It is just about a month to go before “When Calls the Heart” premieres for the full Season 6 of the Hallmark Channel drama that delves into the lives of the people of Hope Valley. Erin Krakow will face the adventure of a lifetime as Elizabeth Thornton, a now single mother to her baby son, but rest assured, she will be surrounded by the support of friends with wide-open arms and hearts during any time of need.
While fans await the February 24 “When Calls the Heart” premiere date for the new season, Erin Krakow, and her co-star, Niall Matter, made time to get in the mood for sharing hearts, flowers, and romance by hosting the Hallmark Channel’s podcast, as posted on Krakow’s Instagram on January 16.
Judging from the beaming smiles from some favorite stars of the network, no one thought it was too early to talk about the season of love.
Listening in for love
While there may be critics who love to lambast Hallmark Channel Christmas movies, the smash ratings this season for “When Calls the Heart: The Greatest Christmas Blessing” and the other holiday favorites from this past Christmas season, like “A Shoe Addict’s Christmas,” starring Candace Cameron Bure, prove the viewer love and loyalty to the tradition that heralds the celebration of Christmas.
The Hallmark Channel welcomes its title as the “Home of Christmas” with its two channels running seasonal movies in the rotation. The network has invested in Valentine TV treasures, too, including the tender 2011 “The Lost Valentine” starring Betty White and Jennifer Love Hewitt...
Krakow and Matter seemed like seasoned broadcasting professionals of the cyber age, headsets on, and having fun every minute with guests, Lacey Chabert, and Brittany Bristow. Chabert is a longtime talent in Hallmark Channel movies for all seasons, like“The Sweetest Christmas” and “My Secret Valentine,” and the hosts and the guests were clearly gracious to newcomer, Bristow, who became part of the Hallmark family with “Christmas at the Palace” in 2018.
Chabert will star in “Love, Romance, and Chocolate” in this year’s Valentine viewing treats.
Erin Krakow gave a social media shout out to Sam Page, Rachel Leigh Cook, her co-star, Kavan Smith, who plays “When Calls the Heart” considerate lumber mill owner, Leland Coulter, and veteran star Barbara Niven, who also has a part in February features line-up, but didn't make the photo.
Holly Robinson Peete and her husband, Rodney Peete, were also given special mention. The couple star in a warm reality show featuring the ups, downs, and in-betweens of their home life, and have become prominent and vocal ambassadors for the cause of autism and the acceptance and inclusion of those on the autism spectrum, inspired by their son, RJ.
The Hallmark Channel has made strides in the area of diversity and inclusion. The 2018 roster of new Yuletide fare featured many more central characters of color and families of multiethnic cultures and backgrounds. The transition was late in coming, but at the least, it's in progress. Hopefully, more people of every culture can continue to see themselves on the channel.
More to the love story
Faithful “When Calls the Heart” fans will recall that Niall Matter played Shane Cantrell in Season 4 of the family-friendly saga. As a reticent single-parent, the father wasn't sure that school was the place for his son until Miss Thatcher (Krakow) and her caring intervention convinced him otherwise.
Several of Erin Krakow’s followers responded that they would love to see her and Niall Matter continue the Hallmark Channel love story begun in the “Father Christmas” trilogy of films, which culminated with “Marrying Father Christmas” last month.
Seeing as the love story of Miranda Chester and Ian McAndrick is based on the popular book series by Robin Jones Gunn, it might be up to the author to determine future stories. BIt's quite clear that these co-stars are as comfortable with one another as ever, as friends, on camera, or having podcast fun. A good Valentine’s Day story is always a possibility.