As Kevin McGarry says on this episode, the odds seemed stacked against When Calls the Heart lasting into a 10th season.
Yet last it has, with the 10th season now streaming on both Super Channel and Hallmark, and an 11th season already in production on the elaborate town set erected on farmland near Langley, B.C.
The series has weathered the loss of one of its main leads. Aussie actor Dan Lissing, who played original Mountie suitor Jack Thornton, opted to leave the series at the end of Season Four. Then there was the global COVID pandemic, which WCTH weathered mainly due to the fact that much of it is shot outdoors. A college admissions scandal involving another one of its leads, Lori Loughlin, knocking her out of the series and caused much of one season to be re-shot. This season, the writers and actors strikes halted production on most US-based series -- but WCTH managed work arounds for American born lead Erin Krakow and others.
This all has helped McGarry, a Kincardine, Ont., native who plays new Mountie in town, Nathan Grant. He is into his fifth season on the series. It is also where he met his finance, co-star Kayla Wallace, who plays Fiona Miller.
McGarry thanks the fans of the series -- the loyal "Hearties" -- and puts it all in perspective in this fun and lively interview.