When Calls the Heart
When Calls the Heart | |
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Genre |
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Based on | When Calls the Heart by Janette Oke |
Developed by | Michael Landon Jr. |
Starring | |
Country of origin |
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Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 8 |
No. of episodes | 83 (list of episodes) |
Production | |
Executive producers |
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Producers |
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Production locations | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
Running time | 39–84 minutes |
Production companies |
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Release | |
Original network |
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Picture format | |
Original release | January 11, 2014 present | –
Chronology | |
Related shows | When Hope Calls |
External links | |
Website |
When Calls the Heart is a Canadian-American television drama series, inspired by Janette Oke's book of the same name from her Canadian West series, and developed by Michael Landon Jr. The series began airing on the Hallmark Channel in the United States on January 11, 2014,[1] and, in Canada, on April 16, 2014, on Super Channel.[2]
The series originated from a two-hour television movie pilot in October 2013, starring Maggie Grace as young teacher Elizabeth Thatcher and Stephen Amell as Royal North-West Mounted Police officer Wynn Delaney.[3] In the television series Erin Krakow plays the lead role alongside an ensemble cast.
On March 21, 2018, Hallmark renewed the series for a sixth season. The season premiered with a two-hour Christmas special that was broadcast as part of Hallmark's Countdown to Christmas event, and was to continue for a 10-episode run starting in February 2019.[4] However, due to the 2019 college admissions bribery scandal involving Loughlin and her subsequent removal from all Hallmark properties, the season was put on a "retooling" hiatus and resumed in May to conclude in June, with Loughlin's scenes edited out.[5][6]
On April 26, 2020, Hallmark Channel announced via a video from Krakow that the series would return for an eighth season, which aired from February 21 to May 9, 2021.[7][8] On May 9, 2021, Hallmark Channel announced via a video from Krakow that the series would return for a ninth season.[9]
Plot[]
When Calls the Heart tells the story of Elizabeth Thatcher (Erin Krakow), a young teacher accustomed to her high-society life. She receives her first classroom assignment in Coal Valley, a small coal-mining town in Western Canada which is located just south of Robb, Alberta. There, life is simple, but often fraught with challenges. Elizabeth charms most everyone in Coal Valley, except Royal North-West Mounted Police Constable Jack Thornton (Daniel Lissing). He believes Thatcher's wealthy father has doomed the lawman's career by insisting he be assigned in town to protect the shipping magnate's daughter. Wishing to thrive in this 1910 coal town, Elizabeth must learn the ways of the Canadian frontier.[10]
Abigail Stanton's (Lori Loughlin) husband, the foreman of the mine, and her only son—along with 45 other miners, were killed in an explosion, due to the mining-company site manager's irresponsible management and lack of due care in his management of the mine. The newly widowed women find their faith tested when they must go to work in the mine to keep a roof over their heads, food on the table, and help pay the wage for the town's teacher.[11] The town of Coal Valley was renamed Hope Valley in first episode of the second season after the coal mine was closed.
Episodes[]
Season | Episodes | Originally aired | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
First aired | Last aired | ||||
1 | 12 | January 11, 2014 | March 29, 2014 | ||
2 | 7 | April 25, 2015 | June 13, 2015 | ||
New Year's Wish | December 26, 2015 | ||||
3 | 8 | February 21, 2016 | April 10, 2016 | ||
Christmas | December 25, 2016 | ||||
4 | 10 | February 19, 2017 | April 23, 2017 | ||
The Christmas Wishing Tree | December 25, 2017 | ||||
5 | 10 | February 18, 2018 | April 22, 2018 | ||
The Greatest Christmas Blessing | December 25, 2018 | ||||
6 | 9 | February 24, 2019 | June 2, 2019 | ||
Home for Christmas | December 25, 2019 | ||||
7 | 10 | February 23, 2020 | April 26, 2020 | ||
8 | 12 | February 21, 2021 | May 9, 2021 |
Cast and characters[]
Main[]
- Erin Krakow as Elizabeth Thatcher Thornton: Elizabeth Thatcher is a passionate young teacher from city life. She found herself in Coal Valley, a small community on the Canadian frontier in need of a teacher, and quickly discovers it is not an easy place to live, lacking the creature comforts and luxuries of her privileged life with her family.
- Daniel Lissing as Jack Thornton (seasons 1–5):[12] Jack Thornton is a Mountie and a man of stout character and integrity. He often finds himself protecting and saving people. Upon his first meeting of Elizabeth, Jack developed an instant dislike and it appeared she irritated him. However, as like Elizabeth, he grew to like her and eventually falls in love with her over time. He dies off-screen in a Mountie training camp in Season 5.[13]
- Lori Loughlin as Abigail Stanton (seasons 1–6):[14] Abigail Stanton is a Coal Valley woman whose husband and son died in the mining accident. She is a very kind woman, and she stands strongly for the things she believes in. She is one of the first women to welcome Elizabeth and the two women quickly become friends. Abigail's character was written off the show, halfway through season 6, after Loughlin's involvement in the 2019 college admissions bribery scandal, through the idea that Abigail had travelled "back east" to take care of her sick mother.[15]
- Jack Wagner as Bill Avery: Bill Avery is a quiet but skilled man who acts as the town's sheriff and becomes the town's judge.
- Martin Cummins as Henry Gowen: Henry Gowen is a businessman who owned the late Coal Valley mining company and was arrested for stealing town funds. With the help of Abigail, he is given a second chance and starts his own oil business in the town.
- Pascale Hutton as Rosemary LeVeaux Coulter (season 2–present): Rosemary is a flamboyant, enthusiastic actress from New York. She was briefly engaged to Jack Thornton, but called it off due to their differences. She decides to stay in town, eventually falling in love with the sawmill owner, Lee Coulter.
- Kavan Smith as Leland Coulter (season 2–present): Lee Coulter is a kind, laid-back, patient man, who opens a sawmill in Hope Valley.
- Andrea Brooks as Faith Carter (recurring seasons 2–5 & 7; main seasons 6 & 8): Faith Carter is a nurse who visits from Elizabeth's home city to come work in Hope Valley.
- Paul Greene as Carson Shepherd (recurring season 4–5; main season 6-present): Carson Shepherd is a doctor who works in Hope Valley and falls in love with Faith.
- Chris McNally as Lucas Bouchard (season 6–present): Lucas Bouchard is a businessman who owns the Queen of Hearts saloon and Gowen Petroleum. He donates a building to Elizabeth so that she can open a public library for the town. Lucas and Elizabeth begin dating in Season 8 before briefly breaking up over misunderstandings. They reunite in the Season 8 finale and begin an official courtship after sharing their first kiss.
- Kevin McGarry as Nathan Grant (season 6–present): Nathan Grant comes to Hope Valley with his niece, Allie. Nathan develops feelings for Elizabeth but is unable to ask her out. He proclaims his love for her in Season 8, but she rushes away in shock. It is eventually revealed that Nathan came to Hope Valley to protect Elizabeth and her son as he feels guilty that Jack died while he took his place for the training assignment. In the Season 8 finale, Elizabeth informs Nathan that she is not in love with him but will always care for him as a friend.
- Eva Bourne as Clara Stanton Flynn (recurring season 2–5; main season 6–present): Clara Stanton is Abigail's daughter-in-law who works at the Cafe and marries Jesse Flynn.
- Aren Buchholz as Jesse Flynn (recurring season 3–5; main season 6–present): Jesse is a former outlaw, who now lives in Hope Valley.
Recurring[]
- Charlotte Hegele as Julie Thatcher: Elizabeth's younger sister who longs for romance and adventure (seasons 1–2, 5–6)
- Erica Carroll as Dottie Ramsey: A curious woman who is interested in everything happening in town (seasons 1–5)
- Loretta Walsh as Florence Blakeley: A Hope Valley resident who is known to gossip. She later married Ned Yost in Season 8. (seasons 1–present)
- Johannah Newmarch as Molly Sullivan: A Hope Valley resident who is the mother of Rosaleen. She worked for Bill as an office cleaner. She later becomes the receptionist and Carson's assistant at the infirmary. (seasons 1–present)
- Hrothgar Mathews as Ned Yost: The owner and proprietor of the town's Mercantile. He has a daughter named Katie. In season 8 he marries Florence Blakeley. (season 1–present)
- Ben Rosenbaum as Mike Hickam: A resident of Hope Valley who's worked at the mercantile, Lee's sawmill, and Gowen Petroleum. (Season 1-present)
- Chelah Horsdal as Cat Montgomery: A woman of strong faith who teaches Sunday school after the church is destroyed (season 1)
- Laura Bertram as Mary Dunbar-Graves: A woman who is left to care for her young son, Caleb after her husband is killed in the mining accident. She later remarries a coal miner, Dewitt Graves in Season 2. (seasons 1–3)
- Steve Bacic as Charles Spurlock (seasons 1): A Pinkerton agent who worked for Henry Gowen.
- Mark Humphrey as Frank Hogan (seasons 2–5): Former outlaw turned pastor who puts down roots in Hope Valley
- Max Lloyd-Jones as Tom Thornton (seasons 2, 5): Jack's rebellious younger brother who enjoys flirting with Julie
- Garwin Sanford as William Thatcher (seasons 2, 5): Elizabeth's father who does not approve of her life in Coal Valley
- Lynda Boyd as Grace Thatcher (season 2): Elizabeth's mother who falls ill
- Marcus Rosner as Charles Kensington (season 2): An old childhood friend of Elizabeth's who works for her father and has unreturned romantic feelings for her
- Kristina Wagner as Nora Avery (seasons 2–3): Bill's former wife who became distant after her young son died.
- Ava Grace Cooper as Opal Weiss: A young student of Elizabeth's. She often carries a teddy bear with her. (seasons 3–present)
- Christian Michael Cooper as Timmy Lawson: A young aspiring musician who is a student of Elizabeth's. (seasons 3–present)
- Genea Charpentier as Laura Campbell: A young Hope Valley resident who was a student of Elizabeth's. After aging out of school in Season 6, she begins working for Elizabeth as Little Jack's nanny. (seasons 3–present)
- Carter Ryan Evancic as Cody Stanton (seasons 3–6): A young orphan who was adopted by Abigail along with his older sister, Becky. He was written off the show along with Abigail due to the college scandal.[16]
- Spencer Drever as Cyrus Rivera (season 4)
- Jeremy Guilbaut as Ray Wyatt (season 4)
- Kayla Wallace as Fiona Miller (season 6–present)
- Jaeda Lily Miller as Allie Grant (season 6–present): Nathan Grant's niece.
- Clayton Chitty as Kevin Townsend (season 5–7)
- as Jospeh Canfield (season 8–present): A delivery driver who moves to Hope Valley with his wife and two children.
- Natasha Burnett as Minnie Canfield (season 8–present): Joseph's wife.
Notable guest stars[]
- James Brolin as Circuit Judge Jedidiah Black (season 1)[17]
- Brooke Shields as Charlotte Thornton (season 3)[18]
- Josie Bissett as AJ Foster (seasons 4–5)[19]
- Niall Matter as Shane Cantrell (season 4)[20]
- Michael Hogan as Archie Grant (season 7)[21]
- Teryl Rothery as Helen Bouchard (season 8)[22]
Production[]
The series, originally planned to be filmed in Colorado, is filmed south of Vancouver, British Columbia, on a farm surrounded by vineyards. The fictional frontier town of Coal Valley (later Hope Valley) was erected in late 2013. Some of the set trimmings and a stage coach came from the Hell on Wheels set.[23] The Thatcher home is the University Women's Club of Vancouver.[24]
The series was renewed for a second season,[25] which aired from April 25 to June 13, 2015. Hallmark Channel announced in July 2015 that the series had been renewed for a third season, which aired from February 21 to April 10, 2016,[26] with a sneak peek airing during the 2015 Christmas season.[27]
In mid-2016, it was announced that Season 4 would premiere on the Hallmark Channel Christmas Day with a two-hour special. On April 11, 2016, Lissing and Krakow announced via the series' Facebook page that Hallmark Channel had renewed the series for a fourth season, which aired from February 19 to April 23, 2017.[28][29]
On April 24, 2017, series star Erin Krakow announced via the Hallmark Channel website that the show would return for a fifth season,[30] which premiered in February 2018 and ended in April.[31] Filming for season five began in Vancouver on August 22, 2017, and ended on December 21, 2017.[32][33]
On March 14. 2019, Hallmark announced it had dropped Loughlin from future company projects due to her role in the 2019 college admissions bribery scandal.[34] On April 10, 2019, it was announced that season six would resume on May 5, 2019, with Loughlin's scenes edited out.[6]
On April 13, 2019, the series was renewed for a seventh season which aired February 23 to April 26, 2020.[35][36]
On April 26, 2020, Hallmark Channel announced via a video from Krakow that the series would return for an eighth season, which will premiere on February 21, 2021.[7][8]
On May 9, 2021, Hallmark Channel announced via a video from Krakow that the series would return for a ninth season.[9]
Broadcast[]
The first season of the series was subsequently picked up by CBC Television for rebroadcast as a summer series in 2015.[37] The network has since aired all six seasons.[38][39] The series became available internationally on Netflix in August 2017, but was taken off in early 2021.
Spin-off[]
A spin-off of the show, When Hope Calls, was announced at Hallmark's Television Critics Association summer press tour on July 26, 2018. The series debuted on August 30, 2019, as the initial offering of the Hallmark Movies Now streaming service.[40][41]
References[]
- ^ Reiher, Andrea (January 11, 2014). "'When Calls the Heart' premiere: Will you return to the frontier?". Zap2It. From Inside the Box (blog). Archived from the original on January 12, 2014. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
- ^ "'When Calls the Heart' features Aussie Mountie". Canadian Press, April 10, 2014.
- ^ "Hallmark Channel - The Movie Cast". Hallmarkchannel.com. Archived from the original on 2014-02-28. Retrieved 2014-02-28.
- ^ Petski, Denise (March 21, 2018). "Hallmark Channel Upfront Presentation Canceled Due To Storm, Net Makes Announcements, Including 'When Calls the Heart' Renewal, At Central Park Event". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 22, 2018. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
- ^ DeSantis, Rachel (March 17, 2018). "When Calls the Heart Is 'Retooling' Without Lori Loughlin After Hallmark Cuts Ties with Actress". people.com. Archived from the original on March 30, 2019. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "When Calls the Heart Return Date Set, Lori Loughlin Edited Out of Episodes". TVLine. April 10, 2019. Archived from the original on April 10, 2019. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "A Special Announcement from Erin Krakow - When Calls The Heart". April 26, 2020. Archived from the original on August 9, 2020. Retrieved April 27, 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "When Calls the Heart Sets Premiere Date for Supersized Season 8". TVLine. December 17, 2020. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Andreeva, Nellie (May 9, 2021). "'When Calls the Heart' Renewed For Season 9 By Hallmark Channel". Deadline Hollywood.
- ^ Owen, Rob (April 22, 2015). "TV review: Hallmark's 'When Calls the Heart' too predictable". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Archived from the original on 2018-11-18. Retrieved 2019-09-09.
- ^ "Hallmark Channel - About the Series". Hallmark Channel. Archived from the original on 2014-02-28. Retrieved 2014-02-28.
- ^ Behar, Deidre (February 23, 2020). "Daniel Lissing Has No Regrets Leaving 'When Calls the Heart'". Entertainment Tonight. Archived from the original on March 2, 2020. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
- ^ "The Real Reason Why Daniel Lissing Left 'When Calls the Heart'". Good Housekeeping. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
- ^ Swift, Andy (March 14, 2019). "Lori Loughlin Fired From All Hallmark Projects Over College Scandal — Report". TVLine. Archived from the original on March 14, 2019. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
- ^ Petski, Denise (2019-05-06). "'When Calls The Heart': How Lori Loughlin Was Written Out Of The Show". Deadline. Archived from the original on 2019-12-17. Retrieved 2020-03-21.
- ^ "'When Calls the Heart' Sparks Outrage by Removing Lori Loughlin's TV Son From the Show". Country Living. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
- ^ Goldberg, Lesley (February 18, 2014). "James Brolin Headed for Hallmark Drama (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on June 11, 2020. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
- ^ "On Location: Brooke Shields - When Calls the Heart". Hallmark Channel. Archived from the original on 2020-02-25. Retrieved 2020-02-25.
- ^ "When Calls the Heart: Josie Bissett On Why AJ and Bill Should Be Together After That Kiss (Exclusive)". MSN. Archived from the original on 2020-02-25. Retrieved 2020-03-21.
- ^ "My Devotional Thoughts | Interview With Actor Niall Matter, "Engaging Father Christmas"". mydevotionalthoughts.net. Archived from the original on 2020-02-25. Retrieved 2020-03-21.
- ^ Wang, Connie (27 February 2020). "Get Your First Look at This Week's All New When Calls the Heart". Archived from the original on 14 March 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
- ^ "'When Calls The Heart' Spoilers: Helen Bouchard Bossy from the Jump". Soap Dirt. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
- ^ Brioux, Bill (December 6, 2013). "'When Calls The Heart' TV Series Set In Fictional Town Built In B.C." The Huffington Post. Archived from the original on December 7, 2013. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ Owen, Rob (May 1, 2015). "TV Q&A: 'Grey's Anatomy,' 'Younger,' 'Bones' and a former Pittsburgh news anchor". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Archived from the original on May 3, 2015. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
- ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (May 5, 2014). "When Calls the Heart' Renewed for Second Season by Hallmark Channel". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on May 5, 2014. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
- ^ Petski, Denise (July 28, 2015). "'When Calls The Heart' Renewed For Season 3 On Hallmark Channel". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 26, 2015. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
- ^ "When Calls the Heart videos". Hallmark Channel. Archived from the original on 2018-09-19. Retrieved 2015-07-29.
- ^ McLennan, Cindy (April 11, 2016). "When Calls the Heart: Season Four Renewal for Hallmark Channel Series". TV Series Finale. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
- ^ Petski, Denise (April 15, 2016). "'When Calls The Heart' Renewed For Season 4 By Hallmark Channel". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 16, 2016. Retrieved April 15, 2016.
- ^ "Special Announcement - When Calls the Heart". April 24, 2017. Archived from the original on September 19, 2018. Retrieved April 24, 2017.
- ^ Petski, Denise (July 31, 2017). "'When Calls The Heart' Gets Season 5 Premiere Date On Hallmark Channel". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 1, 2017. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
- ^ Takeuchi, Craig (August 21, 2017). "Filming in Vancouver: Johnny Depp, When Calls the Heart, and Eggplant Emoji". Inside Vancouver. Archived from the original on September 27, 2017. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
- ^ Krakow, Erin [@erinkrakow] (December 21, 2017). "That's a Season 5 WRAP for Elizabeth! It flew! Missing my Hope Valley friends already!" (Tweet). Retrieved December 25, 2017 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Lori Loughlin Dropped by Hallmark Channel in Wake of College Bribery Scandal". Deadline Hollywood. March 14, 2019. Archived from the original on March 15, 2019. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
- ^ "When Calls the Heart Renewed for Season 7, Following Lori Loughlin Firing". TVLine. April 13, 2019. Archived from the original on April 14, 2019. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
- ^ "Cable Television's #1 Series, "When Calls the Heart," Returns for Season 7 Exclusively on Hallmark Channel, Sunday, February 23rd". The Futon Critic. January 14, 2020. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
- ^ "CBC-TV stacks fall and winter lineups with British, Aussie fare" Archived 2015-06-23 at the Wayback Machine. 680 News, May 28, 2015.
- ^ "CBC Television reveals its 2016 summer schedule with five new primetime series, returning hits and the Rio 2016 Olympic Games". CBC Television. May 18, 2016. Archived from the original on August 3, 2017. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
- ^ "CBC Announces 2017-18 Programming Slate". CBC Television. May 24, 2017. Archived from the original on July 27, 2017. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
- ^ "Hallmark Movies Now's First Original Series "When Hope Calls" Premieres Friday, August 30th, 2019". Crown Media Holdings (Press release). Studio City, California. July 15, 2019. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved July 28, 2019 – via The Futon Critic.
- ^ Mitovich, Matt Webb (July 26, 2018). "Good Witch Renewed for Season 5, When Calls the Heart Gets Spinoff". TVLine. Archived from the original on July 27, 2018. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
External links[]
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