Citytv Original Series Murdoch Mysteries Starts
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CITYTV CONFIRMS PRODUCTION DETAILS FOR FIFTH AND FINAL SEASON OF ORIGINAL SERIES MURDOCH MYSTERIES - Detective Murdoch heads to the Yukon in the first episode - - Georgina Reilly (Pontypool) joins the cast as Dr. Julia Ogden’s protégé - - Season 5 boasts high profile guest stars including world-renowned Canadian soprano Measha Brueggergosman, Aaron Ashmore (Warehouse 13; Smallville) and British actress Jill Halfpenny (Coronation Street) - (TORONTO, September 27) – Citytv announced today production details for the fifth and final season of original one-hour drama series Murdoch Mysteries. Principal photography commenced in the summer and will continue until early November in and around Toronto, with the first episode of Season 5, “Murdoch of the Klondike,” filmed on location in Dawson City, Yukon. Encore episodes of Murdoch Mysteries are currently airing weekly on Citytv. Season five broadcast details will be announced at a later date. “With new characters and locales, Season 5 will be the most exciting yet for Murdoch Mysteries,” said Claire Freeland, Director of Development and Production, Rogers Media Television. “Beloved by viewers of all ages, Murdoch Mysteries has been a resounding success in Canada and internationally over the last four seasons and we are proud of the enduring legacy this series will leave its countless loyal fans.” “While we are sad to contemplate the end of Murdoch Mysteries, we are grateful to Rogers and Citytv for believing in the series and taking this journey with us over the past seven years," said Christina Jennings, Chairman and CEO, Shaftesbury and executive producer, Murdoch Mysteries. "We've watched the show grow with the passionate support of audiences in Canada and around the world, and look forward to bringing the storyline to a fulfilling conclusion for fans during our final season. Thank you to one of the most talented casts and crews I’ve ever had the privilege of working with for creating an unforgettable series.” The fifth season premiere will feature an array of guest stars joining the cast in the Yukon, including include Aaron Ashmore (Warehouse 13; Smallville) as author Jack London and U.K. actress Jill Halfpenny (Coronation Street) as Elizabeth Bryant, a tough-as-nails hotel owner who finds herself accused of murder. Plus, Canadian soprano Measha Brueggergosman also makes a guest appearance this season. Based on Canadian author Maureen Jennings's popular Detective Murdoch novels, Murdoch Mysteries is set in late 1890s Toronto and explores the intriguing world of William Murdoch (Yannick Bisson), a detective using radical techniques for the time to solve the city's most gruesome murders. Murdoch's colleagues are coroner Dr. Julia Ogden (Hélène Joy, Durham County), a staunch ally who shares the detective's fascination for forensic science; Constable George Crabtree (Jonny Harris, Hatching, Matching, Dispatching), Murdoch's eager but sometimes naïve right-hand man; and Inspector Brackenreid (Thomas Craig, Coronation Street), Murdoch’s sceptical yet reluctantly supportive boss. The series has been sold in more than 100 countries worldwide. Season 5 of Murdoch Mysteries will present Detective Murdoch with fresh frustrations in his relationship with Julia. Viewers will be introduced to Julia’s protégé, Dr. Grace Howard (Georgina Reilly, Pontypool), a headstrong, ambitious new coroner. In addition to investigating a murder in Yukon during the Klondike Gold Rush, the final season will see Murdoch uncovering the intrigue behind the invention of the electric car, and exploring the drama on and offstage when a travelling opera company is hit with murder. Murdoch Mysteries is executive produced by Christina Jennings and Scott Garvie for Shaftesbury, and Peter Mitchell (Cold Squad); and produced by Jan Peter Meyboom for Shaftesbury and Stephen Montgomery (Vacation with Derek). Julie Lacey is the supervising producer for Shaftesbury. Claire Freeland, Director of Development and Production, Rogers Media Television, is the executive in charge for Citytv. The production executive for UKTV's Alibi is Alexandra Finlay, Acquisitions Manager, UKTV. Richard Life, Head of Acquisitions and Co- Productions at ITV STUDIOS Global Entertainment Inc., is executive producer. Murdoch Mysteries is developed and produced by Shaftesbury, in association with Rogers Broadcasting Limited, ITV Studios Global Entertainment and Alibi from UKTV, and with the participation of the Canada Media Fund, the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit, the Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit, the Canada Media Fund and the COGECO Program Development Fund. ITV Studios Global Entertainment holds worldwide distribution rights (excluding Canada and UKTV rights). About Shaftesbury: Founded in 1987, Shaftesbury is an award-winning creator, producer and distributor of original content for television and multiple platforms, with programming available in more than 120 countries worldwide. Recent productions include three seasons of The Listener for CTV and Fox International Channels; five seasons of Murdoch Mysteries for Citytv, UKTV and ITV STUDIOS Global Entertainment; and two seasons of Good Dog, an irreverent comedy from acclaimed writer and producer Ken Finkleman (The Newsroom) for HBO Canada. Shaftesbury's slate of programming for kids and families includes the global hit series Life with Derek and the movie follow-up to the series, Vacation with Derek. Shaftesbury's divisions include Shaftesbury U.S., located in Los Angeles and focused on development for the U.S. market; Shaftesbury Factual, dedicated to non-fiction storytelling across a broad spectrum of genres; Smokebomb Entertainment, Shaftesbury’s digital media branch responsible for the development and production of original multiplatform series and companion web experiences; and Shaftesbury Sales Company, which manages international sales and distribution for the company's content. www.shaftesbury.ca About Citytv: Citytv™ television stations in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Winnipeg offer viewers intensely-local, urban-oriented, culturally-diverse television programming. A distinct alternative to other conventional television stations, Citytv engages its viewers with dynamic on- air personalities and delivers an entertaining mix of news, local-interactive formats such as: Breakfast Television and CityLine; as well as local Canadian and US acquired prime time entertainment programming. Citytv is a part of Rogers Broadcasting Limited, a division of Rogers Communications Inc. (TSX: RCI and NYSE: RCI), which is a diversified Canadian communications and media company. For more information on Citytv stations and programming, visit www.Citytv.com - 30 - Media Contacts: Meghan Hardy, Rogers Media Television, [email protected], 416-764-3197 Katherine Wolfgang, Shaftesbury, [email protected], 416-363-1411 .