John Reardon Returns to ‘Hudson & Rex’ as the Ninth Season Reunites Charlie and Rex

John Reardon is back as Detective Charlie Hudson, and the ninth season of ‘Hudson & Rex’ is built around that reunion. The Halifax native was the original star of the series, but English actor Luke Roberts replaced him in the eighth season. The change drew a strong reaction from viewers, and the network has now reversed course.

The ninth season of ‘Hudson & Rex’ arrives with a clear storyline and a confirmed lineup of familiar faces. The Canadian procedural received its ninth season order from Citytv, with word that Reardon was in good health after completing cancer treatment. Here is what is known about how the show got here and what the new episodes promise.

John Reardon Return Follows Fan Backlash

Reardon said in a social media post that he did not leave the series by choice. He explained that he was diagnosed with tonsil cancer partway through the seventh season and underwent treatment, and that doctors cleared him to return but the team chose to go in a different direction. In his own words, “I didn’t leave Hudson & Rex.”

Fans did not stay quiet. They flooded the show’s social media accounts with comments and took out full page newspaper ads calling for Reardon’s reinstatement. Petitions also circulated calling for him to be reunited with Rex on screen. According to Brioux.tv, the reaction produced more comments on that site than any other issue since it was established nearly 20 years ago.

When the return was announced, Reardon said he was “excited” to step back into the role as the series moves into its next chapter. Shaftesbury chairman and CEO Christina Jennings struck a similar note, saying “We know that fans missed him and so did we.” She also described Reardon as a talented actor and said the company was pleased to have him back.

Charlie Hudson Story Picks Up After South America

The setup for the return follows directly from where Charlie left off. When viewers last saw him, he was heading to South America in search of his missing brother, Jack. The new season is described as bringing him home to the series’ setting in a way that surprises everyone around him.

The official logline says Charlie will shock everyone with his return. One report noted that the folks at the station house will be especially surprised, none more so than Rex, who has been enjoying treats from the new partner. That detail hints at a station house where two Hudsons now share the same space.

That second Hudson is not going away. Roberts joined the cast in the eighth season as Rex’s new human partner, a veteran of canine units in the Canadian forces and the Halifax police. He is credited as Detective Mark Hudson and is listed among the returning cast. The show’s original premise, a detective teaming up with a German Shepherd named Rex who he prefers because the dog does not talk his ear off, now has an unusual wrinkle.

Ninth Season Episodes and Premiere Details

The new run is a full order. Reardon is back for another 12 episode season alongside his canine partner. One episode guide lists the season premiere, titled ‘The Man in the Hoodie,’ for October 6, followed by ‘Three’s a Crowd’ on October 13.

The premiere synopsis connects directly to the reunion. After a mysterious attack involving Donovan, Rex leads the team to an impossible discovery, the return of a familiar face. The second episode puts the reunited pair to work. A woman wakes from a drunken blackout covered in blood, and Charlie and Rex must determine whether she committed a crime she cannot remember.

The same guide previews a varied slate of cases after that. They include a scheme threatening a railway museum, a campaign of threats against a young gymnast, and a halfway house operation involving gourmet cheese. Other synopses describe a wind energy CEO found dead in her own laboratory and a horror novelist who discovers someone has been living inside his walls.

Returning Cast and Production Details

Reardon is joined by familiar colleagues. The returning cast includes Mayko Nguyen as Dr. Sarah Truong, Kevin Hanchard as Superintendent Joseph Donovan, Justin Kelly as tech analyst Jesse Mills, and Luke Roberts as Detective Mark Hudson. That ensemble keeps the station house intact even as the central partnership changes.

Behind the scenes, the structure is unchanged. The series is produced by Shaftesbury and Pope Productions in association with Citytv and Beta Film. It has been sold to more than 100 territories including the United States, Italy, Germany and France. It joins a Citytv and Citytv+ schedule for the 2026 to 2027 season that includes 21 returning shows and two new series.

The series also carries a long lineage. It is a Canadian remake of a popular Austrian production titled ‘Kommissar Rex’ that ran from 1994 to 2004. With Charlie and Mark Hudson now sharing the same station house, and Rex caught between a returning partner and the newer one, how do you think the show should handle that divided loyalty in the new episodes?