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When Hope Calls is returning to TV, but not to Hallmark Channel. Instead, a second season of the When Calls the Heart spinoff series will air on the just-launched GAC Family network. The show’s Christmas-themed premiere will feature an appearance from a beloved When Calls the Heart character. 

‘When Hope Calls’ Season 2 premieres Dec. 18 

Lillian and orphans in 'When Hope Calls' Season 1
‘When Hope Calls’ | ©2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Shane Mahood

When Hope Calls Season 2 premieres Saturday, Dec. 18 at 8 p.m. ET on GAC Family. The two-part episode is titled When Hope Calls: A Country Christmas. 

In the episode, Brookfield puts on an impressive Christmas festival in an attempt to win the title of America’s #1 Country Christmas Town. A visiting photojournalist named Paul is on hand to capture the magic, but behind the scenes, some of the town’s residents aren’t feeling the spirit of the season, including a troubled boy at Lillian’s orphanage. But then, a secret Santa appears to fulfill some holiday wishes. 

Lori Loughlin from ‘When Calls the Heart’ will guest star as Abigail Stanton 

Lori Loughlin as Abigail, holding a teacup, in 'When Calls the Heart' Season 5
Lori Loughlin in ‘When Calls the Heart’ | Copyright 2018 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Ricardo Hubbs

When Hope Calls originally streamed on Hallmark Movies Now and later aired on Hallmark Channel. Season 1 starred Morgan Kohan as Lillian and Jocelyn Hudon as her sister Grace, along with RJ Hatanaka, Greg Hovanessian, and Wendy Crewson. 

Kohan will return as Lillian in season 2, according to Deadline. Other cast members have yet to be announced, though Hatanaka will reportedly reprise his role as Mountie Gabriel Winslow. 

Lori Loughlin is also set to guest star in the When Hope Calls Season 2 premiere. She’ll appear as her Abigail Stanton character from When Calls the Heart. In the episode, Abigail and her son Cody arrive in Brookfield in order to bring a boy to Lillian’s orphanage. While in town, Abigail has a profound conversation with a close friend from her past. 

Loughlin was fired from When Calls the Heart in 2019 due to her involvement in the college admissions scandal. Her role in When Hope Calls marks her return to acting after her legal troubles. So far, there’s no word on whether she might also appear in When Calls the Heart Season 9. 

How to watch ‘When Hope Calls’ on GAC Family 

When Hope Calls is moving to a new network for season 2. Though the show originally aired on Hallmark, the new episodes will air on GAC Family. 

GAC Family is available to DirecTV, Comcast, Dish, Cox, Frontier, Altice, AT&T, Mediacom, and Spectrum cable subscribers, according to a tweet from the channel. It is also available on the streaming live TV services Fubo TV, Hulu, and Philo, as well as the ZVision Media Player. GAC Family is also available on Sling TV with the Heartland Extra package.

GAC Family launched Sept. 27, replacing the Great American Country channel. The family-friendly channel was founded by Bill Abbott, the former CEO of Hallmark Channel parent Crown Media Family Networks. 

So far, GAC Family seems to be positioning itself as a direct competitor to Hallmark. In addition to When Hope Calls, the channel will air original movies, such as An Autumn Romance with Chad Michael Murray. The channel is also planning a slate of Christmas movies, including Royally Wrapped for Christmas with Jen Lilley. GAC Family’s holiday programming kicks off on Oct. 24 with the Welcome to Great American Christmas special. Debbie Matenopoulos and Cameron Mathison of Hallmark’s canceled daytime talk show Home & Family will host. 

You can stream When Hope Calls Season 1 on Hallmark Movies Now. 

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