Canada Returns to the Clone Zone with the Return of ORPHAN BLACK, April 19, Only on Space

- Day-long ORPHAN BLACK Season 1 marathon begins at 11 a.m. ET, April 19 on Space -
- Space flagship series INNERPSPACE counts down to premiere with week-long clone talks beginning April 14 -
- Catch up on Season 1 online beginning March 29 on Space.ca -
- Season 2 guest stars include Patrick J. Adams (SUITS) and Michelle Forbes (THE KILLING) -

"ORPHAN BLACK is the most important Canadian show in years." - John Doyle, The Globe and Mail
"Strong writing and a stellar supporting cast add to Orphan Black's appeal. This is one orphan to adopt into your TV schedule." - Postmedia

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TORONTO, March 26, 2014 /CNW/ - Brothers and Seestras of #cloneclub rejoice! The much-anticipated return of Space original conspiracy thriller ORPHAN BLACK draws near, with just 24 days to go until the premiere of Season 2, Saturday, April 19 at 9 p.m. ET. After eight, long, accolade-earning and buzz-building months, award-winning Tatiana Maslany reprises her complex roles as multiple clones at the centre of this enigmatic drama. Shot in and around Toronto, the highly-anticipated, 10-episode, one hour, sophomore season of ORPHAN BLACK also features a venerable list of guest stars including Patrick J. Adams (SUITS) and Michelle Forbes THE KILLING, and cast additions including Michiel Huisman (GAME OF THRONES), Peter Outerbridge (NIKITA), and Ari Millen (Monster Brawl).

**Media Note** Photography for ORPHAN BLACK is available online at BellMediaPR.ca

"ORPHAN BLACK is a thriller in every sense of the word," said Catherine MacLeod, Senior Vice-President, Specialty Channels and Bell Media Production. "Through compelling story-telling, best-in-class production, and an incredible cast, this explosive, original Canadian series has thrilled critics and fans around the world. ORPHAN BLACK is truly an international success story, and we can't wait to deliver Season 2."

Season 2 hits the ground running with the premiere episode, "Nature Under Constraint and Vexed" (Saturday, April 19 at 9 p.m. ET). In the explosive return, Sarah is out of options, on the run, and being pursued by deadly adversaries. Desperate to find her daughter Kira (Skyler Wexler, ALPHAS), Sarah's scorched earth tactics bring her face to face with the "pro-clone" Rachel. Meanwhile, with Alison's carefully crafted suburban world spinning out of control, and the genetic illness affecting Cosima threatening them all, Sarah must negotiate a dangerous world of new enemies and shifting allegiances to get to the bottom of the experiment that made them who they are.

Leading up to the Season 2 premiere, Space's flagship daily show INNERSPACE reviews the storylines of each clone last season, covering the best moments from Sarah, Cosima, Alison, Rachel, and even Helena. INNERSPACE's clone recaps begin Monday, April 14 at 6 p.m. ET, discussing a clone each day. Then, every Monday beginning April 21 at 6 p.m. ET, INNERSPACE will revisit the Top 5 moments from each ORPHAN BLACK episode.

Season 1 of ORPHAN BLACK amassed a loyal following reaching more than 4.5 million Canadians throughout the broadcast year, and ended on a high note as Space's most-watched original series with an average audience of 328,000 viewers. To date, the series has won 10 Canadian Screen Awards, including Best Dramatic series, and a Best Actress win for Maslany, who also received a Critics Choice Award and was nominated for a Golden Globe^®. Her Emmy nomination snub made headlines, and created a buzz online and on Twitter via the program's fan club, the "Clone Club."

For viewers who have yet to be initiated into the ORPHAN BLACK "Clone Club," Space is airing Season 1 in its entirety for a full day beginning Saturday, April 19 at 11 a.m. ET, leading into the Season 2 premiere at 9 p.m. ET. For the collectors, beginning April 1, the first season of ORPHAN BLACK will be available on Blu-ray and DVD, in stores throughout Canada. Online, from March 29 to April 28, viewers can also stream Season 1 in its entirety, on space.ca/OrphanBlack, and is also available for purchase on iTunes.

ORPHAN BLACK stars Canadian Screen Award winner and Golden Globe^® nominee Tatiana Maslany (Picture Day, PARKS AND RECREATION), who to date has portrayed seven different characters (Sarah, Beth, Katja, Alison, Cosima, Helena, and Rachel). The ensemble cast is also comprised of Canadian Screen Award-winner Jordan Gavaris (UNNATURAL HISTORY) as Felix, Sarah's foster brother; Canadian Screen Award-winner Maria Doyle Kennedy (DOWNTON ABBEY) as Mrs. S, Sarah and Felix's hard-nosed working class foster mother; Dylan Bruce (NCIS) as Paul, Beth's boyfriend with a secret linked to his army days in Afghanistan; Kevin Hanchard (REPUBLIC OF DOYLE) as Art, a veteran detective; Michael Mando (THE KILLING) as Vic, Sarah's sporadically violent ex; and Skyler Wexler (ALPHAS) as Kira, Sarah's seven-year-old daughter. Season 2 newcomers include Michiel Huisman (GAME OF THRONES) as Cal Morrison, a rugged, resourceful outdoorsman; Peter Outerbridge (NIKITA) Henrik "Hank" Johanssen, a modern day cowboy; and Ari Millen (Monster Brawl) as Mark, a cunning predator with a dark edge.

ORPHAN BLACK is executive produced by Ivan Schneeberg and David Fortier (Being Erica, THE NEXT STEP), Graeme Manson (Cube, FLASHPOINT) and John Fawcett (SPARTACUS, GINGER SNAPS). The series is co-created by Manson and Fawcett, with Manson also serving as writer and Fawcett as director. BBC Worldwide distributes the series internationally.

ORPHAN BLACK is produced by Temple Street Productions in association with Space and BBC America. Production Executives are Trish Williams and Gosia Kamela. Corrie Coe is Senior Vice-President, Independent Production, Bell Media. Catherine MacLeod is Senior Vice-President, Specialty Channels and Bell Media Production. Phil King is President, CTV, Sports, and Entertainment Programming.

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About Bell Media Independent Production
Bell Media has commissioned some of Canada's most-watched and most-acclaimed original programming, working with the best Canadian independent producers in the country. Hit CTV series include ratings success stories SAVING HOPE, THE LISTENER, MOTIVE, and THE AMAZING RACE CANADA, the record-breaking, Canadian-produced complementary version of the hit international series. New to CTV in 2014 are hit international format MASTERCHEF CANADA and multi-cam office comedy SPUN OUT, one of the most-watched new comedies of the season. Among the scripted series on Bell Media pay and specialty channels are the two-time Emmy®-nominated hit DEGRASSI, the internationally acclaimed ORPHAN BLACK, the most-watched original series in Space history BITTEN, Bravo's most-watched new drama 19-2, TRANSPORTER: THE SERIES, and upcoming dramas SENSITIVE SKIN, and KILLJOYS. Bell Media specialty channels are also home to hit factual series HIGHWAY THRU HELL and CANADA'S WORST DRIVER, among others. In 2013, Bell Media ordered 27 original Canadian series and currently has 84 projects in various stages of development.

About Temple Street Productions
Temple Street Productions is a leading producer of television, film and digital media content based in Toronto, Canada. A selection of Temple Street's past and present projects include ORPHAN BLACK (BBC America, Space), BEING ERICA (CBC, SOAPnet), THE NEXT STEP (Family Channel), WINGIN' IT (Family Channel), OVER THE RAINBOW (CBC), RECIPE TO RICHES (CBC), COVER ME CANADA (CBC), BILLABLE HOURS (Global, Showcase), CANADA'S NEXT TOP MODEL (CTV), HOW DO YOU SOLVE A PROBLEM LIKE MARIA? (CBC), QUEER AS FOLK (Showtime, Showcase), and DARCY'S WILD LIFE (NBC, Discovery Kids, Family Channel).  For more company information www.templestreetproductions.com twitter @TempleStreet or connect with us on Facebook.

About Space
Space is home to phenomenal programming including imaginative dramas, epic movies, engaging reality series, and the daily entertainment talk show INNERSPACE, the source for all-things genre - all in high definition (HD). Named "Channel of the Year" in 2013 by Playback Magazine, Space is also home to Original Series ORPHAN BLACK, PANIC BUTTON, and BITTEN. Space content is always available at Space.ca, and on Facebook, @SpaceChannel, and other social media platforms. Space is a division of Bell Media, which is owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada's largest communications company.

SOURCE: SPACE

Natalie Cole, Space, 416.384.2140 or [email protected]
Mary Costa, Space, 416.384.7702 or [email protected]