Jack Wagner, a familiar face on Hallmark Channel’s “When Calls the Heart,” is set to reunite with Melissa Gilbert in the show’s 13th season. Wagner, who has portrayed Bill Avery since the series began, expresses his excitement about the upcoming season, particularly regarding the shared romantic storyline with Gilbert’s character, Inspector Georgie McGill.
Gilbert initially hinted at her return to the “When Calls the Heart” universe back in February, sending fans into a frenzy with excitement. Last year, she took a quick but powerful trip. Her character was central to one of the most important romantic arcs, which culminated in a kiss with Wagner’s character in the season finale. This year, as Gilbert shoots the series in Vancouver, he’ll be shuttling between the two. Indeed, much of the series unfolds in that building.
Michael Landon Jr. is co-creator and executive producer of the hit show “When Calls the Heart.” He is the son of the late Michael Landon, who starred with Gilbert in “Little House on the Prairie.” This connection gives an additional layer of bittersweet nostalgia for Gilbert as she heads back to set.
As Wagner looks back on his 12 Hallmark films, he continues, “I am just so thankful to be having this run with the Hallmark channel with ‘When Calls the Heart.’ Quite stunningly, he understands the power of romantic elements to storytelling and is welcoming Gilbert’s return as a powerful shotgun blast of opportunity.
“The difference in being able to do The Bold and the Beautiful, coming back as Nick, are the layers. This guy is completely about romance. And there’s been really nothing romantic for quite a while on When Calls the Heart, except Melissa Gilbert came on last year and is returning, which is awesome.” – Jack Wagner
As Wagner notes, Bill Avery (fellow Hallmark actor mind you, and musical theater vet Andrew Walker) was experiencing his own romantic rut until Gilbert’s character joined the show. The chemistry they created has unlocked several fresh narrative avenues. He notes, “They have a backstory and a history, and I kissed her in the final episode last year. So that sprung a whole well of romance for my character.”
Gilbert expresses her excitement to dig deeper into this blossoming relationship. She expresses her desire to see how Bill and Georgie’s relationship unfolds, stating, “I would love to see what happens with Bill and Georgie going forward because it is left as a romantic cliffhanger.”
As much as Gilbert enjoys her work, she feels it’s necessary to show relationships between older people on screen. She remarked, “I think it’s really great to portray the beginning of a romantic relationship with two people our age. Just because you’re over 60 doesn’t mean you’re dead.”
Now that she’s getting ready to head back to Vancouver for the third season, Gilbert feels a rush of nostalgia whenever she walks onto set. When I land on the set in Vancouver, already everything is so familiar and inviting. At the end of that day, I am home, in the fullness of my being.
Wagner’s enthusiasm for his character’s journey is just as vigorous. And now that Georgie is back, he can’t wait to see where the storyline goes.
