SIX-TIME EMMY(R)-WINNING COMEDY LEGEND TIM CONWAY, HILARIE BURTON AND PAUL CAMPBELL BEGIN PRODUCTION ON "SURPRISED BY LOVE" A HALLMARK CHANNEL ORIGINAL MOVIE WORLD PREMIERE JANUARY 2015

Hallmark Channel proudly announces six-time Emmy(R)-winning comedy legend Tim Conway ("The Carol Burnett Show"), Hilarie Burton ("One Tree Hill," "White Collar") and Paul Campbell ("Battlestar Galactica," "Spun Out") have been cast to star in "Surprised By Love," a Hallmark Channel Original Movie World Premiere January 2015. The film, which has begun production in Vancouver, tells the story of a young businesswoman who tries to convince her uptight parents to accept her current boyfriend and instead finds herself falling for an old high school flame.

"'Surprised By Love' is the sweet story of an ambitious, young woman whose future takes an unexpected turn when an old boyfriend resurfaces and shakes up her life's plans," said Michelle Vicary, Executive Vice President of Programming, Crown Media Family Networks. "Rounding out the cast, we are thrilled to work with comedy icon Tim Conway and offer our viewers an opportunity to enjoy the talents of one of television's most beloved comedians."

Josie Mayfield (Burton), a no-nonsense businesswoman working at her father's prosperous cookware company, thinks her boyfriend Richard (Aaron Craven, "Gracepoint") is the perfect man - handsome, successful and driven. The problem is that Josie's parents, Joseph and Claire (Malcom Stewart, "My Boyfriends' Dogs" and Wanda Cannon "Heartland"), do not agree. When Josie meets up with Maxwell (Campbell), an underachieving, old high school flame (who still has a crush on Josie), Richard dreams up a plan to make himself look good to Josie's parents: Maxwell will be Josie's date at Joseph and Claire's upcoming anniversary party. When Joseph and Claire see Josie with a "loser," they'll give anything to have Richard back in the picture. At least, that's the plan.

Over the anniversary party weekend, Maxwell stays with Josie as a guest in the Mayfield home, horrifying Joseph and Claire with his unsophisticated ways. Though things are rough and rocky at first, Maxwell soon begins to win over Joseph and Clair and they start to appreciate his carefree and spontaneous lifestyle. Maxwell's presence even helps Josie's insecure younger sister Mindy (Leanne Lapp "Rogue") finally stand up for herself and inspires Josie's grandfather (Conway) to pleasantly shock everyone by revealing a big secret. As Maxwell's visit loosens up the previously stiff and uptight Mayfield family, Josie starts to fall for him and realizes she hasn't been living her life for herself. When Richard shows up at the house, Josie must decide which direction her life - romantic and otherwise - is going to take.

"Surprised By Love" is a Front Street Pictures and Plus One Productions Ltd production. Jack Grossbart, Linda Kent, Juliet Smith and Marnie Young are the executive producers. Harvey Kahn is the producer. Robert Iscove directed from a script by Tippi Dobrofsky and Neal Dobrofsky.

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 85 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, When Calls the Heart, and Signed, Sealed, Delivered; 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 mix of original movies and acquired series with a focus on the softer side of mystery, as well as classic theatrical releases and presentations from the acclaimed Hallmark Hall of Fame library.

Hallmark Channel on Social Media: Facebook, Twitter (Join the conversation at #HeartofTV), Pinterest, tvtag, YouTube