Priyanka | TV, eh?

When I’m planning a day trip, I always research the food options. Where has John Catucci eaten that I should visit for a meal after that museum or art gallery visit? But now, thanks to Luke Hutchie and Matthew Finlan, I should include potentially haunted Canadian locations on that list.

The duo have returned for Season 2 of Ghosting with Luke Hutchie and Matthew Finlan on CBC Gem, investigating the most haunted properties in Canada—and the stories surrounding them—with a help from their celebrity friends.

Part history lesson, part gossip-fest, part paranormal investigation, Hutchie and Finlan are determined to showcase parts of this country where spooky goings-on have occurred.

“The concept of the show was, ‘How do you essentially rebrand Canada to not seem like the side-chick to the United States?'” co-creator and co-executive producer Hutchie says during a recent chat. “Season 2 really does sell you on the glitz and the glamour and the grandeur of the show.”

Where the debut go-round stayed within Ontario, visiting locations like Picton, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Baden and Cornwall, the sophomore eight storylines led them to Nova Scotia, British Columbia and the Yukon. Joining Hutchie and Finlan this season are Canada’s Drag Race winner Priyanka (pictured above with Finlan and Hutchie), Veronika Slowikowska (Ezra), Nikki Roumel (Ginny & Georgia), Percy Hynes White (Wednesday), Krista Nazaire (Hell of a Summer), Joel Oulette (Trickster) and more.

Luke Hutchie, Veronika Slowikowska and Matthew Finlan

One of the highlights in Season 2 is Craigdarroch Castle in Victoria. Built by wealthy coal baron Robert Dunsmuir, it is reportedly haunted in a trio of spots. After a quick history lesson on Dunsmuir and the castle by Hutchie and Finlan, the pair meet up with Percy Hynes White as the lights go down.

I watch a lot of paranormal series. And, like them, Ghosting rolls out REM pods, SLS cameras, EMF detectors and the Ovilus 5, all technologies that are purported to capture the movements, thoughts and voices of the supernatural. What sets Ghosting apart from those programs is the chemistry, friendship and teasing between Hutchie, Finlan, and their friends. There are truly laugh-out loud, outrageous moments, usually delivered by Hutchie (sometimes the only thing missing is him looking right into the camera, fully breaking the fourth wall), but lots of jump-scares as well.

At the end of each instalment, Hutchie, Finlan and their guest each decide if the location is “haunted” or “not haunted.”

“We’re trying to prove if the ghost story is true or not,” Hutchie says. “This season, it’s more, ‘the claims are this, we didn’t get that, so the story’s not true.'” But in some cases, strange things occurred that weren’t part of the ghost story; Hutchie points to Lunenberg Academy as a place where he can be heard muttering, “what the…” under his breath.

To me, whether the locations are truly haunted isn’t the point. In a show like Ghosting with Luke Hutchie and Matthew Finlan, the fun is in the journey.

Season 2 of Ghosting with Luke Hutchie and Matthew Finlan is available now on CBC Gem.

Images courtesy of Blue Ant Media.

From a media release:

Bell Media announced today it is teaming up with world-renowned entertainer, musical artist, and first-ever winner of Canada’s Drag Race, Priyanka, on a multi-faceted partnership which includes a development deal and a first-look acquisition opportunity on international projects.

In addition to the development deal, as announced on ETALK last night with her debut appearance, Priyanka joins Canada’s most-watched entertainment news program as a special contributor, bringing her interview and hosting skills to the studio, the field, and on the red carpet. ETALK airs weeknights at 7 p.m. ET, on CTV, CTV.ca, and the CTV app.

This pact serves as a direct pipeline between Priyanka and Bell Media to create original premium content, that looks to showcase underrepresented and unique perspectives, ideas, and people, as well as unique client integration opportunities. As part of the development deal, Priyanka serves as executive producer on these projects, and has already begun developing ideas.

About Priyanka

Multi-hyphenate entertainer Priyanka is taking the world by storm; across stages, screens, and digital streaming platforms. With unmatchable star power and charisma, Priyanka was first introduced to audiences as “Suki” on legendary children’s network, YTV, before her iconic 2020 crowning as the first-ever winner of the inaugural season of Crave Original series, CANADA’s DRAG RACE. With her recent debut, EP Taste Test, hitting more than 15 million streams, and a debut album coming later this year, her work both on screen and behind the scenes as a producer, and launching the viral hit single “Come Through”, as part of “Priyanka Cinematic Universe”, Priyanka brings an unmatched prowess to the industry, always reaching new heights.