Ms. Tonia Addison reports

SO GOOD IT'S CRIMINAL: CTV'S HIT CRIME DRAMA MOTIVE RETURNS FOR SEASON 3, MARCH 8

BCE Inc.'s CTV is set for a killer new Sunday night as hit original crime drama Motive returns for season 3, Sundays at 10 p.m. ET/PT, beginning March 8, 2015, on CTV and CTV Go. The third season continues with the program's signature whydunit format, revealing the killer and victim at the start of each of its 13 new episodes. It arrives with an incredible list of guest stars, Dylan Walsh (Unforgettable), Alexis Bledel (Mad Men), Chris Klein (Wilfred), C. Thomas Howell (Grimm), Ally Sheedy (The Breakfast Club), Billy Boyd (The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King), Charles Martin Smith (Dolphin Tale 2) and more, joining previously announced guest stars Victor Garber (Argo, Alias), Jessica Lowndes (90210) and Luisa D'Oliveira (Cracked) as a new set of murders unfolds for viewers each week.

CTV's top nominee for the 2015 Canadian Screen Awards, Motive garnered nine nominations for the coming awards, including best dramatic series. The second season of the series was watched by an average audience of 1.3 million viewers, a 19-per-cent increase over season 1. Viewers can catch up on the entire first two seasons of Motive on Crave TV before catching the season 3 premiere on March 7, 2015 (one day before its broadcast premiere), with the CraveTV first look for original Canadian scripted series. Motive season 3 episodes will also be available on demand following each broadcast at the CTV website, on CTV Go and on CraveTV.

Set and shot in Vancouver, season 3 of Motive begins with Detective Angie Flynn (Kristin Lehman, The Killing), returning to the homicide team after a six-month, self-imposed absence. A lot has changed for the team -- Detective Oscar Vega (Louis Ferreira, SGU Stargate Universe), Detective Brian Lucas (Brendan Penny, The Assistants), Sergeant Mark Cross (Warren Christie, Alphas) and Dr. Betty Rogers (Lauren Holly, NCIS) -- since then, and now Det. Flynn will have to find a way to fit in. In the six months since she left, Det. Lucas has begun giving orders, and is now the primary on-key cases; Det. Vega has made a genuine effort to fill in the gaps Det. Flynn left behind; and he and Sgt. Cross are getting along. But this season, Det. Vega will have more to focus on than just his work, facing a crisis that threatens not only his career, but his personal life as well. And viewers will see a new side of the always-confident-and-charming Dr. Rogers, when she comes up against a dangerous and threatening adversary. As Det. Flynn adjusts to the changes, she finds herself fixated on her first case back and on one intriguing character in particular who will draw the team -- and viewers -- in from the very first episode of the season.

"Homegrown hit series Motive heads into another dramatic season, forming a powerful Sunday night pairing with murder mystery drama Secrets and Lies," said Mike Cosentino, senior vice-president, programming, CTV Networks. "Season 3 doubles down on suspense to keep viewers guessing at what is around every corner, from the premiere straight through to the finale."

For even more Motive this season, viewers can head to the CTV website to catch up on episodes and watch exclusive video content, including interviews with the cast. In a series of behind-the-scene videos, series star Lauren Holly takes fans behind the camera for an insider look at the morgue, writing room, special effects and makeup used on the show and more.

In the season 3 premiere, entitled "Six Months Later" (Sunday, March 8, 2015, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on CTV), Det. Flynn (Ms. Lehman) finds herself in a new role within the Metro Police Department, away from homicide. But news concerning her former partner, Det. Vega (Mr. Ferreira), lures her back to help investigate a case involving his father and the death of a beautiful young socialite. A recovering addict, the victim's past points to a potential overdose as a cause of death. But as details emerge, it becomes clear her death was no accident. Victor Garber (Argo, Titanic), Jessica Lowndes (90210), Tony Plana (Ugly Betty, Primal Fear) and Luisa D'Oliveira (Cracked) guest star.

Motive stars Ms. Lehman as spirited Det. Flynn, Mr. Ferreira as Det. Vega and Mr. Penny as the team's eager young Det. Lucas. The series also stars Ms. Holly as the team's lead medical examiner, Dr. Rogers, and Mr. Christie as Sgt. Cross.

Motive is produced by Foundation Features and Lark Productions, in association with Bell Media. Executive producers are Daniel Cerone (Dexter, The Mentalist), Louise Clark (Corner Gas, High Moon), Rob Merilees (Capote, The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus), Erin Haskett (The Real Housewives of Vancouver), Rob LaBelle (Mental), Lindsay MacAdam (Battle in Seattle) and Dennis Heaton (Call Me Fitz, Fido), who also serves as the season 3 showrunner. Daniel Cerone is the series creator. The series is distributed internationally by NBC Universal International.

For Bell Media, Michele McMahon is production executive; Tom Hastings is director, independent production; and Corrie Coe is senior vice-president, independent production. Mike Cosentino is senior vice-president, programming, CTV Networks. Phil King is president, sports and entertainment programming.