Melissa Gilbert reveals the heartbreaking reason she’s not returning to Hallmark’s When Calls the Heart

Melissa Gilbert will not be returning to the hit Hallmark series When Calls the Heart.Gilbert, who guest-starred as Georgie McGill on several episodes of the show during seasons 12 and 13, shared the news in a Thursday Instagram post.“Many people have asked if I will be returning to When Calls the Heart this coming season.

The answer to that is no I will not,” Gilbert wrote. “I am told this is due to ‘budget issues.’ That said, I wish all my sweet friends in Hope Valley a wonderful and successful season 14.”

Gilbert, 62, expanded on her thoughts in the caption of her post, writing: “I will be eternally grateful to my dear friend @michaellandonjr1 for giving me the chance to bring Georgie McGill to life. It was a lovely couple of seasons but it’s time to say farewell. When one door closes, another one opens.

Looking forward to whatever comes next.”She ended the post with “#thatsshowbiz” and “#onwardandupward.”Hallmark confirmed Gilbert’s departure in a statement to People.

“We can confirm that Melissa’s storyline on When Calls the Heart concluded in season 13. We adore Melissa and are always grateful when we get to work with her.”Gilbert’s career news comes amid her husband Timothy Busfield’s legal turmoil.

Busfield, 69, is awaiting trial after he was indicted on four charges of criminal sexual contact with a child under the age of 13 while he worked as the director on the Fox series The Cleaning Lady from 2022 to 2024. He has denied all allegations against him — including two previous sexual assault allegations against him from 1994 and 2012 — and vowed to fight the charges.Gilbert said in an April interview with George Stephanopoulos on Good Morning America that she was standing by her husband.

Melissa Gilbert will not be returning to the popular Hallmark show ‘When Calls the Heart’ (AFP/Getty)“This has been the most traumatizing experience of our lives,” she said in the interview. “Our life as we knew it is done. We are grieving what we had — all of our plans, all of our dreams, all of our ideas, all of our projects.”

She continued about her husband: “For Tim, it’s done. He’s canceled. Even if he’s exonerated, he will always be that guy.

[He’s] the last person in the world who would hurt a child. And believe me, if I thought for a second that Tim Busfield hurt a child, he’d have a lot more to worry about than prison.”Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 dayNew subscribers only.

£9.99/mo. after free trial.

Plan auto-renews until cancelled.Try for freeADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission.

This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 dayNew subscribers only. £9.

99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled.

Try for freeADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

Gilbert said that the West Wing actor is “nothing if not completely honest with me.”“I know this man in my bones. No one knows him better than I do.

I know literally everything about him," she said, adding that she is “100% confident he will be exonerated.”Join our commenting forumJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesComments