Father Brown (2013 TV series)

Father Brown is a British period detective television series loosely based on the Father Brown short stories by G. K. Chesterton, starring Mark Williams as the crime-solving Roman Catholic priest. Broadcast began on BBC One on 14 January 2013. In April 2023 the BBC confirmed that filming had begun on an 11th series, for broadcast in January 2024, and also confirmed the return of Lorna Watson as Sister Boniface. The commissioning of series 12 and 13 were confirmed in April 2024.

Synopsis
The series is set in England during the early 1950s. Father Brown is the priest at St Mary's Catholic Church in the fictional village of Kembleford, located in the Cotswolds. (Kembleford seems unique in not being part of a Church of England parish). Britain is struggling with the aftermath of the Second World War, rationing is still in effect, the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II took place, the death penalty has not yet been abolished, and homosexuality and abortion are still illegal. An empathetic man of keen intelligence, Father Brown solves murder cases when members of his parish are involved, when circumstances are strange enough to gain his interest, or when he is directly asked for help. During his investigations he occasionally neglects his more mundane parish duties.

He is often helped by the parish secretary, Bridgette McCarthy (Series 1–9), and his housekeeper, Susie Jasinski (Series 1 only). He is also sometimes aided by socialite Lady Felicia Montague; her driver, Sid Carter (a former criminal); and her niece, Bunty Windermere. In series 10, he is aided by Isabel Devine, his new parish secretary, and Brenda Palmer, his housekeeper.

Father Brown's interest in local cases and his habit of offering advice and pointing out clues often annoy the local police inspector. Father Brown holds no animosity towards the police, but he often embarrasses them with his investigations.

During World War I, Father Brown served in the British Army's Gloucestershire Regiment; he served with the same regiment in World War II as a chaplain. His experiences as a veteran, along with his vocation as a priest, give him great insight into human nature as well as a desire to offer forgiveness and redemption, wishing to serve his concept of justice rather than strictly following the letter of the law and condemning the guilty. Father Brown is obedient to the Seal of confession in the Catholic Church. When confronting criminals, he sometimes offers to hear their explanations and confessions without judgment. While he then urges them to admit their crimes to the authorities and accept responsibility, he also promises he will not reveal their actions or prevent their escape if they choose otherwise but he will only interfere if they will do something to harm others.

Characters

 * Father Brown – Mark Williams (2013–present): a slightly rumpled, shambolic, and mild-mannered Roman Catholic priest who, if appearance were the only consideration, would be easily forgotten. His apparent innocence belies a playful wit and a razor-sharp intellect. His greatest strength, both as a priest and as a detective of crime, is his love and understanding of other people. He is not there to judge but to save souls. He is a veteran of both the First and the Second World War, having served with the Gloucestershire Regiment on each occasion (as an infantryman in the first war and as a Catholic chaplain in the second).
 * Mrs. Bridgette McCarthy née Maguire – Sorcha Cusack (2013–2022): the Irish parish secretary at St Mary's. She checks the facts for Father Brown, acts as his confidante on official Church business and everything else, is steadfastly loyal to Father Brown, and defends him from the ire of the congregation; she also makes sure he eats. She is instinctively narrow-minded and conformist, adhering to the simplest version of Church dogma, but usually eventually finds herself able to reconcile forgiveness with her sense of justice. She has a tendency to brag about her award-winning strawberry scones. Mrs. McCarthy is a frequent gossip – though claims she is not – and shares a love/hate relationship with Lady Felicia, although both women eventually admit to being close friends. She is married but leaves her husband after he returns from having lived with another woman following the war. Mrs. McCarthy is no longer Father Brown's parish secretary as she has left Kembleford and returned to Ireland to live closer to her sister.
 * Lady Felicia Montague née Windermere – Nancy Carroll (2013–2016 as a lead character): a glamorous but bored socialite who comes from an old and noble recusant family. She is also known as the Countess of Montague by virtue of her marriage to the Earl of Montague, who she calls "Monty". She supports many local charitable activities and resides at a grand stately home named Montague Hall. Lady Felicia is unhappy with her husband's aloofness toward her and has a roving eye when her husband is away, which he usually is. She is a staunch ally of Father Brown and frequent nemesis of Mrs. McCarthy, despite grudging respect between the women. Although she left at the start of series 5 when her husband was appointed Governor of Northern Rhodesia, she made guest appearances in series 6 ("The Face of the Enemy"), in two episodes of series 7 ("The Great Train Robbery" and "The Honourable Thief"), and in series 8 ("The Celestial Choir"). She also appeared recently in series 11, "The Word of the Condemned".
 * Sidney "Sid" Carter – Alex Price (2013–2016, 2022 as a lead character): An artful dodger, Sid is an occasional black marketeer, part-time crook and informant who becomes Lady Felicia's chauffeur. Father Brown makes him the church handyman while trying to keep him on the straight and narrow. He has a unique talent for being able to talk his way into any situation in order to help Father Brown search for the truth. During his time in Kembleford, he manages to gain the trust and respect of both Father Brown and Mrs. McCarthy, who come to value him as a close friend. Indeed, in series 5 episode "The Sins of Others", Father Brown says that he is the closest thing he has ever had to a son. He is also known to share a close bond with The Honourable Penelope "Bunty" Windermere. Father Brown often relies on Sid's skills and links to the criminal underworld of Kembleford to help him solve a case. Originally a regular character, he often makes guest appearances, notably in "The Sins of Others" (series 5), "The Tree of Truth" (the 2017 Christmas Special), "The Face of the Enemy" (series 6) and "The River Corrupted" (series 8). In series 9 he returned as a lead character.
 * Zuzanna "Susie" Jasinski – Kasia Koleczek (2013): Father Brown's part-time housekeeper, who lives in a nearby post-war Polish resettlement camp. Her true first name was revealed in the episode "The Eye of Apollo".
 * The Honourable Penelope "Bunty" Windermere – Emer Kenny (2017–2020 as a lead character): the wayward niece of Lady Felicia (the daughter of her brother Viscount Windermere) seeking refuge after being photographed leaving a sleazy nightclub with a married man and cited in divorce proceedings. She has had to adapt to life in Kembleford and has become a close friend of both Father Brown and Mrs McCarthy, who she often refers to as simply 'Mrs. M'. It becomes apparent throughout the series that the two women share a mutual respect, despite often being at odds with each other.
 * Inspector/Chief Inspector Walter Valentine – Hugo Speer (2013–2014): head of the local police force who finds himself constantly torn between secret admiration for Father Brown and deep frustration with him. He would like to collaborate but has been burnt once too often by Brown's unorthodox moral code. Nevertheless he comes to respect Brown's methods, and even admits when he is promoted to Detective Chief Inspector and moved to London that he might miss the priest. Valentine returns in the final episode of series 8, "The Tower of Lost Souls".
 * Inspector/Chief Inspector Edgar Sullivan – Tom Chambers (2014–2015, 2023–): replaced Inspector Valentine at the start of the second series. Sullivan too is exasperated by Father Brown's meddling, but is eventually won over. He makes a guest appearance as a Special Branch officer in "The Sacrifice of Tantalus" (series 7) under the alias of Inspector Truman. He also appears in the final episode of series 8, "The Tower of Lost Souls", having been promoted to Chief Inspector. He returns as a regular in Series 10.
 * Inspector Gerald "Gerry" Mallory – Jack Deam (2016–2022): replaces Inspector Sullivan. Like his predecessors he is often exasperated by Father Brown, whom he sarcastically calls "Padre" (in reference to Brown having been a military chaplain). However, he is a far more open-minded, and occasionally resourceful, detective, and chases after leads with great enthusiasm, even when they lead him to the wrong conclusion. At the beginning of season 10 it is revealed that Mallory has left Kembleford, for he has transferred to Scotland.
 * Sergeant Albright – Keith Osborn (2013–2014): played dogsbody to Inspectors Valentine and Sullivan.
 * Sergeant Daniel Goodfellow – John Burton (2014–present): continued playing the dogsbody for the Inspector with increasing involvement. Credited in the opening beginning in series 5. Passed his exam to be an Inspector at the end of Series 10.
 * Hercule Flambeau – John Light (2013–present): the nemesis of Father Brown; a jewel and art thief who seems to be without conscience. He and Father Brown have encountered each other at least once in every series; in series four he reveals he has a daughter, Marianne Delacroix, whom he had never met. Series 11 introduces his father.
 * Brenda Palmer – Ruby-May Martinwood (2022–present): a young woman who becomes the new housekeeper at St. Mary's. She made her first appearance in the series 9 episode "The Wayward Girls", before returning as a regular in series 10.
 * Mrs. Isabel Devine – Claudie Blakley (2023–present): a widowed enthusiast for mysteries, who is Mrs. McCarthy's replacement as parish secretary. She is in a not so secret relationship with Chief Inspector Sullivan.

Recurring roles

 * Bishop Talbot – Malcolm Storry (2013–2015): appeared in three episodes. Talbot is Father Brown's superior and does not like his sleuthing but respects him for solving the mysteries. In "The Daughter of Autolycus", his death was mentioned. He is succeeded by Bishop Reynard (Michael Pennington).
 * Harold "Blind 'Arry" Slow – Alan Williams (2017–2020): appeared in five episodes. Slow is the rag-and-bone man for Kembleford and also a drunk. In "The Darkest Noon", he mentions that he got the nickname "Blind 'Arry" after being gassed in the First World War, and he also mentions that he was a sapper. He wears several rows of medal ribbons and multiple loose medals, suggesting – if authentic – a distinguished previous military career.
 * Professor Hilary Ambrose – James Laurenson (2014–2017): appeared in two episodes. Ambrose is a theological scholar and friend of Father Brown.
 * Canon Damien Fox – Roger May (2016–2022): appeared in four episodes. He is a canon of the Diocese and reports to Bishop Reynard. Fox takes a dim view of Father Brown's unconventional ways.
 * Katherine Corven – Kate O'Flynn (2017–2018): appeared in two episodes. In "The Eagle and the Daw", she was in prison for murdering her husband. Father Brown had helped to convict her and was awaiting her execution. In "The Jackdaw's Revenge", she was cleared of the murder of her husband when someone else confessed: later in the episode she died from a gunshot.
 * Daniel Whittaker – Daniel Flynn (2015–2018): appeared in two episodes. Whittaker is a ruthless MI5 agent who blackmails Lady Felicia. In "The Man in the Shadows", he had Sid arrested on false charges after he entered an MI5 room. In "The Face of the Enemy", he compelled Lady Felicia to steal (by substitution) a roll of film from one of her lovers, an alleged Soviet spy, and had her arrested on false charges. Father Brown persuaded him to let her go.
 * Marianne Delacroix – Gina Bramhill (2016–2020). Flambeau's daughter is equally adept at theft. Two episodes.
 * Gerald Firth/Kalon – Michael Maloney (2013–2022). Founder and leader of the cult-like Church of Apollo. Two episodes.



Conception
BBC Daytime wanted a home-grown detective series for the weekday afternoons on BBC One. Original ideas from writers were pitched, but the BBC wanted something that was less risky and already well known. Father Brown had not been filmed for British television since the 1970s production that starred Kenneth More. Executive Producer John Yorke came up with the idea after hearing a radio documentary about G. K. Chesterton presented by Ann Widdecombe.

Writers were given the choice of adapting an existing story or coming up with an original idea. The Chesterton stories were set all over the world and at different times. Although half of the episodes in the first series were loosely based on the Chesterton stories, a decision was made to restrict the programme's location and date.

The Cotswolds was chosen because it had few modern buildings and was close to the production base in Birmingham. The 1950s were chosen because the detective could solve puzzles using his mind and knowledge of human nature instead of relying on modern technology. Despite this, the script sometimes includes anachronistic language (e.g., "secure the crime scene", "mojo"). The lead writers, Rachel Flowerday and Tahsin Guner, created the supporting characters. Other writers contributed stand-alone scripts that were not part of a story arc.

Production
The series is a BBC Studios Birmingham Drama Village production and filming for the first series of ten episodes of Father Brown began in the Cotswolds in summer 2012. The BBC renewed Father Brown for a second series of ten episodes in 2013. A third series of 15 episodes was commissioned in 2014. A fourth series of ten episodes was commissioned in 2015.

Filming
Filming takes place in the Gloucestershire village of Blockley using the Church of St Peter and St Paul, Blockley (Church of England) as the St Mary Roman Catholic church of the series and the vicarage transformed into the presbytery for Father Brown's residence. Other villages used are Winchcombe, Upper Slaughter, Kemerton and Guiting Power. Filming also took place at Winchcombe railway station and Toddington railway station on the heritage Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway. Sudeley Castle was the main location for "The Eye of Apollo". Princethorpe College, once a Catholic convent, now a secondary school, was used as St Agnes Convent in "The Bride of Christ" (2013).

Filming for the second series included the Warwickshire village of Ilmington. Chastleton House and Berkeley Castle were used to portray Pryde Castle in the episode broadcast on 8 January 2014. Kenilworth Castle in Warwickshire provided the location for the final resting place of the famed rosary in the episode "Mysteries of the Rosary" (2014). The gardens at Snowshill Manor featured in the same episode. The episode "The Time Machine", in series 3, was based around the Warwickshire estate of Alscot Park.

Filming has also taken place at Ashdown WW2 Camp, Evesham, Worcestershire, where the TV series Land Girls also was filmed. Laid out as a WW2 camp, Ashdown Camp is made up of 11 Nissen huts, air raid shelters, and outbuildings. Also used were the 1930s portion of Shire Hall, Warwick, headquarters of Warwickshire County Council; Bloxham School in Oxfordshire; and Worcester Guildhall. The former hospital at Moreton-in-Marsh was used for the new police station and for Father Brown's kitchen, study and presbytery.

Broadcast
BBC Worldwide has sold Father Brown to 232 territories, including, Australia (ABC and 7TWO), Belgium (VRT), the Netherlands (KRO-NCRV), BBC First (Dutch TV channel), Spain (Paramount Network), Portugal (FOX Crime), Finland (YLE), Sweden (TV8), Denmark (DR), Norway (NRK), Estonia (ETV), Iceland (RÚV), Italy (LA7), Croatia (HRT), and Brazil (TV Cultura). In the United States, Father Brown has been sold to 40 public television stations with a reach of 30% of all U.S. television households. The first four series were added to the Netflix streaming service on 31 March 2017. Series five and six were added later in 2019.

Spin-offs
In January 2020, it was announced that production had begun of a ten-episode series titled Sister Boniface Mysteries for BritBox, the streaming service. Lorna Watson returns as Sister Boniface. She played the character in 2013 in the Father Brown episode "The Bride of Christ". It was confirmed this series would air in early 2022, alongside the ninth series of the parent production. After debuting on BritBox, Sister Boniface Mysteries aired on Drama, with the DVD available from 16 May 2022. The spin-off has been renewed for a second series.

Mark Williams guest-stars, resuming his role as Father Brown, in Series 1 episode 4.

Home media
Father Brown is available on DVD on Region 1 in the United States and Canada via BBC Video. In the UK (Region 2), the series was released through Dazzler Media, and is available on both DVD and Blu-ray for all individual series set. Several sets featuring multiple series were also made available in the UK. In Australia (Region 4), the series was originally released via Roadshow Entertainment for its first six series, before the distribution rights were acquired by Universal Pictures Home Entertainment for subsequent series. However, Universal also acquired rights to the first six series for re-release on DVD.

The series is also available on DVD in the Netherlands and Germany.


 * Key
 * = Indicates availability only on DVD
 * = Indicates availability on both DVD & Blu-ray

Streaming
Since 2019, the series has been prominently featured on the Britbox streaming service in North America.