Teen drama Madison has been renewed for a fourth season, putting to rest fears that the critically acclaimed, award-winning program would be canceled.

Mickey Rogers, the partner in charge of distribution at Vancouver’s Forefront Entertainment, says episodes 40 through 52 will begin production July 15. Series stars are being signed and crews are being hired.

The budget for the coming season is $4.6 million, or $375,000 per episode.

Broadcaster Westcom Television Group is putting up $1 million, with the balance of financing coming from Telefilm Canada, Forefront Releasing, the Cable Production Fund, Maclean Hunter and the refundable income tax credit.

There is no word whether the show will finally get a regular time slot.

In other news, Forefront’s 50-50 coproduction with Winnipeg-based Credo Entertainment has begun casting.

The Adventures of Shirley Holmes – a 30-minute series about the great-great grandniece of Sherlock Holmes – is targeted at ages eight to 14, and ytv’s initial order is for 26 episodes, says Rogers.

Production begins in Winnipeg in August for a February air date on ytv and a second-window airing with Manitoba Television. Financing will come from Telefilm, cpf, Forefront Releasing, a presale to Germany and the ritc.

While Forefront and Credo share the production and Forefront handles distribution, merchandising will be shared between Forefront, Credo and Winchester Entertainment and Winklemania, both of London, Eng.