TORONTO – "Our 2017-18 slate is a tribute to the talent and authenticity of Canada's top creators, who are choosing CBC as the destination to share the stories they want to tell, including compelling new drama, comedy, factual, arts and documentary series," said Heather Conway, the CBC’s executive-vice president, english services in unveiling the broadcaster’s fall programming Wednesday morning (pictured).
"By launching one of our largest programming lineups to date reflecting the diversity of perspectives and voices in this country, CBC continues to reach, connect with and entertain Canadians across all platforms, guided by how audiences choose to engage with us."
New CBC original television series announced today for the 2017-18 season include:
Burden Of Proof, a legal drama starring Kristin Kreuk as a big city lawyer passed over for partnership who returns to her hometown to take on what she thinks is a simple case, only to find herself in a fight for justice for a group of sick girls.
Caught, Allan Hawco's new drama set in 1978, adapted from Lisa Moore’s acclaimed novel. Locked up after a drug deal goes wrong, David Slaney (Hawco; Republic of Doyle; The Book of Negroes) makes a daring break from a New Brunswick prison to attempt one more deal with his former partner (Eric Johnson, Fifty Shades Darker, The Knick, Smallville)
The Detectives, a true crime series that brings to life the real cases of Canadian detectives by blending first-person interviews with scripted drama.
Little Dog, a comedy from author, musician and actor Joel Thomas Hynes (Mary Kills People, Orphan Black) and showrunner Sherry White (Rookie Blue, Saving Hope) that tells the story of lightweight Newfoundland boxer Donny "Little Dog" Ross and his haphazard quest for redemption after quitting a fight.
The Stats Of Life, a factual series that reveals surprising truths about how Canadians are living today based on recent population statistics.
New CBC Kids titles include animated series Addison, chronicling the adventures of a young girl who loves to solve mysteries; Beat Bugs, following five charming bugs and featuring songs from The Beatles; and preschool series Becca’s Bunch, which merges live action and puppetry with 2D and 3D animation.
These titles join previously announced new CBC original television series for 2017-18 including:
21 Thunder, a fast-paced drama that follows the players and coaches of an elite under-21 Montreal soccer team both on and off the field, premiering July 31.
Alias Grace, the highly anticipated miniseries written and produced by Sarah Polley, directed by Mary Harron and starring Sarah Gadon, based on the award-winning Margaret Atwood novel and inspired by true events, premiering September 25.
Crawford, Mike Clattenburg’s (Trailer Park Boys) unconventional family comedy about a young man who, after a run of bad luck, moves back in with his parents and turns his natural ability to relate to racoons into a successful business, all while navigating life with his eccentric family.
Frankie Drake Mysteries, from the producers of Murdoch Mysteries, following Toronto’s only female private detective in the 1920s (Lauren Lee Smith; The Listener, This Life) and her colleague Trudy (Chantel Riley; The Lion King) as they take on the cases that the police don’t want or can’t handle.
The Great Canadian Baking Show, based on the hit British format, which will bring together 10 amateur bakers from across Canada to compete in a series of themed culinary challenges. The most recent season of the British series, The Great British Baking Show, will also air on CBC beginning August 23 to warm up audiences ahead of the premiere of the Canadian version.
Taken, a true crime documentary series that explores the search for answers and justice for Canada’s missing and murdered Indigenous women.
For the full release, which tells of CBC’s returning shows as well as its news (no, the replacements for Peter Mansbridge were not announced), documentary and sports programming (keyed around the 2018 Peyongchang Winter Olympics), click here.
