Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently visited the set of the CBC comedy series “Son of a Critch” with his youngest son, Hadrien, who shares his father’s enthusiasm for the show. Hadrien, aged 12, will make a cameo appearance as an extra in an upcoming episode of the show’s fifth season. Creator Mark Critch mentioned that the scene features classmates discovering their roles in a school play.
During the visit, Trudeau and his son interacted with the cast and crew for two days. Trudeau expressed gratitude on his Instagram account, praising the show as a quintessential representation of Canadian culture. Actor Malcolm McDowell, who plays Pops in the series, shared an anecdote about Hadrien impressing him with obscure show trivia during the visit.
British actor Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, who portrays a young Mark Critch on the show, mentioned that Hadrien engaged in discussions about acting choices, scene blocking, and background actions. Ainsworth praised Hadrien as a delightful conversationalist.
Mark Critch, known for his appearances alongside Trudeau on CBC’s “This Hour Has 22 Minutes,” discovered the Trudeaus’ fondness for “Son of a Critch” during a book launch event in Ottawa. Trudeau, a father of three, including Xavier and Ella-Grace, has seen his children pursue diverse interests, such as Xavier’s music career debut with the song “Til The Nights Done” in 2025, featuring vocals from his sister.
The producer of “Son of a Critch,” Andrew Barnsley, emphasized the growing film industry in St. John’s, highlighting the city’s potential for television production. Barnsley noted the global appeal of shows with compelling characters set in small towns, indicating Newfoundland and Labrador’s promising role in TV production.
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