This story contains light spoilers from When Calls the Heart season 12.
Things are always changing in Hope Valley ... and When Calls the Heart fans may want to pay attention to this switch-up.
The hit Hallmark series is in the middle of airing season 12, and viewers are eagerly awaiting the guest appearance of Little House on the Prairie alum Melissa Gilbert. Well, it looks like her first episode on WCTH is airing sooner than you think — but it comes with a unique caveat. As the show revealed on Instagram on February 4, an all-new episode isn't airing on its usual Sunday nighttime slot. Instead, folks should prepare for a new installment to air on Saturday, February 8, 2025 at 10 p.m. ET on Hallmark.
"Melissa Gilbert joins When Calls the Heart this SATURDAY night at 10/9c (not Sunday!) on @hallmarkchannel!" read the official caption alongside a photo of Melissa in costume. "Let’s hear it, #Hearties - how many of you have seen Little House on the Prairie? Do you have a favorite Melissa Gilbert moment? Comment below! Tune in SATURDAY NIGHT to meet Georgie!"
When fans discovered the surprise schedule change from When Calls the Heart, it didn't deter them from making sure they would tune in at a new time.
"Got it on the calendar to watch on Saturday night," one person wrote. "❤️❤️❤️ I will be there for sure," another declared. "Love her! Can’t wait! 🙌🏾👏🏾," a different follower added.
For those concerned about whether When Calls the Heart is airing the rest of season 12 on a new night, don't worry. Future episodes will continue to premiere on Sunday nights — it's only a change likely due to the Super Bowl.
As for what to expect from Melissa on When Calls the Heart, her first episode (titled "When Autumn Leaves Begin to Fall") will see her play Inspector Georgie McGill, a forensic specialist who has a history with Bill Avery (Jack Wagner). She is sent to Hope Valley to help Bill investigate a case involving rare coins, and their potential connection to the nefarious Garrison gang of seasons' past. Elsewhere, Elizabeth Thornton (Erin Krakow) suffers from a cold, and her partner Nathan Grant (Kevin McGarry) steps up to the plate to take care of her.
And if you're even more curious about what's to come, Hallmark revealed a sneak peek promo on YouTube:
Welcome to Hope Valley, Melissa, and we definitely need to tune in and see what happens!
As the entertainment and news associate editor for Good Housekeeping, Adrianna (she/her) writes about everything TV, movies, music and pop culture. She graduated from Yeshiva University with a B.A. in journalism and a minor in business management. She covers shows like The Rookie, 9-1-1 and Grey's Anatomy, though when she’s not watching the latest show on Netflix, she’s taking martial arts or drinking way too much coffee.
