When Calls the Heart Star Kayla Wallace's Exit Leaves Fiona's Community 'Heartbroken', Says Erin Krakow

There’s one character missing from season 11 of When Calls the Heart — Fiona. 

As the Hallmark drama returned on Sunday, star Kayla Wallace's character Fiona was unexpectedly absent. The actress, who made her debut on the series in season 6, was written off the show.

In addressing the shakeup, executive producer and series lead Erin Krakow commented on how the cast felt not having Wallace, 30, around throughout filming the current season — and the impact it's had on the show's characters.

“Not to make it about Elizabeth, but look, she goes to the barbershop and Robert’s there. She’s not going to have Robert cut her hair,” Krakow joked to TV Insider. “Yeah, it’s a very close community. I think people are really heartbroken over the fact that Fiona’s not around. And truthfully, we don’t have enough time in the episode to really dig into that. And so hopefully it doesn’t feel like people are in any way cavalier about her departure."

In writing off Wallace’s character, When Calls the Heart indicates that Fiona needed more time with the suffragettes off-screen. But Krakow, 39, confirmed that Wallace isn’t slated to return immediately, if at all. It’s all due to scheduling conflicts.

“We love Kayla Wallace. We would love for her to be in every episode,” she said. "Kayla had a really incredible opportunity on another TV series that films out of town [called Landman]. We’re excited for her."

Krakow added, “We are hoping that we’ll be able to have Fiona back for some episodes. Who knows? But yeah — [we’re] truly over the moon thrilled for Kayla.”

Despite her decision not to return for season 11, Wallace celebrated the return of the Hallmark series with a celebratory Instagram post on Sunday. The actress reposted a still of her costar (and real-life fiancé) Kevin McGarry in his Constable uniform. “Season 11 BABY!” she captioned the pic on her Instagram Stories.

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When Calls the Heart airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on Hallmark.