The Hallmark Channel has officially renewed When Hope Calls for a third season, according to network executives.
The When Calls the Heart spinoff will return with new episodes following the continued success of its second season. Hallmark announced the renewal during their recent programming slate presentation.
When Hope Calls centers on sisters Lillian and Grace who open an orphanage in the frontier town of Brookfield. The series stars Jocelyn Hudon and Morgan Kohan as the lead characters.
The show originally premiered as a streaming exclusive on Hallmark Movies Now before transitioning to the main Hallmark Channel. Season two averaged over 2 million viewers per episode during its initial run.
“We’re thrilled to continue telling these stories,” said Lisa Hamilton Daly, Executive Vice President of Programming for Crown Media Family Networks. “The response from fans has been overwhelming.”
The series has found its footing and really connected with our audience in a meaningful way.
Production on season three is expected to begin later this year in Canada. The new season will consist of eight one-hour episodes, matching the format of previous seasons.
Hallmark hasn’t announced a premiere date for the third season yet. The network typically schedules When Hope Calls during their summer programming block.
The renewal comes as Hallmark continues expanding their When Calls the Heart universe. The original series recently wrapped its tenth season and remains one of the network’s highest-rated original programs.
Cast members Hudon and Kohan are both expected to return for the third season. Additional casting announcements will be made closer to the production start date.