Hallmark made an unexpected announcement on December 2 about Hope Valley’s future. Lori Loughlin is finally returning to “When Calls the Heart,” People first reported.
Lori Loughlin Will Be Returning for Season 14 in 2027
Loughlin won’t be back for season 13, which premieres in January 2026. But she will return to Hope Valley for the fourteenth season in 2027, People reported. She’ll appear in half of the season’s episodes: six in total.
Of course, this also means that Hallmark has decided to renew “When Calls the Heart” for a fourteenth season, even before season 13 premieres.
Loughlin was last in the series for season 6. Her final episode aired in 2019. Hallmark removed her character, Abigail, from the series after Loughlin was implicated in the University of Southern California admissions scandal and later served a two-month prison sentence. Hallmark removed her projects from all its networks after news broke, and even re-edited some episodes of “When Calls the Heart” to remove her before they aired.
But now she’s back.
Michelle Vicary, Hallmark Media’s head of programming, told People in a statement: “Since the series’ debut in 2014, the character of Abigail Stanton was a fan favorite and beloved by the Hearties. At its core the Hallmark brand is about hope, positivity and connection, which is also the central theme of When Calls the Heart. We felt that season 14 was the right time to continue Abigail’s story with her return to this beloved series.”
Loughlin’s character already returned to the franchise for a special appearance in the spinoff “When Hope Calls,” which aired on Great American Family.
And “When Calls the Heart” has been mentioning Abigail, even though she’s been off-screen. In the series’ season 10 finale, which aired on October 15, 2023, the character was brought up in dialogue numerous times. In one scene, Henry (played by Martin Cummins) talked to Elizabeth (Erin Krakow) in about how he thought about Abigail every time he looked at her cafe. At the end of the episode, he was shown arriving at Abigail’s house and the door opening.
The Cast & Creator Have Wanted Loughlin Back for Years
For years, cast members and the co-creator of the series, Brian Bird, have lobbied for Loughlin’s return.
In an interview with Navigating Hollywood three years ago, Bird said he tried to get Loughlin back on “When Calls the Heart” before her special appearance on the “When Hope Calls” spinoff.
“Our first choice would have been to bring her [Loughlin] back to Hope Valley and to When Calls the Heart. We had those conversations with the network…” he said. “In their judgment it just wasn’t the right time… But Lori had done her time… The spinoff show … is a derivative show… it’s a neighboring town, a day’s ride away… We said OK, well we believe it’s time to offer Lori her second chance here, and so we decided to bring her there to Brookfield… She has indicated she would love to continue on that show if we’re able to do it.”
Two years ago, Bird shared those sentiments again in an October 16 post-show interview with JLJ Media.
“Hope Valley is a town of second chances,” he said about 47 minutes into the interview. “This is where art and life kind of commingle. … It is an ongoing conversation. I can’t promise anything; I can’t spoil anything right now. But all I can say is for Hearties who follow me from the beginning, you know what my views are on second chances so … I have a lot of hope.”
When Erin Krakow (Elizabeth) was asked in an Us Weekly interview if she’d like to see Loughlin return, she said: “A thousand percent.”
Krakow added: “She’s an incredible person and a very dear friend. She’s got a real good heart. People don’t even know how special a person she is.”
Kevin McGarry (Nathan) agreed in that same interview.
“There’s been lots of people who’ve said we’d love to have her back,” he said. “It’s not our decision of course.”
In an interview with TV Insider before season 11 started, Krakow admitted that Loughlin’s return was still looking unlikely.
But now, just before season 13, everything’s changed and Loughlin is on her way back.
That’s one show I will not be watching. I’m sure there are hundreds of actresses without a criminal background that you could have cast.
I agree 100%. Very disappointing news.
Why is it disappointing? She is already on Great American Channel.
Same here. I haven’t watched since they stupidly split up Elizabeth and Lucas and stuck her with Nathan just because he’s a Mountie and now I’m definitely not coming back
Oh well, the series will still air lol we have a FELON as the leader of the US and people are crying about Lori like she murdered someone.
I agree! I really like her character also. I don’t think they should’ve taken her off the show in the first place.
Goodbye
Totally agree with you!!
I guess you’re a Purist.
I absolutely agree. There’s different rules for Hollywood. What Lori did is shameful. Because she’s ultra rich she paid a lot of cash to beat the college admission rules. Hard pass for me too.
Thank you Eariene. I agree with you completely.She also took over the show.I hope they giveher a much much more important role.
Let she who is without sin, cast the first stone.
I totally agree, no one is without sin and we should not be casting the first stone. Lori paid for her errors in judgment.
How sad. It must be nice to set up there on your throne and judge people. Everyone deserves a second chance.
100% agree we will no longer support Hallmark channel and especially WCTH.
Everyone deserves second chances and it’s not for us to judge her actions in the past. The show is called, Hope Valley, for a reason. On another topic, I believe that Elizabeth should have been married to Lucas, as well. It would be an interesting plot twist to see Lucas become more involved in Hope Valley and to allow his story with Elizabeth to continue, and write in where it’s all been a dream for Elizabeth being with Nathan. I’m really surprised that she had chosen Nathan, especially after what she had gone through with Mountie Jack.
The world is not perfect, not even on television.
YES! Now I just need Hallmark to announce her Garage Sale Mysteries is coming back too!
I would love that, I love that series.
Me too! Garage sale mysteries was a favorite of mine and my husbands.
Absolutely!
I agree, I’m happy to see her back on the series and hope Hallmark brings back Garage Sales or develops another series for her.
She deserves the opportunity to work at the craft she loves and we are lucky enough to enjoy every production.
Agree Best series ever made. The cast was perfect with each other – actually made it easy to watch.
The problem I have with Lori is that she never owned up to her crime or apologize for her actions. I will not watch her.
My family feels the same way.
It doesn’t set a good example to kids teenagers and adults is that it is okay to commit crimes maybe they should as they see it’s okay just give her job back.
I can’t believe how judgmental people are and how after all these years, Lori Loughlin, is still so disliked by viewers. I’ve been rewatching all seasons and Abigale character played a major role in the series. She’s a terrific actress and beloved by Erin Krakow and others from the series. Lori, from all accounts, is a great person and should be back on the show. In rewatching the series, I certainly missed her when she was taken off. Give her a break, people! Are you all perfect? I say bring her back! I’m sure many viewers are like me and miss her and will welcome her back as Abigale! As far as Elizabeth choosing Nathan over Lucas, the decision was made and I love the two of them together. I’m anxious to see the upcoming season!
So if she killed someone she’d deserve a second chance to…right?
Murder? Hardly, the crime she committed was no where near as agriegous. In the end, she most likely hurt herself more than anyone else. Time to move on.
I agree! We shouldn’t hold a grudge. She paid for what she did. Not just prison. She lost her lucrative contract with Hallmark. I have only seen her once on a show other than Hallmark.
There has always been doubt as to her complicity in it – it is now coming out that her husband was the one. Lori did answer the phone on the government tape but she said “you have to talk to my husband”. The reason she left her husband (many of their friends said this when they split up was that he would not change).
Married to a Judge, I cannot and would never compare murder or sexual misconduct with a buying a college admission. If you feel that way, check into the Ivy Leagues admission list and their donor list – very interesting.
So wonderful to have Lori Laughlin back at Hallmark! Great news that she will be back in When Calls the Heart in 2027!
Aloha, and Mahalo!
WOW!! Aren’t we holier than thou!! All of you perfect people just remember what Jesus warned against hypocritical and self-righteous judgment. Matthew 7:1-3, Jesus warns that if you judge others, you will be judged by the same standard. So get off your high horse and be kind!!
could not agree more.
Amen!
It must be nice to be so pure of heart, well, except for that pesky judgmental stuff. The only people she needs to apologize to are her children and perhaps some co-workers that got caught in the fallout (ie:Garge Sales Mysteries folks), not us.
Maybe we should all stop being judgemental…I, as a mother, would do anything for my child including what Lori did…she cheated – she did not kill. So all you casting the first stone, get off your high horse and think back on all the years since your kids were toddlers & you will find hundreds of times you ‘tweaked’ your child’s chances whether it be on a test, getting a part in a school play, getting on a sports team or academic club, etc…and because, except for judgmental a lot of us on here are just spiteful & use this median as a way to ‘blow off steam’, I know I’ll get hateful feedback…so be it – just proves that even if Lori had not done what she did but instead got a citation for jay-walking she would still be receiving the same grief from us…
It’s about time I have been hoping for her return. I looking forward to seeing what they’re going to do with her and Henry.