The Vancouver-filmed When Calls The Heart will resume its sixth season next month – without Lori Loughlin.
Loughlin, who has starred on the Hallmark Channel series since its start in 2014 and served as co-executive producer, was indicted last month in an American college admissions bribery scandal alongside her husband, designer Mossimo Giannulli.
The couple is alleged to have paid $500,000 to have their daughters designated as rowing recruits at the University of Southern California, even though neither daughter is a rower.
The WCTH series, which concluded filming its latest season last fall and was in the midst of airing its sixth season when the scandal broke, announced a hiatus following the indictment. It will now return May 5 but with Loughlin’s role cut out.
Star Erin Krakow appeared in a video message posted Wednesday, confirming the show’s return on May 5, with an additional episode airing on May 6.
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“We can’t wait to welcome you back to Hope Valley and share more all-new stories with you,” she said.
After posting a $1 million bond in a Los Angeles court last month, a judge gave Loughlin the green light to return to Canada and resume work. A day later, Hallmark announced it would be ending its long-standing relationship with the actress and that all productions involving Loughlin had been halted while they evaluated options moving forward.
Loughlin had starred in a number of Hallmark projects, including Christmas movies, the When Calls The Heart series and its Garage Sale Mysteries TV movie franchise, all of which are filmed in Vancouver.
Film crew and workers affected by the franchise shut-down as a result of Loughlin’s legal problems is estimated to be in the hundreds.
Earlier this week, it was announced Loughlin and others would be facing additional charges of money laundering as well in the “Varsity Blues” scam. Vancouver businessman David Sidoo is also among those indicted in the case.
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Actress Lori Loughlin (centre) is pictured with her daughters Olivia Jade Giannulli, left, and Isabella Rose Giannulli at the 2019 “An Unforgettable Evening” in Beverly Hills, Calif.