James Denton to Star in Hallmark Channel Original Series THE GOOD WITCH

Hallmark CHANNEL announces Golden Globe(R) Award and two-time Screen Actors Guild Award winner James Denton ("Desperate Housewives") has been added to the cast of its new Original Scripted Primetime Series, "The Good Witch," starting production October 29th in Toronto. The series, based on the network's most successful original movie franchise of all time, will star Catherine Bell ("Army Wives," "JAG," "Bruce Almighty"), who returns to the network as audience's beloved 'good witch' Cassie Nightingale, alongside series regular Bailee Madison ("Northpole," "Just Go With It," "Trophy Wife"). Denton will play Cassie's new next-door-neighbor, a divorced doctor and single dad who stirs things up in Middleton when he discovers Cassie's signature charm is more than just a magic touch. Season One will have 10 episodes and is slated for a Q1 2015 premiere.

"For 8 years, James Denton captured the hearts of millions of viewers on 'Desperate Housewives,'" said Michelle Vicary, Executive Vice President of Programming, Crown Media Family Networks. "Having James move from 'Wisteria Lane' to 'Middleton' to join Catherine Bell and the talented cast of 'The Good Witch' is sure to be another very successful role for him and we are thrilled to have him join the Hallmark family."

James Denton is best known for his portrayal of Mike Delfino in the hit ABC series "Desperate Housewives," garnering him a Golden Globe(R) Award for Best Television Series - Comedy and two Screen Actors Guild Awards he shared with the cast for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series. His other notable roles include starring in "The Pretender," "Philly" and "Threat Matrix." Most recently, he starred in the Hallmark CHANNEL Original Movie, "Stranded in Paradise," opposite Vanessa Marcil. Denton is represented by Paradigm and John Crosby Management.

"The Good Witch" series is based on Bell's beloved character Cassie Nightingale, the raven-haired enchantress who kept audiences spellbound for six installments of the network's longest-running and highest-rated original movie franchise of all time, with a seventh movie premiering October 25, 9pm ET/PT, 8C. The bewitching Cassie will continue to conjure up her special touch of magic to everyone she meets, in her small town of Middleton.

"The Good Witch," is a Whizbang Films Production. Orly Adelson, Jonathan Eskenas, Frank Siracusa, Craig Pryce and Sue Tenney are the executive producers. Catherine Bell is co-executive producer. ITV Studios America controls distribution rights in the world for "The Good Witch" outside of North America.

Hallmark Channel, owned and operated by Crown Media Holdings, Inc., is a 24-hour basic cable network that provides a diverse slate of high-quality family entertainment available in high definition (HD) and standard definition (SD) to a national audience of 86 million subscribers. Hallmark CHANNEL is the nation's leading destination for quality family programming featuring an ambitious slate of original content, including movies; scripted series, such as CEDAR COVE and When Calls the Heart; annual specials like Hero Dog Awards and Kitten Bowl; and a daily 2-hour lifestyle show, Home & Family. Hallmark CHANNEL is also home to annual holiday franchise, Countdown to Christmas, featuring a lineup of 24/7 holiday programming, including The 12 New Movies of Christmas. Rounding out the networks' lineup are television's most beloved sitcoms and series, including The Golden Girls, The Middle, Little House on the Prairie, and Frasier. Hallmark Channel's sibling network, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, available in HD and SD, features a unique mix of content including original movies and acquired series that are dramatic in tone and focus on the lighter side of the mystery genre, as well as classic presentations from the acclaimed Hallmark Hall of Fame library.

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