Heartland shoots 200th episode

The family drama is CBC's first hour-long scripted series to reach the milestone.

CBC family drama Heartland has officially hit the double-century mark.

The Alberta-shot series filmed its 200th episode on Friday (Aug. 10), making it the first hour-long CBC scripted show to hit the milestone. Heartland is produced by Calgary’s Seven24 Films and Dynamo Films and was in April renewed for its 12th season. The 200th episode was directed by Chris Potter.

Murdoch Mysteries, which was also renewed for a 12th season earlier this year, is also closing in on the 200 mark. The Shaftesbury series will have reached around 190 episodes once production wraps on season 12.

In October 2014Heartland became the longest-running Canadian one-hour drama in Canadian TV history when it aired its 125th episode. Prior to that, the record was held by courtroom drama Street Legal, which originally aired from 1987 to 1994. In April, CBC revealed that a Street Legal reboot is in the works, with a new season (6 x 60 minutes) set to air as part of the pubcaster’s winter 2018 lineup.

Heartland debuted on CBC more than a decade ago, in October 2007. The show is based on the Heartland book series by author Linda Chapman (pen name Lauren Brooke). The cast includes Amber Marshall, Graham Wardle, Michelle Morgan and Shaun Johnston. It is produced by Dean Bennett and exec produced by showrunner Heather Conkie, Jordy Randall, Tom Cox and Michael Weinberg.