TORONTO, June 17, 2020 /CNW/ – This summer, WildBrain Television’s Family Channel will be brimming with midnight feasts, oceanside swims, lacrosse, pranks, sweets, and lasting friendships as the charming new Malory Towers series launches with a two-episode premiere event on Wednesday, July 1 at 11 am ET/PT. Set in post-war Britain on the sun-drenched cliffs of the Cornish coast, Malory Towers is based on Enid Blyton’s hugely popular novel series and follows the adventures of 12-year-old Darrell Rivers, played by newcomer Ella Bright, as she leaves home to attend an all-girls’ boarding school.
In addition to Malory Towers, Family’s summer lineup is sizzling with can’t-miss programming including: the season two premiere of Boy Girl Dog Cat Mouse Cheese Monday, July 6; new episodes of Heirs of the Night, Mondays at 8pm ET/PT; Trolls: The Beat Goes On, weekdays at 4:30 pm ET/PT; Nowhere Boys: Battle for Negative Space, Sundays at 5pm ET/PT; and popular movies including Free Birds, Escape from Planet Earth, and 17 Again.
“We’re very excited for Family Channel to announce the Canadian premiere of the original series Malory Towers, commissioned with the BBC,” said Katie Wilson, VP Content and Curation at WildBrain Television. “The reception to Malory Towers in the UK has been phenomenal, with audiences of all ages celebrating the much-needed comfort, joy and escapism the series offers. The students at Malory Towers come from different backgrounds and experiences to build strong, supportive friendships. It’s an inspirational message for girls of a new generation to see on screen. With adventures around every corner, I know the series will leave everyone wishing they were a pupil at Malory Towers!”
Co-produced by WildBrain and the UK’s King Bert Productions, Malory Towers explores universal experiences such as shifting cliques, FOMO, bullying, crushes, peer pressure, and self-doubt. The girls keep an eye on each other and, like a family, are forever connected by their shared experiences. During the double-episode premiere event, Darrell Rivers settles in for her first day at Malory Towers. Always in the thick of it, Darrell has a hairy start at the train station and when odd sounds are heard in the dorm, she learns about the ghost of Lady Jane Malory! However, in awe of her brilliant new surroundings, she keeps her past at her old school, St. Hilda’s, a closely guarded secret.
In the second episode, a jealous Gwen is determined to find out more about Darrell’s past and leaves the school in pursuit of the truth—will Darrell be able to find her before her secret is revealed? Tune in on July 1st to find out! Those who can’t enrol on Canada Day, can enjoy an encore screening of episodes one and two at 6pm ET/PT on July 7th and 8th. From July 9, brand new episodes will run from Tuesday to Friday at 6pm ET/PT, so you won’t have to wait to enjoy all of this wonderful series!
For even more dorm-room fun, fans can check out the Malory Towers social media accounts for exciting behind-the-scenes videos, cast interviews, games, bloopers, quizzes and more. Find Malory Towers @malorytowerstv on Instagram, Facebook, Tik Tok, and Twitter, and on YouTube at youtube.com/malorytowerstv.
Malory Towers also stars Jennifer Wigmore (Anne with an E) as Headmistress Miss Grayling; Imali Perera (The Handmaid’s Tale) as Miss Potts; and Ashley McGuire as Matron. Rounding out the cast are Zoey Siewert, Twinkle Jaiswal, Danya Griver, and Natasha Raphael alongside newcomers Sienna Arif Knights, Beth Bradfield, Saskia Kemkers, and Imogen Lamb.
An official Canada-UK treaty co-production, Malory Towers is adapted for television by Rachel Flowerday and Sasha Hails. Executive producers for WildBrain are Josh Scherba, Anne Loi, and Michael Goldsmith, with Jo Sargent serving as executive producer for King Bert Productions. The series is produced by King Bert’s Grainne McNamara and WildBrain’s Angela Boudreault, and directed by Rebecca Rycroft (Evermore Chronicles, So Awkward) and Bruce McDonald (Creeped Out, Heartland, Dark Matter).
