How Are the Mystery Characters in ‘WCTH’ Different?

Hearties have been watching WCTH stars Pascale Hutton and Kavan Smith, portraying Rosemary and Leland Coulter, for over a decade now. They know the on-screen couple and their sense of humor. Now, Hutton and Smith are starring in the new Hallmark Mystery movie Nelly Knows Mysteries: A Fatal Engagement.

Pascale Hutton and Kavan Smith are renowned for their roles as Rosemary and Lee Coulter in WCTH. This time, however, they are taking on new characters as romantic interests in Hallmark’s latest mystery titled The Nelly Knows Mysteries: A Fatal Engagement. The actors have long desired to explore the mystery genre, and they shared their excitement about these new roles with TV Insider.

For years, the pair had been motivated to dive into a mystery project. Kavan admitted, “We thought this ship had sailed,” but after pitching ideas persistently, they finally found the right script. Pascale noted that when Kavan read the script, he immediately felt it was a “slam dunk” for them, given their long-standing on-screen partnership as romantic characters.

This time around, they are stepping into the shoes of Nelly and Michael. Kavan explained that his new role as Detective Michael is distinctly different from his portrayal of Hope Valley businessman Leland Coulter. “I wanted something physically different for this character because I didn’t want to look like Lee,” he said. Michael is a “little scruffier,” with a rugged look highlighted by a leather jacket and more pronounced wrinkles.

Pascale acknowledged that while there is a parallel between her characters Rosemary and Nelly, the latter is unique in her own way. “Rosemary always has that kind of performance vibe, of like very grand [and] taking up space. Nelly sort of does too, but in a completely different way,” she clarified. Nelly is quite quirky and appears bubbly, yet she has everything under complete control, offering a fresh spin on Pascale’s familiar screen presence.

Nelly Knows Mysteries: A Fatal Engagement brings together Pascale Hutton and Kavan Smith in a new thrilling narrative. According to the Hallmark synopsis, the story unfolds with advice columnist Nelly discovering her childhood friend Dahlia’s boyfriend dead. Nelly teams up with Detective Michael to hunt down the culprit and prove Dahlia’s innocence, delivering twists and turns that fans of mysteries will enjoy.

The much-anticipated premiere of Nelly Knows Mysteries: A Fatal Engagement is set for Friday, August 23, at 9 p.m. Eastern on the Hallmark Mystery channel.

Hearties and mystery enthusiasts alike will likely be eagerly watching this new venture, which showcases a beloved WCTH couple in an entirely different genre.