Alias Grace, Frankie Drake Mysteries, 21 Thunder set for CBC-TV

The anticipated miniseries Alias Grace, a female detective series from the producers of Murdoch Mysteries, fast-paced soccer drama 21 Thunderand a new Allan Hawco drama based on Lisa Moore's bestseller Caught are part of a packed lineup of ambitious new programming coming to CBC.

The public broadcaster unveiled its 2017-2018 television, radio and digital programming slate in Toronto on Wednesday.

With the volume of high-quality shows from around the globe now available to Canadian audiences, "we have to be encouraging our programmers and creators to be creatively risky," said Heather Conway, executive vice-president of CBC English Services.

That entails taking risks on anything from the nature of the stories being told to how we're telling the stories to diving into unfamiliar worlds, she explained, adding that the audience is open to it.

"Canada is a big tent and I think there's room for lots of different perspectives. Canadians are naturally curious," Conway said.

"CBC's audience is, first and foremost, smart. And they're very open to trying out new content. They love humour: they love edgy humour, they love risqué humour, they love satire. They love politics. I never underestimate a CBC audience."

New series include:

- Legal drama Burden of Proof, starring Kristin Kreuk.

- Fugitive road-trip tale Caught, starring Allan Hawco, Eric Johnson and Paul Gross.

- True crime series The Detectives.

- Comedy Little Dog.

- Factual series The Stats of Life.

- Kids shows Addison, Beat Bugs and Becca's Bunch.

Hawco has been at work on adapting Moore's novel Caught for several years — basically immediately after he read it, noted the creator and star of the now-concluded The Republic of Doyle. Moore's deft writing instantly pulled him in, Hawco said, as did the themes explored.

"This is everyone's second chance at their life and for [fugitive protagonist David] Slaney it's almost his only chance. As an actor, that's an extremely compelling thing to kind of dive into. I feel like I know him, 'cause I've been roommates with him for a while."

Previously announced shows set for 2017-2018 include:

- Montreal-set soccer drama 21 Thunder.

- Alias Grace, starring Sarah Gadon.

- Family comedy Crawford, created by Mike Clattenburg.

- Frankie Drake Mysteries.

- Culinary competition The Great Canadian Baking Show.

- True crime documentary series Taken.

For Lauren Lee Smith and Chantal Riley, co-stars of the forthcoming, 1920s-set detective tale Frankie Drake Mysteries, bringing to life a show centred on a pair of bold, "badass" and very physical characters is the challenge they're taking on.

"We're going to see both of us doing a lot of physicality, a lot of action, adventure, fighting," Smith said. "With what these [characters] are faced with every day, we have to be able to protect ourselves, whatever that means...Frankie Drake drives a motorcycle. That's something that kind of terrifies me a little bit, but I'm also incredibly excited to learn that new skill and try to figure out how to do that in a way that looks badass."

CBC is also adding a pair of international productions to the lineup this fall: Jane Campion's acclaimed crime series Top of the Lake: China Girl, starring Elisabeth Moss (with the first season to stream online ahead of the second season television premiere) and British dramedy The Durrells, based on Gerald Durrell's autobiographical books about his family's move to the Greek Island of Corfu.

Altogether, CBC will introduce 17 new TV series and welcome back 25 titles, and expand its digital offerings with 15 new and returning series as well as new short docs.

CBC Radio extends its podcast slate with new offerings such as Alone: A Love Story, On Drugs and The Fridge Light, weekly talk show Seat at the Table and fresh episodes of the cold-case series Someone Knows Something. Also joining CBC Radio are the contemporary Indigenous music show Reclaimed, comedy-documentary series Road Trip Radio and a fresh instalment of Indigenous youth-focused program New Fire.

Comedies, news programs return

Fan-favourite comedies are among the shows back on CBC-TV in the upcoming year, including Baroness Von Sketch Show, Kim's Convenience, Schitt's Creek, This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Rick Mercer Report, Mr. D, Still Standing and Working Moms. The Winnipeg Comedy Festival, Halifax Comedy Fest and Just For Laughs: Galas are also returning.

Arlene Dickinson jumps back into Dragons' Denfor its upcoming 12th season, while Coronation Street, Heartland, The Goods, Hello Goodbye, When Calls the Heart, Exhibitionists and Interrupt This Program will also continue.

News and documentary shows remain stalwarts of the TV lineup, including The National, Marketplace, The Fifth Estate, The Nature of Things and Firsthand.

Special event coverage will range from the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang to a bevy of award shows, including the Junos, the Canadian Screen Awards and the Giller Prize.