The always highly anticipated CBC slate has been unveiled for the upcoming fall and winter season.
The pubcaster made official announcements on three previously unannounced series: Caught, a new series from Allan Hawco and John Vatcher’s Take the Shot Productions, starring Hawco and based on a novel by Lisa Moore; The School, based on a U.K. factual format adapted by Paperny Entertainment about the education system, and a new factual series from Proper Television called True North Calling, about young people in an Arctic community. Four in the Morning, from Serendipity Point Films, was confirmed by the CBC over the past week and The Council, announced earlier this month, a murder mystery from Lark Productions and Keston International Productions.
Returning titles include: Canada’s Smartest Person, Crash Gallery, Exhibitionists, Heartland, Hello Goodbye, Interrupt this Program, This Life, Murdoch Mysteries, The Romeo Section and X Company.
Surprises in the returning lineup include The Romeo Section from star Canadian showrunner Chris Haddock. The series debuted to low ratings last fall, battling the Blue Jays for playoff-season marketshare and unable to gain significant traction with viewers. This Life, as well, didn’t find an audience immediately, but the Ceeb seems to be committed to giving both another shot at life with a year of fan-building and marketing behind them. Returning hits include Hello Goodbye, a factual series profiling airport arrivals and departures, which seemed to strike a chord with Canadians and X Company, which maintained respectable audience share throughout its second season.
The CBC promises more announcements in the weeks to come, culminating with its upfront on May 26.