Spoiler warning! This article contains plot details or information about an upcoming episode/season which has not been aired world-wide yet. Don't believe everything you read, content is subject to change at any time.
Murdoch Mysteries has been officially renewed on CBC television for Season 14, announced on May 12, 2020. As of August 11, 2020, shooting is underway in Toronto on the acclaimed one-hour series for 11 new episodes, set to premiere on CBC TV and the CBC Gem streaming service in early winter 2021.
Murdoch Mysteriesis executive produced by Christina Jennings, Scott Garvie, Yannick Bisson, Hélène Joy, and Peter Mitchell, who also serves as showrunner, and produced by Stephen Montgomery and Julie Lacey. For CBC, Sally Catto is General Manager, Entertainment, Factual & Sports; Trish Williams is Executive Director, Scripted Content; Helen Asimakis is Senior Director, Scripted Content; and Nicole Mendes is Executive in Charge of Production.
Coming in 2021, Shaftesbury Films has filmed a 360-degree photo-realistic virtual reality (VR) video of Murdoch Mysteries at Metastage scheduled to launch in September, promising personal interaction with Detective Murdoch to solve a tough crime mystery – buckle up, Murdochian, you’re going to have to prove your mettle!
The 2021 Audible project, The Secret Diaries of Detective Murdoch, is a stand-alone mystery with all-new content of musings and thoughts – feelings, as it cuts emotional deep for Murdoch. For Murdochians, it offers another layer expanding on storylines and characters they already know, and for those who have never watched the TV series, they’re going to be intrigued.
Season 14 for CBC and UKTV is distributed by ITV STUDIOS Global Entertainment. In the U.S., in addition to broadcaster Ovation, the series is available on Acorn TV and earlier seasons air in syndication. The series has been licensed to broadcasters in 120 countries and territories worldwide to date. The series airs in the UK on Alibi and is one of the highest-rated programs in France on France Television (France3). Other countries include: Brazil, China, Hungary, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Turkey, Sweden, Denmark, Australia, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Italy, Poland, and Norway. Murdoch Mysteries is developed and produced by creator and producer Shaftesbury, in association with CBC, ITV STUDIOS Global Entertainment and UKTV, and with the participation of the Canada Media Fund, the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit, the Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit and the Independent Production Fund/COGECO Program Development Fund.
Since March 2020, Social Distancing practice and protocols in this time of COVID 19 has prohibited all new film and television productions until August 2020.
On April 3, 2020, the Murdoch Mysteries facebook page posted the first installment of #TogetherAtHome with #MurdochMysteries, featuring Yannick Bisson, including a free MM Activity Book download.
On May 27, 2020, CBC is the first Canadian broadcaster to reveal future programming plans to advertisers. "We wouldn't green light a series unless we had gone through an incredibly thorough process with our producers about what their plans are to ensure that these shows will be safe for all cast and crew, for everyone involved," Sally Catto, general manager of entertainment, factual and sports at CBC, said in a phone interview; "And the producers have been remarkably creative and committed and stepped up." Executives also noted CBC is in a unique position during the pandemic, because unlike other Canadian broadcasters, it is not beholden to U.S. schedules and syndication amid production shutdowns: Returning shows include Murdoch Mysteries and Frankie Drake Mysteries.
On June 16, 2020, chief executive Christina Jennings confirms that Shaftesbury Films has hired an on-set doctor to train and consult with the production teams, emphasizing hand washing and distancing measures, as their productions are scheduled to get underway in July.
On August 11, Shaftesbury announced that top-rated Canadian drama Murdoch Mysteries has begun filming, mostly in the Toronto and the Greater Toronto areas; Background actors dressed in costume spotted at Gage Park with production crew and Craig “prop monkey” Grant.
On October 23, MM production crew set up along Dodge Street in the Town of Cobourg’s industrial area and at a private property in the east end of town.
Cambridge City Council's news release announced that on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020, the crew will be filming in two distinct areas of the city at Brant Road North in Galt and Argyle Street North in Preston and will utilize horses and buggies. The film crew is responsible for all clean up in the vicinity of the set. "Film projects bring excitement and activity to our community, and we are thrilled to welcome this crew back to Cambridge," the city states, adding, "We respectfully remind our community that a film set is a workplace, and as such is exempt from provincial gathering limits."
At the end of the work day on Nov 12, 2020, Season 14 filming was a wrap, "without any real celebration and zero hugs" according to Hélène Joy, but they did a good job staying safe!
Acorn TV typically delights fans with the new season of Murdoch Mysteries on Christmas Eve, but Season 14 release has been delayed this year due to COVID-19. So the producers of this long-running, award-winning Canadian TV series have created a behind-the-scenes music special with a seven-piece ensemble from the Toronto Symphony Orchestra to perform a concert of Murdoch-era music (circa early 1900s). Hosted by the Detective William Murdoch (Yannick Bisson), the A Music Lover’s Guide to Murdoch Mysteries was taped on the set of Murdoch Mysteries on September 25, 2020 and debuts on Dec. 24, 2020 on AcornTV.
Beginning on Monday, Dec. 28, the cast answered a selection of fan questions as part of a special week-long video countdown leading up to the premiere.
Season 14 Storylines and other tidbits:
Season 14 will be set in 1908, following the usual move to the next year with each new season and, now getting closer to the Montréal Canadien being founded (1909).
The first episode will feature historic characters: a young Charlie Chaplin, Stan Laurel and Buster Keaton and Canadian comedian Ali Hassan makes his debut appearance.
Location filming in Kingston (Nov. 6, 2020) was under lock and key to discourage crowds because of COVID-19 restrictions, the signage suggested Kingston was a stand-in for Bath, England.
Effie Newsome's law office is introduced, it is just down the walk way from Scott's Diner offering outdoor dining (a nod to Covid restrictions).
The Higgins-Newsomes are expecting a baby...
Brackenreid and Margaret's marriage will be tested...
Both the fates of Bobby and Nomi impact the Brackenreid’s this year...
Season 14 will have two cliffhanger episodes "that are just going to blow people’s minds", according to Yannick Bisson with a bombshell: a character from Murdoch's past will return, impacting the entire cast of characters and most certainly the William-Julia relationship!
Detective Murdoch continues his inventive detective work with Julia's unflinching support even after an investigation leads him to a family member that he never knew about...
Crabtree's relationship with Effie Newsome is threatened by a potentially volatile interloper...
Detective Watts' secret love affair faces dangerous scrutiny...
Violet Hart's public liaison with a wealthy playboy causes social outrage...
Possibly the most flashbacks to previous episodes uses in a single season.