Melissa Gilbert guest stars on Hallmark's 'When Calls The Heart'

Melissa Gilbert will make a guest appearance in two episodes in season 12 of the long-running series. When the heart calls, It is scheduled to premiere next year on the Hallmark Channel. The news was revealed to viewers at the show's annual Hearties Family Reunion fan event in Vancouver, Canada.

Gilbert will play Georgie McGill, who, according to the announcement, “shares a surprising past with a special Hope Valley resident.” The opportunity to join the series came about through executive producer Michael Landon Jr., who contacted the veteran actress. Our little farm The cast's 50th anniversary reunion and festival took place earlier this year. The two shared the news in a panel discussion onstage at the Hearties Family Reunion.

“When the heart calls has long been associated with Our little farmfor its charming and compelling stories of hope, human connection and survival on the frontier,” said Kelly Garrett, vice president of Hallmark Media programming. “It was only fitting that the first to hear this special news were the Hearties – loyal fans who have celebrated the show year after year and made it such a success. The energy of being here to share this news with them is electric, and we can't wait for them to meet Georgie next year.”

Gilbert is best known for her portrayal of Laura Ingalls in NBC's Emmy-winning family series. Our little farm. The Emmy-nominated actor is also a former president of the Screen Actors Guild, founded the lifestyle brand Modern Prairie and is a New York Times Bestselling author. Her other works include The miracle worker (for which she received her Emmy nomination), Sweet Justice (opposite Cicely Tyson) and Secrets and liesan ABC drama starring Ryan Phillippe, Juliette Lewis and Michael Ealy.

Popular as Hallmark’s longest-running original series, When the heart calls Season 12 will consist of 12 episodes and will be released in 2025. News of the renewal came on the heels of the release of Season 11, which followed the residents of Hope Valley as they headed back to the 1920s. The plot revolved around teacher Elizabeth Thornton (Erin Krakow) making a fresh start – with new romance, new challenges and new style. She and Mountie Nathan Grant (Kevin McGarry) navigated their growing romantic feelings while also supporting each other as they faced obstacles in education. The cast was completed by Chris McNally, Jack Wagner and Pascale Hutton.

Season 11 of the romantic historical drama is the most-watched entertainment series on cable television so far this year, measured by households, total viewers and number of women over 18.