to be a season 10 and beyond of WCTH, it will be because you reached down into your hearts and found that same excitement and passion for rallying your friends and family to watch the only show on TV that celebrates hope, faith and love every week,” he wrote.
In a recent interview, the show’s front runner, John Tinker, told fans that they can expect a lot of action in the coming season.
“I just love this tenth season coming up,” Tinker said. “You’re going to have babies and weddings and people in jail and sick people.”
Pascale Hutton gave Hearties a treat when she posted a throwback photo of former castmate Lori Loughlin on When Calls the Heart.
The black-and-white pic, which she posted on her Instagram account, shows Hutton, Loughlin, and actress Erin Krakow posing outside a restaurant.
“If you’re missing #WCTH tonight — here is my gift to you!” Hutton wrote in the caption.
Fans responded with enthusiasm.
“I hope they bring Abigail back! WCTH is not quite the same without her!” one fan wrote.
“Love seeing you all 3 back together ❤️🙌 bring Abigail back please 😍,” wrote another.
Will Loughlin be back?
Lori Loughlin played Abigail Stanton on the Hallmark Channel series When Calls the Heart for six years. Her character, who lost her husband and son in a mining accident, acted as a mentor to Erin Krakow’s Elizabeth.
The cast and crew were in the middle of shooting the show’s sixth season when news of Loughlin’s involvement in a college admissions bribery scandal surfaced. Production halted while writers and producers decided what to do. They eventually wrote Loughlin off the show.
Some fans approved of the move. Others were upset and wanted her back. In a June 2021 interview, Brian Bird, the co-creator of the series, said he was open to having Loughlin on the series again.
“If anyone should return to Hope Valley, it should be Abigail,” he said.
Appearance on When Hope Calls
Loughlin surprised fans when she made an appearance on When Calls the Heart’s spinoff series When Hope Calls. During the show’s 2021 Christmas special, Loughlin reprised her role as Abigail for two episodes. When fans asked Hallmark if Loughlin would be back on When Calls the Heart, the network was quick to respond.
“Hallmark Channel has not cast Lori Loughlin in any current projects, including When Calls the Heart, nor do we have any plans to cast her in the future. She was cast by GAC Family, a wholly separate cable network not affiliated with Hallmark Channel or Crown Media Family Networks,” read a statement from the network.
At this point, it is unclear if When Calls the Heart will be back for another season. Hallmark has already canceled three of its series. Good Witch aired for the last time in July 2021. Home and Family had its final episode in August 2021. And Chesapeake Shores is currently in production for its sixth and final season.
Fans have made it clear that they want more When Calls the Heart.
“Season 10! Season 10! Season 10!” one wrote on the show’s Facebook page. “#WCTHS10! #Hearties10 #Hearties (more like, 20 more seasons!!)”
What happened on the season finale of When Calls the Heart? Let’s just say there were more than a few happy resolutions. First off, Lucas proposed! Also, Rosemary shared the news with Lee that they are expecting, and he was so excited he ran outside in his pajamas.
But there were a few cliffhangers as well, which have left us at TV Cheddar clamoring for Season 10. (Hint, hint, Hallmark; anytime you wanna let us know if we get to go to Hope Valley next year would be great.)
The season finale of When Calls the Heart
When the episode starts, Lee tells Rosemary about the job offer he received from Arthur Gilchrist. He says he won’t take it because Hope Valley is their home and he doesn’t want to leave.
Gustave comes to see Elizabeth because he is worried about Lucas. She reassures him that Lucas is fine, but to put him at ease, she agrees to ask Nathan to check on him. But Nathan is even less worried about Lucas than Elizabeth is. Instead, he teases her that Lucas is getting cold feet. She tells him that’s not possible because they aren’t engaged.
Matchmaker Allie
Allie goes to see Elizabeth and asks for her help in finding a wife for Nathan. (She is calling him Dad now, which is sooooo sweet.) She says she thinks he might have feelings for Faith. Elizabeth tells her that Nathan will find a wife when he is ready.
Minnie and Joseph go on a picnic so they can spend some time together away from work. But the wind is so strong they decide to take their picnic inside the church. They talk about How Minnie’s father wants to lend Joseph some money for his business. Joseph says he needs to be successful on his own. Minnie reminds him that he shouldn’t let pride rule his actions.
Elizabeth goes to the jail to see if she can bring anything to Henry. He gives her money and tells her to give it to Joseph since he is always doing such great things for the community.
Medical advice
Rosemary is worried that she might not be pregnant because she no longer has morning sickness. But Faith assures her she will soon feel the baby move.
When Rosemary leaves, Faith confides in Molly that she has developed feelings for Nathan. She feels it is unethical because a doctor shouldn’t have a personal relationship with a patient. Molly tells her that some rules should be broken.
Nathan comes back from looking for Lucas. He tells Elizabeth that Lucas is fine and that he’ll return that evening.
Faith sees Nathan and starts to approach him. Before she can reach him, she sees Mei Suo, who has just arrived back in town. Molly asks Faith if she is disappointed. Faith says she is actually relieved.
Joseph goes to the jail to visit Henry, and thanks him for the donation. Henry says he would like to learn how to pray.
Fire
Rosemary and Lee are leaving the office when they see smoke coming from the saloon. Lee runs in to help fight the fire, and Elizabeth begins to panic because she thinks Lucas might be in there. Just then, Lucas rides into town and runs into the saloon to help put out the flames.
Once the fire is out, everyone goes home. Rosemary and Lee go to bed and then Rosemary feels the baby moving. She shares the news with Lee, who is so excited he runs outside in his pajamas shouting with Joy.
Elizabeth, Jack, and Lucas are talking a walk. Elizabeth asks Lucas if he would be interested in coming to Hamilton for Christmas. He says he was hoping they could go, because he wanted to get her father’s permission to propose. Then he says he already called her father. Jack hands Elizabeth what she thinks is a rock. She realizes it is a ring. Lucas gets down on one knee and proposes.
What happened on When Calls the Heart? Lee got a job offer, Carson called Faith, and Henry surprised the whole town in a daring move.
What happened on When Calls the Heart:
When the episode opens, Elizabeth is worried about Lucas. He seems distant and withdrawn, and she still hasn’t had a chance to open her birthday gift. She suspects it is an engagement ring, and she is afraid that Lucas has changed his mind.
Elizabeth runs into Rosemary, who is no longer feeling nauseated. Elizabeth points out this could be a sign that her pregnancy is progressing. Rosemary says it could also be a sign that she is not pregnant. She says that she and Lee had prepared themselves for life without children, and she plans on moving forward with the life they had.
Bill leaves town to see if he can get an emergency order to stop the mine from reopening. His cough is severe.
Florence finds ads posted around town saying the mine is hiring. Furious, she tears them all down. When she sees Lucas, she says he is just as responsible as Henry for the mine reopening.
Nathan stops by the pharmacy, where he finds Faith looking for cough medicine for Bill. He says Mei sent him a letter to let him know she is fine.
Quality time
Florence asks Ned to close the shop for the day so they can spend some time together. Allie rides into town on a tandem bike and offers to help Robert deliver the mail.
In a meeting, Jerome tells Henry that he doesn’t think Fiona is a good fit at the oil company. Meanwhile, Arthur invites Fiona to dinner. She is offended, pointing out that she is his subordinate at the company and she expects to be treated with respect.
Elizabeth suggests that she and Lucas go for a horseback ride. He insists on going alone, as Rosemary wants to give Elizabeth a day of beauty.
Minnie and Angela return home. Minnie has a letter for Joseph from her father, but Joseph is not interested. He says he is the doe provider for the family and that he doesn’t need Minnie’s family’s help.
Feelings
During her day of beauty, Elizabeth confesses that she thought Lucas was going to propose on her birthday. He still hasn’t given her a gift, and she worries that maybe he has changed his mind.
At a meeting between Jerome, Henry, Arthur, and Fiona, an expert says the mine can safely be reopened. Henry realizes the man has been bribed.
That evening, Lucas goes to the saloon to meet Elizabeth and finds her hair and clothes have been styled to make her look like Rosemary. Over dinner, he tells Elizabeth that the ride really cleared his head and that it would be nice to live in a more remote area.
At the mercantile, Molly answers the phone. It’s Carson calling for Faith.
Elizabeth goes to see Lucas at his office. She tells him she is worried that he was going to propose but then changed his mind. Lucas pulls out her gift. It is a pair of earrings.
Arthur visits Lee at the newspaper office and says his company wants Lee to write opinion pieces. He says Lee can work from Chicago, New York, or Los Angeles. Lee says the newspaper is really his wife’s business. Arthur says he is leaving town the next day, so he needs Lee’s answer soon.
Henry goes to the coal mine and blows up the entrance with dynamite.
Leaving town
Bill tells Henry he should leave town and lay low. It won’t be long before they figure out he was behind the explosion at the mine.
“I can’t condone what you have done, but thank you,” Bill says.
Molly and Faith have a heart-to-heart. Molly says she wants to tell Bill about how she feels but she is afraid of getting hurt. Faith says she knows the feeling. Meanwhile, Bill and Nathan talk, and Nathan says he has feelings for someone. Bill tells him to go after the woman he loves.
Elizabeth goes to see Lucas at the saloon but he has left town. He has also left her a letter.
Coming up….
The previews for the season finale looked incredible. It seems that Rosemary really is pregnant. It looks like Lucas might finally put a ring on it. And the saloon catches fire. It’s going to be a looooong week.
What happened on When Calls the Heart? Rosemary found out she might be pregnant, Henry made a deal to re-open the mines, and Florence hauled off and gave Henry a good slap when she heard the news.
What happened on When Calls the Heart
When the episode starts, Elizabeth is beside following Lucas’s arrest. Though she believes he is innocent, many people in Hope Valley believe that he conspired with Walden Wyman.
Hickam visits Bill at his office and says he wants to resign as mayor.
Lee insists on taking Rosemary, who is weak and nauseated, to see Dr. Carter. The doctor says a stomach is going around. Lee begins walking Rosemary back to the newspaper office when they run into Arthur Gilchrist. Unfortunately, Rosemary loses her lunch right there on the street.
Nathan runs into Fiona, who is a nervous wreck over the upcoming meeting with the investors.
“Our Time Has Come”
At the jail, Lucas thanks Elizabeth for believing in him. She gives him a gift box. When he opens it, he finds a pocket watch engraved with the words “Our Time Has Come.”
Bill gets a phone call from the lawyer representing the man who hit Nathan with his car. The man says he was paid by Walden to plant gambling ledgers in Lucas’ office. He wants to make a plea deal. It would exonerate Lucas but it means the man wouldn’t serve time for hurting Nathan.
During the meeting between the investors, Gilchrist says he would like to go see the coal mine.
Rosemary goes back to the infirmary. Faith tells her she might be pregnant. Rosemary is astounded. She and Lee have waited so long to become parents. She asks Faith if they can keep the news between them until she can be more certain.
“It would break his heart,” she says.
The evidence
At his office, Lucas shows Elizabeth where the ledgers were planted.
Lee visits the cafe and apologizes to Joseph for making the phone call to get Joseph and Minnie the loan from the bank.
Elizabeth and Rosemary quarrel about Rosemary’s plans to run an article about Lucas’ arrest. Elizabeth begs her to reconsider, but Rosemary says she needs to do what’s right as the editor of The Valley Voice.
When the editorial comes out, Elizabeth apologizes to Rosemary. She says printing the piece was the right thing to do. Rosemary shares the news that she might be pregnant.
Nathan visits Elizabeth and tells her he will go ahead with the deal that will exonerate Lucas. She thanks him.
Jerome suggests to Henry that they let Fiona run the oil business and that they focus on re-opening the mine.
Bad news travels fast
Lucas says he has Elizabeth’s birthday present and pulls out a jewelry box. But before she can open it, Bill calls. He says that Henry Gowen has agreed to reopen the mine. Lucas is crestfallen and shares the news with Elizabeth. Little Jack climbs into Lucas’ lap and tries to push the edges of his mouth into a smile.
Florence and Molly pass Gowen on the street. When he greets them, they ignore him. Gowen chases after them and starts to apologize but before he can finish, Florence slaps him.
“How could you let this happen?” she asks.
What happened on When Calls the Heart? Elizabeth celebrated her birthday with Jack and Lucas. Wyman Walden arrived back in Hope Valley. And Nathan and Mei said an emotional farewell to each other.
But the biggest surprise came at the very end of the episode. In a preview for Episode 10, Rosemary dropped a hint to Elizabeth that she might be pregnant!
What happened on When Calls the Heart
When the episode opens, Elizabeth receives red roses as a birthday gift from Lucas. When she calls him to say thank you, she mentions that Abigail called to wish her a happy birthday. (Side note: Hallmark was pretty adamant that Lori Loughlin would NOT be returning to the show, but the fact that her character is still being mentioned is interesting.)
Fiona arrives back in town from her trip to San Francisco with bad news. She tells Lucas that Henry confronted Jerome about re-opening the mine. Jerome changed the deal, saying he would only go through with it if Lucas agreed to stay on the board for one more year. This is a problem, as Lucas already told Elizabeth that he was getting out of the oil business.
Wyman Walden shows up at the saloon and tells Lucas that he is going to buy The Queen of Hearts.
Sting operation
Lucas tells Elizabeth that he attempted to catch Wyman swindling people out of their savings (as he did to Jesse and Clara) in a sting operation. It did not go well, and that is how Lucas ended up with a black eye. Elizabeth suggests he go see Bill.
Fiona is giving Lee a haircut when Rosemary asks if she can borrow the salon to give Elizabeth a day of beauty for her birthday. Lee mentions that a man named Arthur Gilchrist of the Hearst newspaper empire is coming to town to talk about The Valley Voice. Fiona says Gilchrist is part of the oil company deal.
Nathan stops by the pharmacy to see Mei, but he can’t find her. Dr. Carter arrives a few minutes later and finds Mei hiding in the back. She has to go back to Chicago, and she doesn’t know how to tell Nathan.
When Bill finds out that Wyman is back in town, he decides to let the sale of the Queen of Hearts go ahead in an attempt to keep the coal mine closed. He also wants to lure Wyman’s henchman to town as he knows the man is wanted for murder. He tells Wyman that he will help him with the deal if Wyman helps Bill become mayor.
Goodbye (for now)
Nathan finds Mei at the saloon getting ready to leave town. She tells him that Jeffrey is pursuing charges against her in Chicago. He offers to come with her.
“You have no idea what that means to me,” she tells him.
She says that she can’t ask him to leave Allie. She tells him that she regrets not letting him catch her that day she road into town. Nathan holds back tears as he says goodbye.
Molly and Florence are chatting. Molly says she thinks Faith has feelings for Nathan.
At the café, Joseph confronts Lee. He knows that Lee made a phone call so that Joseph could get his loan. He says he wishes Lee would have asked him first.
Nathan runs into Faith. They chat about Mei leaving town. He says it is probably similar to her situation with Carson. But then he changes his mind and says perhaps not, as Faith was ready to get married. Faith tells him that Carson was the one who wanted to get married, and she wasn’t ready. He is surprised. She invites him for ice cream, and he accepts.
Joseph and Cooper talk about Cooper’s decision not to go to church. Cooper explained that he “likes being his own boss.”
Closing the deal
People in town are upset with Bill because of the deal he made with Wyman. When Wyman arrives with Spurlock, Bill attempts to arrest him for murder. Spurlock shoots at Nathan and takes off in his car. Nathan goes after him on his horse and arrests him.
Bill then confronts Lucas about the deal he was trying to make with Wyman. Lucas said he was trying to catch him with a sting, but Bill cannot confirm the story. He says that Wyman stated that Lucas was working with gamblers in Louisiana and that he has the documents to prove it.
What happened on When Calls the Heart: Season 9, Episode 8
What happened on Hallmark Channel’s When Calls the Heart in Season 9, Episode 8 — Hope Valley Days Part Two:
When the episode opens, Nathan runs into Jeffrey on the street. Jeffrey says he wants to talk to Ned and Florence about running the pharmacy with Mei.
Elizabeth overhears the news that Jeffrey is Mei’s husband. She runs to the saloon to tell Lucas, but he already knows. She is disappointed that he didn’t share the news with her sooner.
When Nathan asks Mei about Jeffrey, she explains that she apprenticed with him while she was still at school. He started having feelings for her. When she made it clear she didn’t feel the same way, he told everyone they were engaged.
When Mei found out he had forged a marriage license, she left Chicago and rode to Hope Valley to take the job at the pharmacy. When Mei asks Nathan if he believes her, he says yes. However, he says, they need proof that Jeffrey lied.
What happened on When Calls the Heart: Wherefore art thou, Lee?
Lee — dressed as Romeo for Halloween — runs into Hickam and attempts to apologize for his editorial. Back at the Valley Voice, he confides in Rosemary — dressed as Juliet — that he didn’t realize the impact his opinion piece would have. Rosemary tells him that writing for a newspaper is a huge responsibility.
Jeffrey tells Nathan he wants Mei arrested.
Lucas runs into two schoolteachers at the town bulletin board who are looking for textbooks. He tells them that he knows someone who can help them. At the schoolhouse, he offers to teach Elizbaeth’s class so she can talk to the other teachers.
At the café, Minnie, Joseph, and Bill celebrate their new business partnership. Bill begins coughing hard and steps outside. When he sees blood on his handkerchief, he goes to see Dr. Carter.
The doctor tells him he needs to go to Union City to get tested for pneumonia. As Bill rests, she runs over to the pharmacy for supplies. While she is there, Nathan arrests Mei. Faith follows them to the jail, where she sits with Mei. Faith tells Mei she feels like all this is her fault.
A call from Chicago
Back at the infirmary, Molly discovers that Bill has a bruise on his side. He says it must be from his fight with Jeffrey. Dr. Carter gives him some cough medicine and tells him to rest.
Bill decides to rest in Nathan’s office. He drinks all of the cough medicine and starts telling Mei about how his wife followed him to Hope Valley. Nathan arrives just in time to answer a phone call from Chief Inspector Hargreaves. Mei is to be returned to Chicago for prosecution.
When Elizabeth arrives at the café to help prepare Thanksgiving dinner, she finds out that Minnie has agreed to let Emma stay on in her job and rent a room upstairs.
At the Valley Voice, Lee writes a positive opinion piece about Hickam.
Burden of proof
Jeffrey arrives at the jail, where Nathan is just releasing Mei. Jeffrey wants Mei to return to Chicago with him. Nathan tells Jeffrey that Mei won’t be prosecuted, as he has found out that Jeffrey is already married. When Jeffrey leaves, Mei gives Nathan a hug.
The town gathers for a church service to celebrate the end of Hope Valley Days. When the service is finished, everyone steps out and finds a Christmas tree in the middle of the town. No one can figure out where it came from.
It turns out Bill set it up while everyone else was in church as an April Fools’ prank.
At the saloon, everyone shares a Thanksgiving dinner. Lee and Rosemary take pictures of everyone. When Allie and Nathan pose for their photo, Allie pulls Mei in with them.
What happened on When Calls the Heart: A recap of Season 9, Episode 7
What happened on When Calls the Heart this week:
In Season 9, Episode 7, Hope Valley Days Part One, Mei Suo’s husband came to town; Lucas dropped major hints to Elizabeth that he’s ready to pop the question, and Hickam began to exercise his authority as mayor.
When the episode starts, the townspeople have gathered to hear an announcement from Mayor Hickam. In an effort to get the town back to its hopeful, joyous roots, he is initiating a new festival. During Hope Valley Days, the town would celebrate Thanksgiving with Elizabeth, Hannukah with Ned and Florence, Halloween with Lee and Rosemary, and Valentine’s Day with new town council member Mei Suo. He then jokes that Bill will be in charge of celebrating April Fool’s Day.
At the newspaper office, Lee and Rosemary are dressed as Antony and Cleopatra and have candy ready for the children when they come trick-or-treating. Rosemary is excited to see they have received a letter from someone who works for newspaper mogul William Randolph Hearst.
Andrea stops by the pharmacy. Mei Suo has hung red decorations for Qixi, a Chinese celebration of love. Nathan rides by outside, and Mei looks at him wistfully.
Mei Suo’s husband
A man comes storming into Bill’s office, saying he wants his wife arrested. Bill tells him to come back when he can behave with more civility. The man refuses to leave. Bill knocks him out and takes him down to the jail in a wheelbarrow.
Nathan makes a phone call and finds out that the man is named Jeffrey. There are no warrants for his arrest, but there are three for Mei Suo. One is for larceny, one for forgery, and one for spousal abandonment.
Lucas stops by the schoolhouse to walk Elizabeth home. He tells her that when he was growing up, all he ever wanted was to live in a town where “my family could get to know everyone and everyone could get to know us.”
Joseph and Minnie
At the cafe, Minnie tells Elizabeth that she and Joseph are applying for a loan to buy out Abigail’s portion of the cafe.
At the pharmacy, Ned and Florence offer Mei her job on a permanent basis. Her joy is cut short when Bill and Nathan confront her over the warrants for her arrest.
Bill goes to the infirmary. Dr. Carter says she thinks he has pneumonia. She wants to send him to the city for an X-ray.
The driving lesson
Nathan asks Elizabeth for a driving lesson. They climb in the car, and she immediately begins explaining how the vehicle works, but Nathan is more interested in pushing all the buttons. Finally, he climbs out and says he will ask Lucas for a lesson instead.
“Maybe it was a good thing that you and I never got together,” he says, grinning. Um, ouch.
Joseph and Minnie pray together before leaving for Buxton to apply for their loan. Joseph tells Minnie they need to be careful about getting their hopes up. Her family may have been well respected in St. Louis, but in some places, there is still a lot of prejudice.
Bill tells Mei he saw a marriage license with Mei’s signature. She insists it was forged. He says he has no choice but to release Jeffrey.
As soon as he is out of jail, Jeffrey chases after Mei and begs her to return with him to Chicago. She refuses.
Joseph stops by Lee’s office to drop off the keys to his car. He says he and Minnie did not get a loan. Lee is furious. He tells Rosemary he is going to back the loan himself. Rosemary suggests he talk to Joseph first, but Lee goes ahead and calls his bank.
Nathan and Lucas
Nathan asks Lucas for a driving lesson. He starts talking about Mei and says he doesn’t understand why she never brought up the situation with Jeffrey. Lucas tells him that she probably had a good reason.
Ned leads a Hannukah celebration at the saloon. Joseph tells Lee that the bank reversed its decision on the loan. Lee pretends to be surprised.
At a bonfire in the middle of town, Lucas asks Elizbaeth if she has ever considered a fall wedding. She asks if he has ever considered a spring wedding.
While we doubt there will be a wedding this season, there may very well be a proposal. The question is, will it top Jack’s epic, candlelit setup from Season 4?
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Season 10 of When Calls the Heart will be ‘electrifying’
Erin Krakow and Pascale Hutton promised fans that Season 10 of When Calls the Heart will be one of the best.
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“That’s a wrap on the Coulters (all three of them),” wrote Hutton, alluding to her character’s pregnancy on the show. “Oh Hearties — do we have a season for you!!!!!!”
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Fans anticipating the Season 10 premiere of the beloved Hallmark series When Calls the Heart have been left hanging after a network executive said the show will air sometime in the middle of 2023.
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“Celebrating the great S10 news from Italy! We’re thrilled!!!” Krakow wrote in a post featuring her castmates Kayla Wallace, Kevin McGarry, and Ben Rosenbaum.
On this week’s episode of When Calls the Heart, Lee got a job offer, Carson called Faith, and Henry surprised the whole town in a daring move.
Rosemary had some surprising news this week, and Florence hauled off and gave Henry a slap during this week’s episode of When Calls the Heart.
In Part 2 of Hope Valley Days, Bill surprised the entire town with his April Fools’ prank. But his cough sounds serious, and Dr. Carter can’t convince him to get an X-ray.
When the episode starts, the townspeople have gathered to hear an announcement from Mayor Hickam. In an effort to get the town back to its hopeful, joyous roots, he is initiating a new festival.
When Calls the Heart Season 9, Episode 6: Past, Present, Future highlighted the many changes in Hope Valley.
When Calls the Heart, Season 9, Episode 5 was epic. First of all, Allie is back in town. And she called Nathan “Dad.” Best of all, she convinced him to shave the caterpillar off his upper lip.
Also, Minnie invited Augustus Landis to dinner, Lee and Rosemary had a heart-to-heart, and Fiona returned to Hope Valley.
Hallmark Channel’s When Calls the Heart has its own app. Produced by Edify Films, it features photos, interviews, recipes, merchandise, and even printable coloring pages..
In a recent interview, Viv Leacock referred to Hallmark Channel’s When Calls the Heart as the new ‘Little House on the Prairie.”
When Calls the Heart Season 9, Episode 6: Past, Present, Future
When Calls the Heart Season 9, Episode 6: Past, Present, Future highlighted the many changes in Hope Valley.
When the episode opens, Nathan (Kevin McGarry) is trying to put a saddle on Newton. The horse is still spooked from the accident, so Nathan leads him out of the stables. The main road is clogged with cars, and Nathan ends up directing traffic.
Lee (Kavan Smith) goes to Bill’s office to complain about all the traffic in Hope Valley. Bill (Jack Wagner) replies that there is nothing he can do since he is not the mayor. He suggests Lee use his power as a newspaper editor to get something done. Bill then tells Nathan he can’t ride Newton until the horse has fully recovered.
Elizabeth (Erin Krakow) and Rosemary (Pascale Hutton) are chatting when they hear yelling from the soda fountain. Three children come running out splattered with ice cream. It turns out Allie (Jaeda Lily Miller) and Robert (Jaiven Natt) got into an ice cream fight. Mei Suo says she only left for a minute. Nathan hauls Allie to his office for a chat.
When Nathan speaks to Allie in private, she is contrite but also pleased with herself for landing a shot of ice cream right in Robert’s face. Allie leaves to help clean up the shop, and Nathan tells Elizabeth that his niece reminds him of his sister.
Etiquette
At the Mercantile, Florence (Loretta Walsh) complains to Ned (Hrothgar Mathews) about how rude some of the customers are. Just then, Molly (Johannah Newmarch) enters and displays perfect manners. This gives Florence an idea.
Hickam (Ben Rosenbaum) stops by to see Dr. Faith Carter (Andrea Brooks). She is surprised when he asks her out to dinner. He says that she has an analytical mind, and that he could use her advice in his new job as mayor. She agrees, saying it would be nice to take a break from her heavy workload.
Over at the newspaper office, Rosemary is disturbed by the noise coming from outside. When Lee investigates, he finds Joseph working with a group of men to build a billboard. Lee asks what is going on, and one of the workers pushes him. A fight breaks out, and Lee ends up in the infirmary. He tells Rosemary that the billboard was advertising jobs at the foundry.
The opinion piece
Lee prints an opinion piece in the Valley Voice saying Hickam is responsible for the town’s problems. The newspaper sells so well that Lee wants to publish a second edition. But Rosemary talks him out of it, saying the attention they are getting for the newspaper isn’t the right kind of attention. She also disagrees that Hope Valley’s problems are Hickam’s fault.
In a meeting with Lucas (Chris McNally), Henry (Martin Cummins) said he is concerned that Jerome Smith might want to reopen the mine.
Florence and Molly decide to start a newspaper column titled “Minding Your Manners with Molly.”
During a visit to the soda fountain, Bill asks Mei if she has told Nathan about her husband. Mei insists Jeffrey is not her husband. Bill says that sometimes people too upset to deal with the truth feel safer believing a lie.
Elizabeth and Jack stop by the stables. Nathan asks if she is still up for teaching him how to drive a car. She says yes.
Elizabeth then visits Joseph. She wants to build a wagon with bookshelves. During school holidays, she plans on traveling to rural areas to distribute books.
When Calls the Heart, Season 9, Episode 5: "Journey Into Light"
When Calls the Heart, Season 9, Episode 5 was epic. First of all, Allie is back in town. And she called Nathan “Dad.” Best of all, she convinced him to shave the caterpillar off his upper lip.
Also, Minnie invited Augustus Landis to dinner, Lee and Rosemary had a heart-to-heart, and Fiona returned to Hope Valley.
When Calls the Heart Recap: Season 9, Episode 5
The episode starts with Nathan (Kevin McGarry) and Allie (Jaeda Lily Miller) riding back into town. She loves the new soda fountain. While she’s there, she meets Mei Suo (Amanda Wong). Allie tells Nathan that Mei is beautiful. He says he hadn’t noticed.
Elizabeth (Erin Krakow) finds Rosemary (Pascale Hutton) cleaning up the headline board at The Valley Voice. Rosemary confides in Elizabeth that she thinks Lee is getting tired of her now that they both work at the newspaper.
A makeover for Hickam
Bill (Jack Wagner) decides that if Hickam (Ben Rosenbaum) is going to be mayor, he needs some help. Bill tells Hickam he needs to change the way he dresses and that he must stop being so nice to everyone. He needs to show strength as the new leader of Hope Valley.
Elizabeth finds Lucas (Chris McNally) working on Lee’s motorcycle. He explains that he bought it and that he had been out for a ride because he was stressed about the deal with Jerome Smith.
Allie and Nathan have a talk
Allie confides in Nathan that has feelings for Robert (Jaiven Natt). While she is talking, she slips and calls Nathan “Dad.” Nathan suggests that she try just being friends with Robert.
Allie asks Nathan if he would consider shaving his mustache. “It hides your smile,” she says.
At the newspaper, Rosemary gets a call from her confidential informant. Desperate to find out who it is, Lee goes to Florence (Loretta Walsh) to find out who she patched through from the switchboard. Loretta leans forward and says, “None of your beeswax.” (How much do we love this woman?)
Minnie (Natasha Burnett) decides the best way to deal with Augustus Landis (Todd Thomson) is to show him kindness. She invites him to dinner, much to the dismay of Angela (Vienna Leacock) and Cooper (Elias Leacock).
A love poem
Rosemary finds a poem Lee wrote and tells Elizabeth she thinks it’s for someone else. Lee has been disappearing for periods of time, and she is afraid he is in love with someone else.
At the Canfields, Angela sits down at the piano to entertain Mr. Landis with some music. Before she can get more than a few seconds into the piece she is playing, Mr. Landis sits down next to her. He begins to coach her. It turns out he used to be a music teacher.
The next day, he sees Elizabeth and says he is going back to teaching music. As much as he likes the higher pay and the stability that come with being an administrator, he misses teaching.
Horsepower
In a show of misguided testosterone, Nathan and Lucas decide to race against each other, Nathan on his horse, and Lucas on his motorcycle. Lucas breaks down by the side of the road and refuses Nathan’s offer of a lift back to town.
Fiona (Kayla Wallace) arrives back in town and tells Faith (Andrea Brooks) that she has closed an oil deal. Henry (Martin Cummins) comes to see her, furious that she allowed Jerome to buy Lucas out of the business.
Lee surprises Rosemary with two wooden chars he built with help from Joseph. He said they need to spend more time together, not less.
Lucas tells Elizabeth that he has never stayed put in one place for more than a short time but that if they were to marry, he would hurry home to her every night.
When Call’s the Heart’s Ava Grace Cooper is a Hallmark veteran, having starred in Mingle All the Way, Summer Romance, and Holiday Date.
Ava Grace Cooper made her first appearance on When Calls the Heart as Opal Weise during Season 3. The actress was five years old at the time. Now in seventh grade, she is still on the show and has an impressive list of acting credits to her name.
Her latest Hallmark project is the romantic-comedy Just One Kiss, which is part of the network’s Spring Into Love lineup. In the movie, she plays 11-year-old Rosie, a New York City girl whose parents recently divorced. She moves with her mom into a new apartment building and watches while her grandmother tries to fix her mom up with a new guy.
But this is no regular Hallmark Channel rom-com. With Broadway stars Krysta Rodriguez and Santino Fontana in the lead roles, the film is more of a musical extravaganza.
“All I can is there is some singing and dancing,” Ava Grace Cooper said in a recent interview on the Everything Abut Hallmark podcast.
All about Ava
Ava got her start on Hallmark’s When Calls the Heart alongside her brother, Christian Michael Cooper, who plays Timmy Lawson. She studied acting for several years, she said. Her current coach is Wesley Salter, who plays Wyman Walden on the series.
In addition to When Calls the Heart, Ava has starred in the Hallmark movies Mingle All the Way, A Summer Romance, and Holiday Date.
Just One Kiss
In Just One Kiss, Krysta Rodriguez plays literature professor Mia, who is starting a new life with her daughter (Cooper) following a divorce.
Santino Fontana plays a popular singer at a Manhattan supper club.
One day, Mia’s mother (Illeana Douglas) and Tony’s mother (Aida Turturro) witness their daughter and son’s chance encounter at a showing of a classic, black-and-white movie at the local theater and start to hatch a plan.
They decide to do everything they can to bring the two together. They arrange for Mia and her daughter (Cooper) to move into Tony’s apartment building so that Mia and Tony continue to run into each other. Tony’s niece (Alice Rose) and Mia’s daughter become friends, and the four end up spending time together.
But both Mia and Tony are still recovering from past relationships. Mia’s soon-to-be-ex-husband complicates things when he tells Mia he wants her back. But the matchmakers believe that everything could change if Mia and Tony would just share a kiss.
Just One Kiss will premiere on Hallmark Channel on Saturday, April 2 at 8/7c.
Hallmark introduced a mysterious new character at the start of Season 9 of When Calls the Heart. Mei Suo (played by Amanda Wong) rode into town dressed as a man, capturing the eye of Mountie Nathan Grant. She showed up for work at the pharmacy, shocking Ned and Florence, who had been corresponding with someone named Geoffrey Lewis.
Fans got a hint of Mei’s backstory in Episode 4, “Straight From the Heart,” when Mei went to visit Bill Avery (Jack Wagner) and told him she needed his help.
“I’m a fugitive, of sorts, from my husband,” she said.
She then goes on to say that the man she’s running from isn’t really her husband. The scene then finishes, so viewers didn’t get to hear the rest of her story.
Fans responded on social media to the new development.
“Finally get to hear Mei Suo’s intriguing side,” one wrote on the show’s Facebook page. “Glad she has Bill to help.”
The return of Augustus Landis
Also in Episode 4, Elizabeth (Erin Krakow) gets another visit from school inspector Augustus Landis (Todd Thomson). In Season 8, he told Elizabeth she wasn’t qualified to teach Angela Canfield (Vienna Leacock) because of her blindness.
In Sunday’s episode, Elizabeth proudly tells him that she earned her certification in Hamilton, so the district doesn’t need to worry anymore. He tells her that he can’t accept training completed outside the district. The two argue, and Elizabeth tells him that the school is still under her authority.
Landis attempts to retrieve his hat, but someone has glued his hat to a table in the classroom. Cooper Canfield (Elias Leacock) eventually admits he was the one who did it.
Wyman Walden causing trouble
Businessman Wyman Walden (Wesley Salter) has been throwing his weight around in town since Season 8, when he announced he wanted to build a foundry. In Sunday’s episode, Bill gets a call from the constable of the town of Brookfield, who said that Walden came to town, attempted to con someone out of money, and then left. A merchant was shot shortly before he skipped town.
When Walden and a Pinkerton agent drive back into Hope Valley, Avery tells them he needs to see Walden’s gun. Walden says he lost it. Soon after, Lucas is attacked as he leaves Elizabeth’s house.
In “Turn the Page,” the residents of Hope Valley finally get to read the book Elizabeth published. Called A Single Mother on the Frontier, it’s a semi-autobiographical novel about a woman named Elsa who moves to a small mining town, falls in love with a Mountie, and then loses him in a tragic accident.
When copies finally arrive in Hope Valley, they fly off the shelves, as everybody wants to see if there is a character based on them. Molly Sullivan (Johannah Newmarch) becomes incensed when she reads about a redhead who is always on the lookout for a new man. It is only later in the episode that she finds out Elizabeth was referring to her sister, not Molly.
Mixed reviews
Elizabeth becomes dejected when she reads reviews of her novel that claim her writing lacks “depth and nuance” and that it “only scratches the surface of anything meaningful and profound.”
Missed connections
Poor Nathan bears the brunt of everyone’s sympathy. Still, Nathan gets annoyed that everyone keeps bringing up his ‘flouted’ heart. It was all fun and games until Mei Suo read the book. She asked Faith if Nathan courted Elizabeth. Faith answers truthfully, and the next time Nathan comes to see Mei, she gives him a polite brush off.
Faith has her own romantic troubles. When she attempts to place a phone call to Carson, she is routed through a switchboard at Johns Hopkins, where she has to leave a message for him. Not exactly the heart-warming exchange she was hoping for.
Cooper Canfield
Since the start of Season 9, Minnie and Joseph Canfield (Viv Leacock and Natasha Burnett) have been dealing with some bad behavior from their son, Cooper (Elias Leacock). In Episode 2, Cooper told his mother he didn’t want to go to church. In Episode 3, we found out why.
Cooper doesn’t understand why God let Angela become blind. Both children got the measles, but he recovered fully, while Angela lost her sight.
When Minnie tells Joseph about the conversation, they talk about what really happened when the children were sick. A doctor refused to treat Angela because of her race. When Minnie suggests they tell Cooper this, Joseph says no. He doesn’t want his son to grow up with hate in his heart.
The return of Wyman Walden
Finally, businessman Wyman Walden (Wesley Salter) has returned to Hope Valley. He is still trying to build a foundry, much to the dismay of the community. Though Hickam (Ben Rosenbaum), wants to learn more about Walden’s plans, Lucas seems determined to stop him.
In a mysterious phone call — spoken almost entirely in French — Lucas tells someone named Janette that he is trying to stop Walden but he can’t do it alone.
When Calls the Heart’s Erin Krakow feels protective of Elizabeth
For nine years now, actress Erin Krakow has been the face of Hallmark Channel’s period drama When Calls the Heart. As Elizabeth Thornton — Thatcher, when the show started — she has weathered highs and lows. She became an integral part of the Hope Valley community, married a handsome mountie, and soon after became a widow and single mother.
In Season 9 of the series, which premiered on Hallmark Channel earlier this month, she finds herself in a good place, both in terms of her personal and professional life. Krakow said she is grateful that the show has continued to do so well.
“It’s been an amazing ride so far,” Krakow said in an interview with The Pop Culture Principle. “I am well aware that most shows don’t make it this far.”
Season 8 was a tough one for Elizabeth. A widow with a young son, she was trying to choose between two suitors. She also quarreled with her friend Rosemary (played by Pascale Hutton), something that was out of character for the pair.
Season 8 highlights
Her favorite scene in Season 8 was when the town came together to help a new family in Hope Family. The Canfields arrived in town at the start of the season. Their daughter, Angela, was blind, but Elizabeth was determined to have her attend the school with the rest of the children. She received pushback from higher-ups in the district, but the town stood by her decision, coming together to walk Angela to the schoolhouse.
“That scene was a true Hope Valley moment in the sense that it was community coming together in support of one another to do what was right and that to me is what When Calls the Heart is really about,” she said.
Romantic drama
Krakow also touched on the backlash she and other actors faced when Elizabeth finally chose Lucas over Nathan in the Season 8 finale. While she understood the disappointment some fans felt, it was difficult to deal with the criticism.
“I am very protective of Elizabeth, and I think she has had so many challenges along the way,” Krakow said. “Her losing Jack was a major loss in her life, but it would be really nice if we could celebrate the joy that she’s now getting to experience.”
When Calls the Heart co-creator tells fans their support is crucial for Season 10
The co-creator and executive producer of Hallmark Channel’s longest-running original series posted a letter on social media telling fans their support could help keep the show on the air. In his letter, Brian Bird thanked When Calls the Heart fans for their “eFangelism.”
“If indeed there is to be a season 10 and beyond of WCTH, it will be because you reached down into your hearts and found that same excitement and passion for rallying your friends and family to watch the only show on TV that celebrates hope, faith and love every week,” he wrote.
Season 9 of the series premiered on March 6. Around 3.5 million viewers tuned in to watch the episode, according to Nielsen.
In his letter, Bird said he had seen levels of support among fans that reminded him of the “halcyon early days.”
“You wore WCTH T-shirts, drank coffee out of WCTH mugs, collected thousands of little hand-made hearts from all over the country, bearing messages of support, and you strung them together in a giant heartstring and sent it to the Hallmark Channel, pleading for just one more season,” Bird wrote.
When Calls the Heart
When Calls the Heart premiered on Hallmark Channel in 2014. Based on a series of books by Canadian author Janette Oke, the show followed a wealthy woman, Elizabeth Thatcher (played by Erin Krakow), who moved to a small Canadian mining town to work as a teacher. She fell in love with and eventually married a mountie — short for Royal Canadian Mounted Police —named Jack Thornton (played by Daniel Lissing).
The series has had its share of controversy. At the end of Season 5, Jack Thornton was killed shortly after his wedding to Elizabeth. In Season 6, two men were brought in to replace him, and they vied for Elizabeth’s hand until she chose between them in the Season 8 finale.
Many fans were upset when Elizabeth chose businessman Lucas Bouchard (Chris McNally) over Mountie Nathan Grant (Kevin McGarry). Some vowed never to watch the show again.
Renewed enthusiasm
In his letter, Bird said he had been touched by the show of enthusiasm he has seen for Season 9. He also said the support is needed if the series is to continue.
“And if you would like to see it continue, it’s your time to shine once again,” he wrote.
There has been no word yet from Hallmark Channel about whether the series will be renewed for a tenth season.
(Image: Crown Media)
Brian Bird: Having Elizabeth choose Lucas was best for the longevity of the show
In a recent interview, the co-creator and producer of When Calls the Heart defended character Elizabeth Thornton choosing Lucas Bouchard over her other suitor, Nathan Grant, during the Season 8 finale.
Her decision ended a three-season-long love triangle between three of the show’s main characters and upset many fans who thought she picked the wrong guy.
But in an appearance on the Greenelines podcast,
Bird said pairing Elizabeth with Lucas was best for the longevity of the show.
“We believed this choice of Lucas Bouchard would give us more seasons because we have not gone down that road before,” Bird told podcast host Steve Greene.
Too similar to Jack
He said there were too many similarities between Nathan and Elizabeth’s first husband, Jack Thornton, who died at the end of Season 5. Both men were “mounties” (short for Royal Canadian Mounted Police), so pairing Elizabeth with Nathan would have felt like a rehash of the show’s early seasons, according to Bird.
“We wanted to find a new way to do a love story for Elizabeth, so we didn’t just repeat the same storylines,” he said. “I feel a big responsibility to give the Hearties Hope Valley for as many seasons as possible.”
Next great love story
Actress Erin Krakow, who plays Elizabeth on the show, has also brought up the similarity between Nathan and Jack.
During an interview with Entertainment Tonight in May, she said Elizabeth had projected some of her feelings toward Jack onto Nathan. She believes that Lucas is Elizabeth’s “next great love story.”
Bird assured Greeneline’s listeners that Nathan would remain an essential character on When Calls the Heart. Writers have already started work on Season 9, and have devised storylines that will keep him front and center in the show.
During the half-hour podcast, Bird also talked about the show serving as a gentle alternative to the programming on other networks. When Calls the Heart is based on a series of books by Christian author Janette Oke. The TV show avoids profanity and limits violence, focusing instead on religious faith and the day-to-day life of a small community.
“The last few years have been dramatic and traumatic,” he said. “People…are starved to death for uplifting entertainment, for hope, for happy endings, for a sense of uplift in their lives and getting past the darkness, the cynicism of our age.”
The return of Abigail Stanton
Finally, he touched on his hope for the return of one of the show’s most popular characters, Abigail Stanton. Played by actress Lori Loughlin, Abigail was written out of the series during Season 6, when Loughlin was indicted on charges of conspiracy to commit fraud and money laundering.
Bird said he would love to Loughlin back on the show, but it’s not entirely up to him.
“If anyone should return to Hope Valley, it should be Abigail,” he said.
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