KEY POINTS
- "When Calls the Heart" Season 8's final episode aired Sunday
- Erin Krakow announced the show was renewed for a ninth season
- The announcement received mixed reactions from fans
Good news for "hearties"! The popular drama series "When Calls the Heart" will return to Hallmark Channel next year with a fresh season.
Actress Erin Krakow, who portrayed Elizabeth Thatcher on the show, shared a video on Hallmark Channel's official Twitter handle to announce the upcoming season. The announcement was made following the season 8 finale Sunday.
"Calling all #Hearties! Our own @erinkrakow has a huge #WhenCallsTheHeart announcement just for you!" the official handle captioned.
The 36-year-old actress also wrote on her own Twitter handle, "I'm so grateful for you #Hearties! Thank you for all of your support."
"Your passion for WCTH allows me to continue doing a job I LOVE! Thank you @hallmarkchannel for believing in us and bringing us back to Hope Valley!" she added. "Season 9 here we come!"
The announcement received mixed reactions from fans.
One of the fans wrote, "I'm sorry, Erin. Can't watch anymore. We were cheated out of a teacher/Mountie marriage story and deserved it back. I'm so heartbroken. You just have no idea. I wish you and the show the best."
Another fan supported the show and noted, "#Hearties I remember how many people said that they'd stop watching after Dan left. The audience got bigger. @erinkrakow please remember that the stories are so wonderful and you all will continue to draw a huge audience with family entertainment. I'm grateful for you all too!!!"
Michelle Vicary, Crown Media Family Networks' executive vice president of programming, said in a statement, "We are proud to have When Calls the Heart as a central part of our programming, it continues to captivate audiences with its amazing cast and storylines of love, community, and optimism and we are excited to continue the journey in Hope Valley for season 9."
"The series has become appointment viewing on a highly competitive Sunday night, it continues to climb in ratings year-after-year and is one of the top-rated shows in cable!" Vicary added, ET reported.
The show first aired on Jan. 11, 2014, and a spinoff, titled "When Hope Calls," was premiered on Aug. 30, 2019.
A poster of "When Calls the Heart" TV series. Photo: When Calls the Heart/Facebook
