CBC and Lionsgate announced Tuesday principal photography has started on the fourth season of hit original comedy series Son of a Critch in St. John’s, Newfoundland.
The new season of 13 half-hour episodes will premiere in winter 2025 on CBC Gem and CBC TV in Canada. Lionsgate handles worldwide distribution rights outside of Canada.
Based on comedian Mark Critch’s award-winning memoir of the same name, Son of a Critch is a comedic and heartfelt window into the life of now 14-year-old Mark, coming of age in St. John’s. Critch portrays his own father, Mike, while Benjamin Evan Ainsworth (The Haunting of Bly Manor, Pinocchio) plays young Mark.
Other returning cast members include Malcolm McDowell (A Clockwork Orange, Entourage) as Mark’s grandfather Pop, Claire Rankin (Stargate Atlantis) as his mother Mary, Colton Gobbo (Ginny & Georgia) as his older brother Mike Jr., Mark Ezekiel Rivera as his best friend Ritchie, Sophia Powers (Fourth Down and Love) as his girlfriend Fox, Richard Clarkin as Dick, Nicole Underhay as Fox’s mom Suzanne, Rodrigo Fernandez-Stoll as Father Garcia, and Nora McLellan as Sister Rose.
Season four sees Mark beginning high school on the cusp of a new decade. “From his relentless pursuit of his creative dreams to his burgeoning romance with Fox, we’ll watch as Mark navigates a quickly growing world filled with new promise, potential and love,” a press release says. “In this new era of video dance parties, political shifts, and digital transformation, Mark won’t be alone in his chase for something greater: his inner circle of family and close friends also finds itself caught up in the winds of change.”
“We’re thrilled to roll into the 90s with Mark as he finds his way in high school and are looking forward to sharing this exciting new season with audiences,” said creators, showrunners and executive producers Mark Critch and Tim McAuliffe, in a statement.
Son of a Critch is produced by Project 10 Productions and Hawco Productions in association with CBC and Lionsgate Television. Executive producers are Critch (This Hour Has 22 Minutes), McAuliffe (The Office, The Last Man on Earth, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, This Hour Has 22 Minutes), Andrew Barnsley (Schitt’s Creek) and Allan Hawco (Republic of Doyle). Perry Chafe and Amanda Joy serve as co-executive producers; Janine Squires, Erin Sullivan and John Vatcher are producers; and Shelby Bronstine is series producer. Series directors in season four are Vatcher (Caught), Deanne Foley (Son of a Critch), Joyce Wong (Sort Of) and Vanessa Matsui (Ghost BFF).
Son of a Critch was recently recognized with the Cogeco Fund Audience Choice Award at the 2024 Canadian Screen Awards. Since its premiere in January 2022, the series has continued to rank as the most-watched original Canadian comedy series in Canada and as one of the top five most-watched comedies overall in Canada, CBC’s press release says, citing Numeris data. It also continues to be one of the most-streamed comedies on CBC Gem, according to the release.
Photo of Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as young Mark Critch courtesy of CBC. Photo credit: Vaida Nairn.
