Bell Media’s Returning English and French-Language Original Programming Series Synopses for 2022/23

Returning Series: THE AMAZING RACE CANADA (Season 8) – CTV *previously announced Multiple Canadian Screen Award-winning THE AMAZING RACE CANADA returns for an eighth season on CTV. Hosted by Olympic Gold Medallist Jon Montgomery, Canada’s favourite summertime adventure the adventure continues as an all-new cast of racers head to the starting line to push themselves out of their comfort zones in a non-stop, action-packed race. Season 8 of CTV’s mega-hit original series makes its triumphant return to television screens across the country this summer. (Insight Productions Ltd., a Boat Rocker Company) CANADA’S DRAG RACE (Season 3) – Crave *previously announced Winner of six Canadian Screen Awards in 2022, including Best Reality/Competition Series, the Crave Original series CANADA’S DRAG RACE returns for its third season. Each episode tests competitors’ talents, and challenges them to master singing, dancing, acting, impersonation, design, and improvisation. Throughout this journey, the queens share their personal successes, struggles, and showcase the importance of celebrating everyone’s charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent. In addition to RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE fan-favourites like Snatch Game, and Untucked, Season 3 is also set to bring audiences a few surprises and ‘RU-veals,’ while also celebrating the uniqueness of Canada’s drag scene and queer community. (Blue Ant Studios, Saloon Media, World of Wonder) CHILDREN RUIN EVERYTHING (Season 2) – CTV *previously announced Created and executive produced by Emmy^® and Golden Globe^® Award-winner Kurt Smeaton (SCHITT’S CREEK), Season 2 of CHILDREN RUIN EVERYTHING consists of 16 half-hour episodes. Starring Meaghan Rath (BEING HUMAN) and Aaron Abrams (BLINDSPOT) as parents Astrid and James, who are trying to still do it all but with more kids, less sleep, little money, no time, and zero space, as they discover all the little ways that raising kids reshapes their world. (New Metric Media in association with CTV) FEAR THY NEIGHBOR (Season 8) – Investigation Discovery FEAR THY NEIGHBOR tells the chilling tales of those with the misfortune to unwittingly take up residence within a stone’s throw of a psycho or killer. Combining gripping and visceral drama recreations with first-person testimony from those at the heart of each neighbourly nightmare, each episode reveals a story day-by-day and week-by-week, as events first get creepy, then menacing, before ending in an episode of outright terror. (Cream Productions) HEAVY RESCUE: 401 (Season 7) – Discovery HEAVY RESCUE: 401 goes far beyond recoveries. The seventh and final season follows the Ontario Provincial Police doing on-the-spot accident reconstructions, managing massive pileups and overseeing toxic spill sites. As well, the series follows the crew at the Ministry of Transportation’s massive control centre – the eyes that watch and manage the highways and joins maintenance crews, clearing snow and ice with military precision and jumping into battle when – without warning – winter strikes. The stakes are high. Every minute counts.  Every job is vital. (Great Pacific Media) HIGHWAY THRU HELL (Season 11) – Investigation Discovery This fan favourite series travels to some of the most economically vital – and most inhospitable – trucking routes in BC. Plagued by winter storms, truckers spin out and smash up, and during the worst conditions, the big wrecks can come as often as every 12 hours. And when this happens, the call goes out for heavy rescue to clear the highway carnage and get the road open again. Season 10 of HIGHWAY THRU HELL is the #2 series on Discovery with total viewers this BYTD and #1 Canadian series on channel. (Great Pacific Media) LETTERKENNY (Season 12) – Crave It’s a Texas-sized 10/4 on another season of the multiple award-winning international sensation, LETTERKENNY. Starring Jared Keeso and produced by New Metric Media, the critically acclaimed half-hour, small-town comedy revolves around the dustups Wayne (Keeso) and his buds get into with their small-town rivals. The Hicks, The Skids, and The Hockey Players get at each other about the most mundane things, often ending with someone getting their ass kicked. (New Metric Media and WildBrain) MARY MAKES IT EASY (Season 2) – CTV Life Filmed on location in Toronto at her very own home kitchen, MARY MAKES IT EASY features Mary Berg as she shares step-by-step recipes, tips, and tricks that leave viewers with a newfound confidence to overcome their own culinary challenges. (Boat Rocker’s Proper Television) MUD MOUNTAIN HAULERS (Season 2) – Discovery *previously announced MUD MOUNTAIN HAULERS follows real-life crews as they risk is it all for the haul and their logging businesses in the steepest, muddiest conditions in North America. The debut season was among the Top 10 series on Discovery in BY20/21 for total viewers and a Top 3 Canadian series on channel. (Great Pacific Media) PILLOW TALK (Season 2) – Crave An adaptation of Noovo’s popular French-language series ENTRE DEUX DRAPS, an original idea from Matthieu Pepper, PILLOW TALK returns for a second season. The series takes place entirely in bedrooms and explores the drama and hilarity experienced by couples in the intimacy of the bedroom in a raw and unexpected way. Season 1, which was born of the COVID-19 pandemic, featured four real-life couples and one set of roommates, playing fictionalized versions of themselves. PILLOW TALK is executive produced by Alain Chicoine, Louis-Philippe Drolet, Louis Morissette, and Mélanie Viau. Louis Morissette is showrunner and Melissa Malkin is Line Producer. (KOTV Productions). ROAST BATTLE CANADA  (Season 3) – CTV Comedy Just ahead of the Season 2 premiere on June 13, ROAST BATTLE CANADA has been renewed for a third season!  Based on the format from Paramount Global Content Distribution, the eight, half-hour episode series builds on the success of Bell Media’s French-language version, ROAST BATTLE: LE GRAND DUEL, which is consistently a top-ranking series for Z. The English-language adaption, ROAST BATTLE CANADA, sees two pairs of Canadian comics faceoff in each episode, hurling ruthless jokes at each other in hopes of coming out unscathed and crowned the victor by a distinguished panel of judges. Presiding over each episode are megastar comedian Russell Peters; writer, producer, actor, and all-around funny person, Sabrina Jalees (CAROL’S SECOND ACT); and Season 1 ROAST BATTLE semi-finalist K. Trevor Wilson (LETTERKENNY). Actor and comedian Ennis Esmer (CHILDREN RUIN EVERYTHING) serves as host. Its debut season is amongst the Top 3 series on CTV Comedy this BY21/22-to-date with the key A18-49 and A25-54 demos. (Just For Laughs, Counterfeit Pictures, George Reinblatt) SURREALESTATE (Season 2) – CTV Sci-Fi A one-hour supernatural drama follows the dealings of Luke Roman (Tim Rozon) and the Roman Agency, a real estate agency specializing in ridding homes of paranormal infestations. (Blue Ice Pictures) TRANSPLANT (Season 3) – CTV The critically-acclaimed CTV Original drama series TRANSPLANT returns for a third season, which finds Bashir “Bash” Hamed (Hamza Haq, My Salinger Year) continuing on his journey to start over, but with each new milestone comes a new challenge. While pursuing Canadian citizenship for both himself and his younger sister Amira (Sirena Gulamgaus, ORPHAN BLACK), Bash closely examines who he is becoming in his adopted country. Bash is still being asked to repeatedly prove himself professionally, and while he and his colleagues work to move forward following the dramatic conclusion of Season 2, everyone finds themselves looking to adapt to change and understand how they fit in, both within and beyond the walls of York Memorial Hospital. Hamza Haq leads the Season 3 ensemble cast with Laurence Leboeuf (19-2), Ayisha Issa (Polar), and Jim Watson (DESIGNATED SURVIVOR). (Sphere Media in association with CTV and NBCUniversal International Studios, a division of Universal Studio Group) French-Language Returning Series: BIG BROTHER CÉLÉBRITÉS (Season 3) – Noovo The popular concept of BIG BROTHER CÉLÉBRITÉS is particularly catchy: personalities from different horizons of the public sphere – artists, sportsmen, influencers or other well-known personalities – are gathered under the same roof for thirteen weeks. Their objective? To create alliances, use strategies and use their psychological, physical, and social skills to win various challenges, avoid eviction, and make it to the end of the adventure. Only one will win the coveted title of winner of BIG BROTHER CÉLÉBRITÉS following a vote of the excluded participants. Who will have played their cards right in this exciting competition. The BIG BROTHER format has had more than 60 adaptations, with over 34,000 episodes, 8,500 housemates, 6,400 evictions and 90M social followers. (Distributed by Banijay and produced by Entourage Television, in collaboration with Bell Media) ÇA C’EST DRÔLE (Season 3) – Noovo Dominic Paquet pays tribute to all the champions of the world with major tribulations and epic fails, along with unforgettable performances. (Amadeus) CONTRE-OFFRE (Season 3) – Noovo *previously announced Team Lévesque is back with a vengeance, much to the dismay of Ben Gagné. With the arrival of Marc Huard, Marcel searches for his place at the agency; Daphne gets a prestigious listing with a tempestuous client; while Jade’s couple comes face to face with reality, and Christine has a brief relationship, until a shocking event leads her to think about the future (Pixcom). CLUB SOLY (Season 2) – Noovo *previously announced Each week, at Club Soly, Arnaud Soly and his band make us rediscover the big trends of the hour through a pretty bouquet of spicy sketches and a panoply of colourful characters who encourage us look at our society with a critical eye. and lots of humour. (Encore Television) COUPLES À BOUTTE (Season 2) – Canal Vie *previously announced Five couples struggling during the pandemic must re-examine their relationships and determine whether they want to maintain their love. Under the magnifying glass of two sexologists, couples naturally and authentically share the joys and difficulties of life together. (Sphère Média) ENTRE DEUX DRAPS (Season 3) – Noovo *previously announced In Season 3 of Noovo’s hit series ENTRE DEUX DRAPS, Virginie-Marco and Luc-Marie-Ève are enjoying a stay at an all-inclusive hotel; Lydia and Antoine are experiencing financial struggles; Thomas, still living with Valère as a roommate, is trying to find his bearings within his particular relationship with Mélissa; Jean-Pascal and Simon are embracing fatherhood with their usual intensity; Luc and Marie-Ève navigate a crisis that puts their relationship to the test; and Jean-Pierre and Carole go about their day-to-day. ENTRE DEUX DRAPS was recently nominated for five Gémeaux Awards, and was winner of Best Comedy Series and Best Comedy Performance. (KOTV) L’AMOUR EST DANS LE PRÉ (Season 11) – Noovo *previously announced In this successful unscripted dating series that has recently been adapted for CTV as FARMING FOR LOVE, five farmers looking for true love welcome three suitors to their farm. Bonds are formed, and, hopefully, love will once again be found! (Attraction Images) LA FAMILLE EST DANS LE PRÉ (Season 3) – Canal Vie *previously announced After watching these couples, both traditional and modern, form in L’AMOUR EST DANS LE PRÉ, they return for a third season stronger and more connected than ever. In Season 3, viewers can follow these inspiring families navigate daily life at the farm, watch their children grow up, and greet the arrival of new ones. (Attraction Images) LA FAMILLE GROULX (Season 6) – Canal Vie *previously announced The sixth season of LA FAMILLE GROULX revolves around turning points including the expansion of their house: an inevitable ‘big disruption’ to ensure a comfortable and functional life for a family of 12 growing children. As the elder siblings become adults, life gets a bit more complex, including registration for CEGEP and university, career choices, and their need for more independence and privacy, including the possibility of leaving home – a heartbreaking yet inevitable reality Tara and Pascal must face. Not to mention navigating the impacts of COVID, and other daily bumps in the road. In short, there is a wind of significant changes in the routine of the Groulx family life, with a year of great upheavals. (Sphère Média Inc) LA SEMAINE DES 4 JULIE (Season 4) – Noovo *previously announced Anything is possible on this talk show, as Julie Snyder presents interviews, performances, special reports, surprises, games and contests, alongside a rotating roster of nightly collaborators. (Productions ToRoS) METS-Y LE PAQUET (Season 4) – Z METS-Y LE PAQUET offers us moments of laughter and pure pleasure. Comedian/humorist Dominic Paquet has fun trapping his victims by confronting them with surprising, even surreal situations. His goal is to destabilize them by creating discomfort, and surprises. (Entourage) …MOI NON PLUS (Season 2) – Noovo *previously announced Following the hostage taking, Sarah and Christian have to deal with their trauma…and the kiss they shared. Their relationship takes a new turn, and they’ll have to question everything, and inevitably, more changes. (Encore Television) OCCUPATION DOUBLE MARTINIQUE – Noovo *previously announced The most-watched show of Fall 2021 #1 show on Noovo, OCCUPATION DOUBLE, returns for another titillating season. The series follows the lives of single people who have one thing in common: they’re looking for love. Jay Du Temple returns as host for a sixth consecutive year, as viewers follow these singles on dream trips, group dates to romantic destinations, and expose their passions, disappointments and desires. Throughout the series, the singles vote each other out, untilfinally, a couple is formed and wins a grand prize worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. (Productions ToRoS) QUI SAIT CHANTER? (New episodes) – Noovo *previously announced Hosted by Phil Roy, QUI SAIT CHANTER, Noovo’s second most-watched program of the fall, behind OCCUPATION DOUBLE, is the Quebecois version of the most popular musical game on the planet, I CAN SEE YOUR VOICE. Six secret singers march in front of a competitor who must eliminate the bad singers, hidden amongst the good ones. To help them make their selections, the competitor receives advice from four celebrities. At the end of each of the five stages, the selected secret singer must reveal their real voice. If they sing badly, the competitor wins $4,000. When there is only one singer remaining, the competitor must make the ultimate choice: save their accumulated sums or risk it all for a chance to win $25,000. (Productions ToRoS) RPM (Season 24) – Noovo Journalists Pierre Michaud, Luc-Olivier Chamberland and Samuel Lessard provide viewers with a complete analysis of vehicles in all categories, for sound advice and an informed purchase. (TORQ) RPM + (Season 8) – Noovo Pierre Michaud, Luc-Olivier Chamberland and Samuel Lessard answer viewer’s automotive questions, and present special reports. (TORQ) SYNDICS (Season 2) – Noovo The profession of licensed insolvency trustee is not widely known. Every year, more than 40,000 Quebecers of all ages and backgrounds declare bankruptcy to escape the vicious circle of debt. Pursued by creditors who’ll stop at nothing to recover what they’re owed, desperate debtors often call a trustee as a last resort. But behind each debt, there’s a compelling story. (Pixcom) UN SOUPER PRESQUE PARFAIT (Season 14) – Noovo *previously announced Each week, five perfect strangers take turns hosting a gourmet dinner party for each other. At the end of the evening, each guest must rate their host based on the quality of the meal and the ambiance. When the week is done, the contestant with the highest score wins $2,000. (Zone3) Bell Media Studios 1 QUEEN 5 QUEERS (Season 2) – Crave *previously announced Let the conversations continue! Brooke Lynn Hytes is back as the host of a brand new season of the Crave Original series, 1 QUEEN 5 QUEERS! Featuring a new cast of diverse queer people, as well as some returning favourites, each 30-minute episode features Queen of the North, Brooke Lynn Hytes, breaking down and examining issues that are important to the queer community. With topics ranging from dating, and kinks and fetishes, to mental health, self-care, and battling stereotypes, this season is set to showcase more of the honest and unfiltered views that made Season 1 so engaging and inspiring. CTV YOUR MORNING (Season 7)* – CTV CTV YOUR MORNING, the #1 Canadian national morning show covers a wide variety of topics and all the information needed to start the day. CTV YOUR MORNING airs weekdays from 6-9 a.m. ET, delivering the latest news and weather from coast-to-coast-to-coast and around the world, and fascinating conversations with people helping shape the country and the world. ETALK (Season 21)* – CTV ETALK kicks off Season 21 with a big return to the red carpet for the Toronto International Film Festival. Celebrating 12 years straight as Canada’s #1 entertainment news show, the team pulls out all the stops to mark this new season. ETALK airs weekdays at 7 p.m. ET.  THE MARILYN DENIS SHOW (Season 13)* – CTV The Canadian Screen Award-winning talk show THE MARILYN DENIS SHOW is back for Season 13, kicking things off with an incredible trip to Prince Edward Island! THE MARILYN DENIS SHOW continues to deliver viewers’ favourite experts, delicious recipes, the latest trends, celebrities, and inspiring conversations that connect Canadians across the country. THE MARILYN DENIS SHOW airs weekdays at 10 a.m. ET. THE SOCIAL (Season 10)* – CTV It’s a milestone year for CTV’s THE SOCIAL! The #1 daily lifestyle program is celebrating its 10^th season and bringing viewers along for the ride! Join the conversation and the celebration weekdays at 1 p.m. ET. *not accounted for in total hours of English and French-language content.