Published: 20 December 2023
The ever popular daytime crime drama Father Brown returns for an eleventh series. Mark Williams returns as the crime busting priest with guest cast including Sylvester McCoy (Doctor Who, The Hobbit), Ingrid Oliver (Watson and Oliver, Doctor Who), Ian Gelder (Game of Thrones, His Dark Materials) and John Light (Around the World in 80 Days, Murder in Provence). Lorna Watson also returns as Sister Boniface, reuniting the fan favourite crime solving duo.
Series 11 picks up in 1955 where Chief Inspector Sullivan (Tom Chambers) and Mrs Devine (Claudie Blakley) have grown closer since we saw them last. Something which hasn’t escaped the notice of Father Brown (Mark Williams) and Brenda (Ruby-May Martinwood).
With a food fayre to die for, a real life crime at a crime writing festival and a village rivalry that turns deadly at the local Olimpicks, there’s plenty for the gang to be busy with. Father Brown and Sister Boniface become embroiled in a murder at an arts and crafts fair, while Brenda takes a trip in time to face ghosts from her past when an old friend, Dr McClurgy (Sylvester McCoy), reaches out. Meanwhile Father Brown’s frenemy Flambeau (John Light) returns with his estranged father, Gabriel (Ian Gelder), in tow and a dangerous mission in mind...
Father Brown is a BBC Studios Drama Production for BBC One and BBC iPlayer. The Script Producer is Dawn-Coulson Beckett, the Line Producer is Michelle Brown, the Series Producer is Seán Gleeson and the Executive Producer is Neil Irvine. Helen Munson is the Commissioning Editor for BBC Daytime. Series 1 to 11 of Father Brown are internationally distributed by BBC Studios.
Father Brown Facts
- Father Brown, which first aired on BBC daytime in 2013, is now a global success with 120 episodes now made (including the 10 due to air in Jan 2024)
- It is the number 1 UK Daytime drama of the last decade
- In the UK, series 10 averaged 2.6m across all screens for the ten episodes and is currently ranking as the #1 daytime drama of 2023 to date.
- Across all series in the UK, a combined total of 22.6 million viewers have tuned into watch (Reach 3+ min)
- The series continues to be a hit internationally and is viewed by audiences in US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Italy, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Hungary, Poland, South Korea and Japan.
Q&A with Mark Williams (Father Brown)
We’re at the 11th series of Father Brown. What is the continuing appeal for you of working on this great series?
The chief attraction for me is that I never get bored. I've never been bored on this job - which is an incredibly unusual thing for an actor to say. Father Brown is constantly interested in everything that goes on around him. I find that easy to generate because so am I.
Tell us more…
He's looking at the world all the time and there's always something to see. He is fascinated by the arrangement of life itself and the way people deal with each other and the things they don't say. That is what Miss Marple said: it's the unimportant things that are important. It’s very much the same for him. He has that Miss Marple thing of being the quiet observer. Increasingly, not so quiet sometimes actually! We've moved away from Chesterton’s Father Brown, and that's probably my fault. He is a lot more proactive now. And he seems to be picking a lot of locks lately, which we may have to address!
What highlights should we be looking out for in the new series of Father Brown?
We have got some very good plots this year. In one episode, Sister Boniface gets arrested, but it's not her fault, funnily enough. To be continued… We also have a really nice episode about Brenda, which we're filming at the moment. It's about what happened to her when she was an evacuee. A letter has been written and thereby hangs a tale. We have to deal with a double murder – one historical and one contemporary, so it's a really strong plot. We have got a crime writing festival, too, which is great. It's lots of shenanigans about crime and people's enjoyment of it, and then suddenly it becomes very real for people.
Have you come up with any plots yourself this year?
Yes. There is a plot that revolves around a dance competition coming up that was my idea. I thought we should do that because we have two dancers in the regular cast. It seemed to me that was a facility we should use!
Sylvester McCoy, a former Doctor Who, is also guest starring as a doctor in this series, isn’t he?
Yes, a Doctor playing a doctor. How meta! He is called Dr McClurgy. It’s a great name and he is a great character. He's a cantankerous old bloke. But Brenda wins him round, luckily.
Father Brown has such a great history of attracting guest stars. That's part of the attraction of the show, presumably?
It’s certainly an appeal for me. One of the chief joys for me is that every episode we have different people on. I just love watching them work. Sometimes I forget to concentrate and just go, “Look at them! Wow! Look at them doing acting!” Because I actually like actors. There are some actors who don't like other actors, but I do. I like them very much. It's great because not only do we move locations regularly, but we have different cast members, too. Although it is sometimes nice when it’s just the five of us. We did a scene together last night, and we were all going, “It’s so nice just to be the five of us.”
Has any other TV detective influenced your performance as Father Brown?
I was a big fan of the American series that we got in the 70s, like Colombo. I have to acknowledge the debt really to Peter Falk. I like his style of being on the back foot and slightly off the beat. As an actor, you don't necessarily think that rhythm should be important, but actually it is. Because if you do everything at the same beat, you will die of boredom. So it's better to vary the rhythm. And Peter Falk was a very big influence for me. I actually got Colombo’s catchphrase into one show. I was about to leave and I turned around and said, “Just one more thing” – which I was pathetically pleased about! I've also got another Colombo nod coming up, but I'm not going to tell you what it is. It's just something that Peter Falk used to do, which I'm going to use.
Why do the clergy lend themselves so well to crime solving?
Because they're outside society. They're not like policemen. They're not dealing with politics or other people. They have a spiritual realm, so they have somewhere else to come from when they view the world. And also they have a faith, which gives them an interior strength. They are right in the middle of the community as well, but not really of the community, particularly Catholic priests who are celibate. Father Brown is driven by something beyond merely solving the crime. For him, it's not an intellectual puzzle in the Sherlock Holmes tradition. The reward is not to solve the puzzle; the reward is somebody's soul. When the peace of the world is riven by bad things, he wants to put them right. He wants there to be peace.
Have you thought how long you might play Father Brown for?
I don’t really do that. I think it's bad for the soul. In this business, planning for the future is an extremely dangerous preoccupation. You have only got one job at a time. You never know whether you're going to work again, which is one of the cruelties of this business, along with rejection. Which is why it’s amazing that so many people do it year after year in the face of these terrible setbacks and unemployment!
When was the last time you went to confession?
I've never been to confession. I confess to myself in the dark watches of the night. I do that regularly and with zeal. So I confessed to myself last night, for example.
Have you ever sworn while wearing your cassock?
Oh, yes, regularly, off camera. It's a good antidote because being good all the time can be a little bit trying. Especially when you're wearing about 20 pounds worth of cloth and the sweat is running down your back, a good curse is sometimes a great idea!
Father Brown is shown in many different territories all around the world. Why has it struck such a universal chord?
I think it's good storytelling. That's what it's about. It's also familiar in the sense that the same things happen in each episode. But then the same things happen in every single Haydn symphony. It doesn't make them any less individual, to use a probably over-wrought musical analogy - but there you go, I did it! So there's that. And also there is the whole appeal of the whodunit, to which there is always a resolution. There's an ending. It's solved. So you can put it away afterwards and say, “Right, that's good. We solved that. We learnt about the human condition”.
What is the most unusual place you have been recognised?
A little girl in a sweet shop in Cartagena ran up and wrapped her arms around my legs and went, “Father Brown!” It happens quite regularly. You can be in all sorts of places.
Q&A with Tom Chambers (Chief Inspector Sullivan)
How is Chief Inspector Sullivan’s relationship with Mrs Devine evolving in this series?
There’s a woman's touch and then there's the divine touch! Mrs Devine has that. It’s a lovely relationship developing between them. It’s just a very natural connection between them. It was immediate. He’s always carried a torch for her. From the very beginning, they had an instant chemistry.
Has Mrs Devine’s arrival brought Sullivan an added dimension?
Definitely. The lovely thing about Mrs Devine coming in is that it's given Sullivan a completely new, fresh layer. I've always felt that once you're a policeman, you always have to be a policeman. It's harder to play other dynamics because you are serving society and that's basically how you have to be seen. So where the other people in the cast could be a bit more flexible with their behaviour, I was always associated with being a policeman. If a policeman turns up on your doorstep, even if he is undercover, he's got an air about him of being a policeman or a detective. So the great thing for Sullivan and for the audience is now there's this extra depth to him. We can see two sides to him. It’s great for me playing Sullivan because now there's another part of him to explore.
Have you enjoyed working with Claudie?
Absolutely. She is sensational. She is utterly brilliant. She is very lively and effervescent and cheeky. It's such fun doing scenes with her.
Is Sullivan still often in conflict with Father Brown?
Yes. Sullivan has always been on the path of trying to do good. He's a true, loyal detective. Unfortunately, he is always outwitted by the extremely clever and observant Father Brown. Sullivan has to just go on the bare facts, whereas obviously Father Brown can always read between the lines and spot the hidden clues. So Sullivan is in a constant battle with Father Brown.
Does this provoke tension between Mrs Devine and Sullivan?
Yes. There is sometimes a difficult triangle because Mrs Devine is helping Father Brown and Sullivan is aware of that. Therefore, she's conflicted, playing two sides and trying to be loyal to both. There is a moment where Mrs Devine does let Sullivan down because in his eyes she's practically broken the law to help Father Brown. So yes, it’s not a relationship battle, but it’s definitely testing at times.
Are the other regular characters aware of Sullivan and Mrs Devine's "secret relationship"?
Yes! The funny thing is, Mrs Devine and Sullivan think they're doing a good job of hiding from the others the fact that they are now an item and very much in love. But it's very obvious to the others that they are together!
Why do you think Father Brown has been such a hit all over the world?
First and foremost, because it’s about kindness. Even though there’s a murder every week, the Father Brown series has a depth of kindness to it. It's just got this unique flavour to it, where the writing and the relationships and the period all work really well. It's like reading a wonderful Jane Austen novel, where there's a real depth and honesty and truth to it. The world it portrays is something that we can all aspire to or relate to. So overall, there's an incredible warmth within the stories.
Anything else?
Also, we're all intrigued by suspense and mystery and murder. It's something that our brains plug into maybe because the mystique gives us a bit of an adrenaline rush. In Father Brown, it's done in such a way that it's easily digested and watched as well. Within the spectrum of some of the really gritty, current serial-killer shows, which can be quite harrowing, it’s not too graphic. Those modern shows are utterly brilliant, but I think there's also a great desire to soften the palate a bit. This has got such great style.
What other elements attract so many viewers worldwide?
Mark Williams playing Father Brown. He does it in a way that's just so gentle and intelligent. He would be your go-to person in any situation. He is somebody you can always trust; he is loyal, devoted. So Mark is probably the greatest reason why it's such a huge success. I still can't get my head around how much he has to do and how much he invests personally in Father Brown. He is aware of every single degree of the production. He knows what slices of characters do what, when and how. He is like an encyclopedia on the set for us. I actually go to him if I've got a question. He’s such an oracle. Mark is just outstanding
Which episodes should we watch out for in the new season?
There is one episode that features ballroom dancing. There's a dance school that Mrs Devine and Brenda attend. They get a phone call to say that some talent spotters from a big TV show are coming. And obviously there's a murder – who would have thought it? But Sullivan is not impressed by dancing at all because when he was growing up, his dad made him go to lots of policemen's balls, and he was made to dance with his mum which he didn't like at all. So he has no interest in getting involved or going to watch Mrs Devine dance. Then something happens, and he has to come to the rescue. He has to step in, and step in he does.
What other delights do we have to look forward to in this series?
In this lovely world of Father Brown, we’ve got the Kembleford Olympics. This includes things like a spinach-eating contest, toe-wrestling and shin-bashing. It's unlike any other Olympics you've ever witnessed! I may have to get a stunt double for the feet. Alternatively, it may be the first time I've ever had a pedicure. They've offered me one, but I still haven't accepted!
Q&A with Claudie Blakley (Mrs Devine)
Are you enjoying playing the burgeoning romance between Mrs Devine and Chief Inspector Sullivan in this season?
Yes, I'm really loving it. It's great. The fact that Sullivan decided to stay was a nice surprise for Mrs Devine. She is hoping that something will develop there. It’s lovely for her to have that hope because I think she's ready for a new adventure romantically, I really do. I think it's been tough for her, nursing her husband after he was injured. It’s been hard. Why shouldn't she have another little chance and other little go at it? It’s good to meet somebody at her time of life.
What does Mrs Devine see in Sullivan?
There is just a connection between them. She has got so much empathy for him initially during his clashes with Father Brown. She's very empathetic, and then that moves on to something else. He's quite twinkly with her, and he's full of surprises. In one of the episodes, Mrs Devine drags Sullivan into performing as an actor, and he's really good. That's attractive. He’s a man full of mystery who can suddenly turn his hand to anything. Acting is her passion as well. So for him to suddenly show that he is a really good actor may have helped her see him in a different light. He is mysterious, too, isn't he? He's deep. He’s got a lot going on.
How would you describe Mrs Devine?
She’s just such a fun, sunny, optimistic character who I believe brings out the best in people. She’s really refreshing. What works so well in her relationship with Father Brown is that she comes things from another angle. She can spot things from a different perspective. She’s good that connecting with people because of all her amateur dramatics. She's a people person. She's social, and she's gossipy and so she hears things. That makes for a good dynamic with Father Brown. I think they work well as a team. It’s also great fun driving around the Cotswolds like a madwoman!
Do you relish driving around in the vintage car?
Yes. In my first week on Father Brown, I got behind the wheel. I got to really put my foot down. The camera was attached to the car and I had to nearly run someone over. I had to hit him with the door and he flew off. And I just thought, “Oh my God, this is going to be the best job ever!”
Why is Mrs Devine so good at helping Father Brown with his sleuthing?
Because she's got an innate curiosity about people. She has already proved that she can be a really good asset to him. Father Brown has always been on her radar, and she just thinks he's amazing. So she just wanted a chance to be a little part of it. I don't think she realised how it would go in terms of the status that she now has with him. But yes, she's good at it because she is very intuitive and practical.
What is the atmosphere like on set?
We all get on like a house on fire. We go out together. We are a tight team and we have a close friendship. There's lots of banter, and that creates really good chemistry. So when the cameras are rolling, there's already a spark. And when the five of us are in a scene together, the rapport is tremendous. It is intense. It's a tough filming schedule, so we all help each other out. We all hold each other up. There’s a strong bond, there's a lot of support, and there's a lot of love. And that applies to the crew as well. Everyone seems to be funny on this job, especially Mr. Williams. He's making us laugh a lot.
How has it been working with Mark?
It’s wonderful! He's intensely likeable. He’s just got that likeable thing that you can't put your finger on. He’s got great warmth and that marvellous face. He's got that friendly look, those twinkly eyes, that lovely smile. It's something that the camera really picks up. It all comes through, and that connects to the audience. His physicality is lovely, too. When he is thinking, you go, “Oh, what's he thinking? What's going on?” And I adore his mannerisms. He is like a little bird. I just love what he does. It’s like he paid me to say this, isn't it?!
What do you like most about portraying Mrs Devine?
There is nothing really not to like about playing this character. I really, really love it. Mrs Devine just brings up my mood. It’s a joy. I can't wait to get to work every day!
Q&A with John Burton (Sergeant Goodfellow)
Sergeant Goodfellow is a widely adored character, isn’t he?
Yes, he is a really popular character. I hear that a lot. I think he's just a genuine man. He's not got any bad side to him. He is just decent, honest, loyal, trustworthy, all those credentials that you'd want in a police officer. And you have to remember that he's grown up in this village and married into the village. He is one of Father Brown’s parishioners. He's probably joined the police because his dad was in the force. It's that sort of vibe I get from him. I think people buy into that nice, salt of the earth type of character. So I think that's probably why he is so widely liked. I do get ever such a lot of feedback about the character from social media. When that happens, you go, “Wow!” It just amazes me.
What you enjoy most about the job?
I love it when it’s just the five main regular characters in a scene together. Yesterday, we got to do one of those scenes, which is really rare, and everyone was talking about it. When we're all in a scene together, we are just like kids at school. People are laughing and joking. It's just great fun. It’s a really good mix of personalities, and we all spark off each other. And that's what happens. You can just tell that the energy is there within the scene.
Why is Father Brown such a big hit all over the world?
It's a number of things. It’s because of the storytelling definitely, but viewers also adore all the other elements that come into the programme. That's everything from the guest artists and the writing and the hair and makeup to the settings and the locations. It all just comes together. And you get these wonderful episodes that people simply love.
What’s it like working with Mark?
It’s terrific. He’s such a brilliant actor to work with. He is also incredibly well read. If you want to know anything, ask Mark, from what that tree is to what that bird is sitting in that tree. He's very, very knowledgeable. With some of the things he comes out with, I ask, “How on earth do you know that?” “I read it.” When he comes to work on the very first day of the shoot, he always brings loads of books, and they could be about anything. A few years ago, we did an episode that involved Goodfellow looking at this medical journal from the 1950s and talking about how someone could have been poisoned. It was a real book. Mark grabbed it off me and went, “Let me look at that.” He was thumbing through it and he said, “I'm going to buy this.” Then he went online whilst we were there, and he bought the book. He said, “It’s really interesting. I can find out stuff about medicine in the 50s.”
What else have you learned from Mark?
In this series we are doing episode about vampires, and I gather that was his idea. Mark found a true story about a vampire slayer in the Cotswolds in the 50s. He’s obviously done some research. So that's what I mean about him being very well read. He's really, really clever. He is off the scale intelligent.
Do you get recognised a lot?
Yes. I was doing a Stage Golfing Society day down in Bedfordshire the other day. As I walked into the bar, I could see this woman hopping from foot to foot. She asked, “Can I get a picture with you? I love the show. I'm from America, and it's huge out there.” I’ve also had young people from Australia coming up to me and saying, “You know, you wouldn't be able to walk down the street in Australia. It’s primetime on a Saturday night out there.” That’s what I love about Father Brown – the fact that we can give joy to people all over the world, and it can be dubbed into 101 different languages. I've seen it in Italian and German, and you just go, “That’s incredible!”
Q&A with Ruby-May Martinwood (Brenda Palmer)
Where do we find Brenda at the beginning of this series?
She has got a little bit less feisty. She is not quite as angry with everyone. She doesn’t put a wall up and feel the need to defend herself all the time. She feels a lot safer. She is starting to let people in. Father Brown has softened her a lot. She feels safe and comfortable with him. Brenda is also quite important now, especially helping with solving all the mysteries and all the murders. She’s become a crucial part of that, so her self-esteem has gone up quite a bit because she knows she has a status now. She has got an interest in what she's going to do in the future, she has started to find her feet. She is even developing an interest in boys!
Does Brenda really feel at home living with Father Brown now?
Yes. He is almost like a father figure to Brenda. It’s the same with Mrs Devine. They started off with a little bit of friction, but they definitely softened towards each other. It will be interesting to see how their dynamic progresses because they are a little family. Brenda looks after the house, while she is under the wing of Father Brown. And then goes out on little adventures with Mrs Devine. So it’s really cool.
What can you tell us about one of Brenda’s big episodes in this series, which involves Dr McClurgy, played by Sylvester McCoy?
It’s a gorgeous, very sweet, very endearing episode. It goes back and shows you a little bit of what Brenda's upbringing was like. She and Dr McClurgy have got a beautiful little bond. She was evacuated to stay with him during the war and he really looked after. It was probably one of the places where she actually felt like it was home. It was a pretty magical place. He was very much into storytelling, and he also made Brenda feel really confident. There are quite a few little moments where you can see that. He always has faith in Brenda. That’s quite a rare friend to have.
What else happens in the episode?
Brenda, Father Brown and Mrs Devine go and visit him. And actually it turns out that Dr McClurgy has become a little bit of a grumpy old man! He’s involved in a property dispute. There are some people who are actually treating him quite badly. They are throwing bricks through his window to try and get him to move out, but he doesn’t want to. But despite his grumpiness, Brenda still reconnects with him. He remembers what a lovely relationship they had and that makes him gentle and soft again. So she has a good effect on him.
What is Brenda’s reaction to the developing relationship between Mrs Devine and Chief Inspector Sullivan?
Brenda has never liked authority or the police. So Chief Inspector Sullivan is not her favourite person. But she can see that he makes Mrs Devine very happy. Still, Brenda has got her eye on him to make sure he stays in line!
Do you think the Cotswolds are another character in Father Brown?
Definitely. The Cotswolds are gorgeous. The fact that the scenery is so aesthetically beautiful is one of the things that everyone loves so much about Father Brown. And we only film what is there. We don’t use any effects. We are very lucky to have it on our doorstep. The old English countryside is so lovely.
As it enters its 11th season, why do you think Father Brown is more popular than ever?
It’s family friendly, so everyone can watch it together. It's warm. It's funny. It's also got depth to it, but there’s nothing remotely terrifying or scary about it. So it's something which you can watch for comfort.
How do you find it collaborating with Mark?
Mark’s great. He's a brilliant actor. He works with such detail. And he really does carry the show. He takes on so many roles. When Mark is in, you feel at ease, you feel like you know what you’re doing. Also, he just makes the entire time we are on set so enjoyable. There will be times we all we all cry with laughter because of what he’s saying. You need that. When you're working for three, four months, that is what you need – people who make it an absolute blast. And that’s what Mark does.
Episode Synopses
Ep 1 - The Kembleston Olimpicks
By Dan Muirden
Father Brown investigates when rivalries escalate to murderous heights at the Kembleston Olimpicks.
Mrs Devine (Claudie Blakley) is shocked when her son Eddie (Barney Wilkinson) returns to Kembleford. She is determined to keep her new relationship with Chief Inspector Sullivan (Tom Chambers) a secret from everyone, although Father Brown (Mark Williams) and Brenda (Ruby-May Martinwood) know exactly what’s going on! Soon the competitive nature of the games starts to show, with disgruntled gardener Patty Frewin (Erin Shanager) blaming Dr Geoffrey Fleming (Toby Williams) for her withdrawal from the competition, while Shirley Fraser (Amy Trigg) is also unusually edgy around the doctor. Elsewhere, Geoffrey disqualifies his own brother Brian (Kelvin Fletcher), much to the delight of Hambleston captain, William Redshaw (Esh Alladi). When Hambleston competitor Ursula Fanshaw (Barbara D’Alterio) is poisoned during the spinach eating contest, it soon transpires that Geoffrey was the intended target. Can Father Brown identify the killer before they strike again?
Ep 2 - The Forensic Nun
By Neil Irvine
Father Brown investigates when his old friend Sister Boniface is implicated in the murder of a renowned artist.
Father Brown (Mark Williams) is roped in to judge the life drawing competition by local shop owner Gaynor Garfield (Ingrid Oliver) at her inaugural arts and crafts fair. Mrs Devine (Claudie Blakley) is excited to participate but Gaynor is uncharacteristically furious when she discovers that Meryl Plunkett (Lydia Larson) has publicised the event in an art journal. Preparation for the fair is interrupted by the arrival of renowned artist Marmaduke Snell (Edward Bennett) who leaves a trail of destruction in his wake – savagely insulting Meryl’s jewellery and threatening local artist Cyril Frogmore’s (Kenneth Collard) chances in the competition. Elsewhere, Father Brown is delighted to see his old friend and vintner Sister Boniface (Lorna Watson) when she drops off a delivery of her wine at the fair. When Marmaduke drops dead after drinking a glass, Father Brown becomes determined to find the culprit before Sister Boniface is charged with murder.
Ep 3 - The Hermit of Hazelnut Cottage
By David Semple
Brenda faces ghosts from her past and becomes embroiled in a local dispute which ends in murder.
When Brenda (Ruby-May Martinwood) receives a letter from Dr McClurgy (Sylvester McCoy), who took her in as an evacuee, she decides to finally ask why he suddenly sent her away to a children’s home. Father Brown (Mark Williams) and Mrs Devine (Claudie Blakley) take Brenda to see him in nearby Butterley Rise, but soon discover that it was actually Dotty Finglesham (Melanie Walters) who wrote the letter, desperate to help Dr McClurgy. He’s become a hermit since his home was threatened by a local housing development and is refusing to move. Landowner Lord Sprocket (Owen Brenman) is as surprised as everyone else when his developer Edward Wainsbody (Nick Blakeley) announces the entire development will move to the nearby meadow. The locals are outraged, especially Susan Payne (Jasmine Bayes) who wishes to protect the threatened flora and fauna. When Edward’s body is found in that very meadow and Susan is arrested, Father Brown’s hunt for a killer begins.
Ep 4 - The Last Supper
By Sarah-Louise Hawkins
Father Brown has a lot on his plate when a food fayre comes to Kembleford, bringing murder with it.
Mrs Devine (Claudie Blakley) is roped in to help her old school friend, Harriet Sykes (Sarah Alexander), and her husband David (Geoffrey Lumb), set up the inaugural “Kemblefood”; a fayre exhibiting foods from across the world. Even with Father Brown (Mark Williams) and Brenda (Ruby-May Martinwood) on hand to help, Mrs Devine is run ragged by Harriet’s demands. Then notorious food critic Chester Gates (Dominic Rowan) arrives, much to the horror of guest chefs Rafi Faridi (Nav Sidhu) and Lei Yen (Jasmine Chiu). Chester announces to the crowds that he is publishing his memoirs later that year, promising that it will include many shocking revelations, which causes quite a stir amongst those gathered in the food tent... The next morning Father Brown and Mrs Devine discover Chester dead in his hotel room and they soon suspect that his memoirs are key to unlocking this mystery…
Ep 5 - The Father, The Son
By Tahsin Guner
Flambeau is stunned to find his estranged father at St Mary’s, who has a dangerous mission in mind.
Flambeau (John Light) is summoned to St Mary’s by a funeral announcement for his father Gabriel Hawksworth (Ian Gelder) in a newspaper, much to Father Brown’s (Mark Williams) surprise. When Gabriel reveals he’s very much alive, Flambeau is immediately suspicious. Gabriel has a dangerous mission in mind: to steal a valuable artefact from notorious criminal Drake Underwood (Adrian Schiller) and give the proceeds to widowed Grace Tucker (Emily Redpath). Gabriel explains that he was involved in a robbery with Drake’s son Luther (Aaron Sidwell) that led to the death of Grace’s late husband, Elliot (Jacob Greenway). As Father Brown and Flambeau try to determine if Gabriel can be trusted, Mrs Devine (Claudie Blakley) and Brenda (Ruby-May Martinwood) insist on coming along for the ride. When the heist doesn’t go according to plan Flambeau and his father find themselves in the firing line – can they be reconciled before it’s too late?
Ep 6 - The Quill of Osric
By Lol Fletcher
Father Brown must discover the culprit when a novelist is attacked at a crime writing festival.
After the recent tragic death of infamous crime novelist Osric Wolf (Julian Harries), Lady Violet (Amanda Mealing) holds her annual crime writing weekend in his honour, with the Quill of Osric Award on offer to the most promising new writer. Mrs Devine (Claudie Blakley) immerses herself in the experience by dressing up as fictional detective Lena Pavlov, and Brenda (Ruby-May Martinwood) also gets stuck in when she realises her crime solving experience can, for once, win prizes! Father Brown (Mark Williams) is thrilled to meet renowned writer Kingsley Wilmot (Michael Simkins), but soon senses tension between him and his anxious writer son, Jack (Jake Simmance). Word gets out that Jack is the favourite to win the Quill of Osric, outraging fellow nominee Walter Mitford (Samuel Jordan), Lady Violet’s protégé and attracting the attention of literary agent Miss Lipton (Gemma Lawrence). Soon after Jack is attacked and left for dead and Father Brown must identify the culprit before they strike again…
Ep 7 - The Word of the Condemned
By Dominique Moloney
Lady Felicia asks Father Brown to help prove a convicted serial killer didn’t kill her beloved goddaughter.
Lady Felicia (Nancy Carroll) calls upon Father Brown (Mark Williams) when she becomes suspicious that convicted “bride killer”, Samuel Harrow (Paul McEwan), is not responsible for the death of one of his ‘victims’, Lady Felicia’s goddaughter, Sophie Blackthorn. Father Brown visits Harrow in prison, who confirms he did not kill Sophie; so who did? Mrs Devine (Claudie Blakley) and Brenda (Ruby-May Martinwood) join Father Brown and Lady Felicia at the private opening of the Blackthorn Institute, a scientific establishment funded by Sophie’s husband Ralph Blackthorn (David Burnett). During their tour the gang notice Ella Blackthorn (Kate Bracken) is over-protective of her brother Ralph and that lab assistant Audrey Hatby (Belinda Owusu), clearly disliked Sophie’s family. Meanwhile, scientist Daniel Price (Tom Bulpett) confronts the arrogant Professor Prichard (Silas Carson) with a theory regarding Sophie’s death and before long is found killed. Trapped in a storm, Father Brown must apprehend the killer before they take another life…
Ep 8 - The Last Tango in Kembleford
By Rebecca Ramsden
Father Brown investigates when the competitive atmosphere at a local dance school leads to a dance with death.
When Gillian Fletcham (Saskia Strallen) reveals a talent scout is heading to Kembleford to find dancers for TV sensation ‘Go Dancing’, Mrs Devine (Claudie Blakley) and Brenda (Ruby-May Martinwood) are delighted. As the showcase nears, Father Brown (Mark Williams) is shocked at how cut throat the world of competitive dancing is. Gillian dumps her regular dance partner, her brother Derek Fletcham (Adam Rhys-Charles), in favour of Italian Stallion Mario Cantoloni (Tom McCall), while award-winning couple Pauline Danbury (Angela Terence) and Robert Danbury (Steven Meo), find the pressure a strain on their relationship. The very next day, Gillian is found murdered at the dance school. Derek is firmly in the frame, but Father Brown isn’t convinced and investigates the dancing rivalries. Can Father Brown find out the truth before the Talent Scout (Kevin Clifton) arrives in Kembleford? Meanwhile Mrs Devine is whisked off her feet by an unexpectedly talented dancer…
Ep 9 - The Dead of Night
By Sarah Anson
Father Brown is determined to unmask a mortal being when a supposed vampire strikes in the village.
When housekeeper Janice Higgins (Lois Pearson) races into St Mary’s asking for help, Father Brown (Mark Williams) is only too happy to oblige. Janice’s employer, Bernard Ross (Nicholas Woodeson), now believes that his daughter, Louisa Ross (Bethan Leyshon), who died a year previously has become a vampire. Father Brown and Brenda (Ruby-May Martinwood) visit Ross Manor only to find Gilbert Gallamore (Nicholas Asbury) and vampire hunter Silas O’Hagan (Ray Fearon) whipping Bernard into a frenzy, much to the disapproval of Bernard’s sister-in-law Christine Kipley (Josie Lawrence). Tensions are high between the group at dinner that evening and the next morning Gilbert is found dead, with bite marks on his neck. The vampire hysteria spreads, with Mrs Devine (Claudie Blakely) fearing the worst when a poorly Chief Inspector Sullivan (Tom Chambers) recoils at sunlight. Can Father Brown demystify the vampire rumours before Bernard and indeed Kembleford, are consumed by dark thoughts?
Ep 10 - The Scars of War
By Dan Muirden
Sullivan asks for Father Brown’s help when Mrs Devine’s son Eddie is framed for murder.
Eddie Devine (Barney Wilkinson) returns to mark the 10-year anniversary of the end of World War II. It’s an emotional time for him and Mrs Devine (Claudie Blakley) as they honour the late Home Guard officer Ronald Devine (Darren Seed) alongside Father Brown (Mark Williams) and Brenda (Ruby-May Martinwood). When special guest Captain Fred Howton (Andrew Scarborough) arrives, there’s an unease amongst the villagers. Widow Rachel Waterson (Ayesha Antoine) gives Fred the cold shoulder, whilst Fred argues with conscientious objector Oscar Treadwell (Russell Layton). Later, local lad John Carson (Alexander Cobb) reveals a shocking secret about the night Ronald died to a drunk Eddie, who soon after throws a punch at Fred. The next day Fred is discovered shot dead in the street and when the incriminating gun is found in Eddie’s possession Chief Inspector Sullivan (Tom Chambers) asks for Father Brown’s help. Can they prove Eddie’s innocence before it tears Mrs Devine and Sullivan’s relationship apart?
About BBC Studios
BBC Studios is a commercial subsidiary of the BBC Group with sales of £2.1 billion (2021/22: £1,630 million). Able to take an idea seamlessly from thought to screen and beyond, the business is built on two operating areas: the global Content Studio, which produces, invests and distributes content globally and Channels & Streaming, with BBC branded channels, services and joint ventures in the UK and internationally. Around 2,500 hours of award-winning British programmes are made by the business every year, with over 80% of total BBC Studios revenues coming from non-BBC customers including Discovery, Apple and Netflix. Its content is internationally recognised across a broad range of genres and specialisms, with brands like Strictly Come Dancing/Dancing with the Stars, Top Gear, the Planet series, Bluey and Doctor Who. BBC.com is BBC Studios’ global digital news platform, offering up-to-the-minute international news, in-depth analysis and features.
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