Benjamin Evan Ainsworth (young Mark) marks the start of filming on the fifth and final season of Son of a Critch (credit: CBC/Dermot Carberry)
As production begins on Season 5 of Son of a Critch (12x30), co-creator, executive producer and star Mark Critch announced today that the upcoming season will be the series’ last.
Critch shared a video and the following statement on social media:
To all of you who’ve been watching along, we’ve officially started filming Season 5 of Son of a Critch.
We’re heading back to 1992 - the year I graduated high school - so you can expect all the awkwardness and growing pains that come with it.
And since it’s the last year of high school, it will also be our final chapter. Growing up is hard to do - but it sure is fun to watch.
We hope you’ll join us this fall as we go back to school one last time on CBC and CBC Gem.
Class dismissed,
Mark Critch
In its final season, Son of a Critch finds Mark in his last year of high school just as Newfoundland’s cod moratorium crisis turns his world upside down. While the adults scramble and the future feels suddenly uncertain, Mark is more determined than ever to chase his dream of becoming an actor—whether anyone’s ready for him to grow up or not. As friendships evolve, first love gets complicated, and the family faces changes they can’t outrun, this season captures the messy, funny, and deeply human moment when everything ends and begins at the same time. After five seasons of growing up together, it’s a heartfelt goodbye to Mark’s childhood—and to the Critch family we won’t soon forget.
“Son of a Critch has formed a deep bond with audiences who have watched young Mark grow up through his most formative years,” said Sally Catto, General Manager, Entertainment, CBC. “We have been there for every laugh and tear along with Mark and the incredible cast and crew, and look forward to celebrating with them and the loyal audiences as we head into this final chapter.”
Production on the fifth and final season is now underway in St. John’s, Newfoundland, with filming set to continue until June 18.
Since its debut, the series has garnered widespread recognition, including a recent 2026 Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best Comedy Series and winning the Cogeco Fund Audience Choice Award at the 2024 Canadian Screen Awards.
Season 5 will premiere Fall 2026 on CBC and the free CBC Gem streaming service. Seasons 1-4 of Son of a Critch are available to stream now on CBC Gem.
Son of a Critch stars Mark Critch portraying his own father, Mike Sr., while Benjamin Evan Ainsworth (The Legend of Zelda, Everything’s Going to Be Great) plays young Mark. Malcolm McDowell (A Clockwork Orange, Entourage) is his grandfather, Pop; Claire Rankin (Stargate Atlantis) plays his mother Mary; Colton Gobbo (Ginny & Georgia) as his older brother Mike Jr.; Mark Ezekiel Rivera (Son of a Critch) is his best friend Ritche; and Sophia Powers (Murder in a Small Town) is Fox, Mark’s girlfriend. Returning cast members include Richard Clarkin (Memory of a Killer) as Dick, Nicole Underhay (Hudson & Rex) as Fox’s mom Suzanne, Rodrigo Fernandez-Stoll (Doc) as Father Garcia, and Nora McLellan (Strays) as Sister Rose. Guest stars this season include Shawn Doyle (Star Trek: Discovery) as Mr. Kevin Lewis, Mark’s former theatre teacher, Susan Kent (The Snake) as Linda Lahey, and Rick Mercer (The Mercer Report) as station owner Mr. Bartlett.
Son of a Critch was created by showrunners Mark Critch (This Hour Has 22 Minutes) and Tim McAuliffe (The Office, Last Man on Earth), and is produced by Project 10 Productions and Hawco Productions in association with CBC and Lionsgate Television.
Executive producers are Critch, McAuliffe, Emmy® and Golden Globe®-winning producer Andrew Barnsley (Schitt’s Creek), and Allan Hawco (Republic of Doyle). Perry Chafe and Amanda Joy serve as co-executive producers, Janine Squires, Erin Sullivan and John Vatcher are producers, and Shelby Bronstine is series producer. Series directors this season are John Vatcher (Caught), Deanne Foley (Son of a Critch) and Renuka Jeyapalan (Wayward).
For CBC, Sally Catto is General Manager, Entertainment; Trish Williams is Executive Director, Scripted Content; Sandra Picheca is Director, Current Production, Comedy; Lisa Benedetto and Mélanie Lê Phan are Executives in Charge of Production.
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About Project 10 Productions Inc.
Established in 2009, Project 10 is a television production company based in Toronto specializing in scripted comedy. As a go-to partner for domestic and international creators, broadcasters, streamers, and distributors alike, the company works closely with high-profile talent to develop and produce compelling and innovative content for the worldwide marketplace.
Project 10 specializes in production and creative services and has a proven track record of generating world-class episodic television. The company is currently producing the hit comedy SON OF A CRITCH (64 x 30) for CBC. Season 1 debuted as the most-watched original Canadian comedy in the country and continues to be one of the most-streamed comedies on streaming service CBC Gem.
Project 10 most recently produced the highly anticipated return of THE KIDS IN THE HALL in partnership with Lorne Michaels’ Broadway Video for Amazon Prime. As well, the company’s three-season hit CTV series JANN (22 x 30), co-created by and starring award-winning recording artist Jann Arden, continues to stream on the streaming service Crave. Project 10’s credits also include the sitcom SPUN OUT (26 x 30) for CTV, the Family Channel/Netflix series MY PERFECT LANDING (15 x 30), the digital series TOM GREEN’S SNOW JAM for CBC Comedy, the sports documentary series, SPORTS ON FIRE (6 x 30) for TMN and Movie Central, and the award-winning feature documentary, SPIRIT UNFORGETTABLE for HBO Canada.
About Hawco Productions
Hawco Productions is a film and television production company with offices in both St. John’s, NL, and Toronto, ON. Founded by actor, writer and producer Allan Hawco, Hawco Productions combines originality with a strategic approach to production. With a diverse portfolio and a strong foothold in the Canadian entertainment industry, Hawco Productions continues to be a driving force in shaping the landscape of scripted television.
About CBC/Radio-Canada:
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster. Through our mandate to inform, enlighten and entertain, we play a central role in strengthening Canadian culture. As Canada’s trusted news source, we offer a uniquely Canadian perspective on news, current affairs and world affairs. Our distinctively homegrown entertainment programming draws audiences from across the country. Deeply rooted in communities, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French and eight Indigenous languages: Dehcho Dene Yati, Dënesųłıné (Chipewyan), Eastern Cree, Gwich’in, Inuktitut, Inuvialuktun, Sahtu Got'ine Godi, and Tłı̨chǫ (Tlicho). We also deliver content in Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Punjabi and Tagalog, as well as both official languages, through Radio Canada International (RCI). We are leading the transformation to meet the needs of Canadians in a digital world.
