Shaftesbury Producing New Family Channel Series

TORONTO: Shaftesbury Films and Canada’s Family Channel have announced a new half-hour teen comedy series, Baxter, which will air later this year.

Filming for the first 13 episodes runs until March 26. The live-action comedy follows Baxter McNab (Evan Williams, Degrassi: The Next Generation) and his friends on their journey through the unique, high-energy environment at Northern Star School of the Arts. The series also stars Holly Deveaux, Kyle Mac, Brittany Bristow, Shannon Kook-Chun, Tara Joshi and Dewshane Williams.

"Shaftesbury is so excited about our amazing cast and confident our writing team headed by Daphne Ballon has hit this out of the park," Suzanne French, the VP for children’s and Family at Shaftesbury. "We’re especially thrilled to be working with Daphne again after our many years of successful collaboration on Life with Derek and most recently on the movie Vacation with Derek for Family Channel.”

“With its combination of comedy, music and dance, a talented cast and storylines that celebrate the high school experience, Baxter is sure to be a huge hit with our Family Channel audience,” added Michael Goldsmith, the director, original programming at Family Channel and Playhouse Disney Canada. “Shaftesbury is adept at capturing the spirit of Canadian youth and we are thrilled to be teaming up with them once again.”

Baxter is produced by Shaftesbury Films in association with Family Channel, and with the participation of the Canadian Television Fund, Shaw Rocket Fund and Bell Broadcast and New Media Fund. Shaftesbury Sales Company holds Canadian and International rights.