‘When Calls the Heart’: Erin Krakow Announces the Show Has Been Renewed for Season 8
Hearties got some good news during the dramatic When Calls the Heart Season 7 finale. Hallmark Channel has renewed the beloved show for an eighth season. Star Erin Krakow made the big announcement on April 26, delighting the show’s fans.
‘We can’t wait to see you back in Hope Valley’ star Erin Krakow says
Krakow, who has played Elizabeth Thornton on the frontier-set drama since 2014, shared the happy news about the WCTH renewal in a short video.
“From my heart and home to yours, I am thrilled to announce the all new season 8 of When Calls the Heart coming next year,” she said. “We can’t wait to see you back in Hope Valley.”
In an appearance on Hallmark’s The Bubbly Sesh podcast, Krakow talked about how excited she was to share the news of the renewal, especially because the show has been a bright spot for many during the coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdowns.
“I think [the show] has been really comforting to people during this time. And we wanted to just share this extra-special gift with everyone as soon as we could. We are going to find our way back to Hope Valley somehow.”
‘When Calls the Heart’ Season 8 will premiere in 2021
Hallmark didn’t reveal when exactly Hearties can expect to see Elizabeth, Nathan, Lucas, Rosemary, and the other Hope Valley residents back on the small screen. But it did say the next season would air some time in 2021. In recent years, When Calls the Heart has premiered new episodes beginning in February. A Christmas special typically airs in December.
Recently, When Calls the Heart executive producer Brian Bird had urged Hearties to show their support of another season by tweeting at Hallmark Channel with the hashtag #Season8WouldBeGreat.
“We would love to announce Season 8, but we don’t get to [make that] decision,” Bird tweeted on April 21 in response to a fan who wanted to know why the show hadn’t yet been renewed. “This is a message you should be sharing with @hallmarkchannel,” he added. “They are the ones who have to decide and announce the renewal [for] season 8.”
‘When Calls the Heart’ Season 8 promises to be exciting
[Warning: Spoilers ahead for the When Calls the Heart Season 7 finale]
Season 7 of When Calls the Heart went out with a bang — literally. Someone gets shot while Nathan is transporting a prisoner, and for a few moments it seems like he might be the victim. Fortunately, Nathan is OK, much to the relief of Elizabeth, who rushes into his arms at the episode’s end. That leaves Lucas looking very sad, especially since he recently seemed to be making progress in winning Elizabeth’s heart with a romantic dinner.
Aside from the romantic drama — which looks like it will continue into season 8 — Lee dealt with an unexpected visit from his estranged sister, while Gowen is continuing to struggle with his petroleum business and his health. Plus, Fiona’s future in Hope Valley is up in the air after she stood up to her boss and got fired. And in big news for Elizabeth, she landed a book deal, complete with a $200 advance.
Obviously, there’s a lot to look forward to in season 8. While new episodes are on the horizon, the current pandemic means that production on new episodes won’t be able to start right away. But Krakow assured fans that everyone who works on the show is eager to get back to work.
“We don’t when exactly, obviously, but we’re hoping to get back there as soon as we can and as soon as is safe,” she said on The Bubbly Sesh. “We can’t wait to get back to Hope Valley and tell our stories.”
