Father Brown returned to BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Friday, 9 January, launching its eagerly awaited series 13. Mark Williams reprises his role as the charming and clever crime-solving priest inspired by GK Chesterton’s classic stories.
The latest series airs weekly at 2pm and features familiar faces such as Tom Chambers as Inspector Sullivan, Claudie Blakley as Mrs. Isabel Sullivan, Ruby-May Martinwood as Brenda, and John Burton as Sergeant Goodfellow. Returning alongside them are Nancy Carroll as Lady Felicia, John Light as Hercule Flambeau, Lex Shrapnel as Father Lazarus, Roger May as Canon Fox, and Kieran Hodgson as Father Lindsey.
A highlight for longtime fans is the return of Sorcha Cusack as Mrs. McCarthy after a four-year absence. The series also welcomes guest stars including Coronation Street’s Maureen Lipman and Absolutely Fabulous’ Julia Sawalha.
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The show’s authentic charm is enhanced by its breathtaking filming locations, primarily set in the fictional village of Kembleford but shot across the picturesque Cotswolds and Gloucestershire. The Church of St Peter and St Paul in Blockley stands in as Father Brown’s parish church and is among the many beautiful sites featured.
Mark Williams spoke warmly about the locations that stood out to him in series 13: “My father was an architect and encouraged me to appreciate buildings.” He singled out several exceptional venues, saying, “This year has been an absolute pleasure to film. We shot at a remarkable National Trust-owned pub, The Fleece Inn, a disused convent with a chapel designed by Ninian Comper that is a true gem, the finest Baroque church in the UK at Great Witley, and even a real prison.”
Williams added, “Filming in such remarkable buildings really helps to set the scene.”
Ruby-May Martinwood, who plays Brenda, also praised the natural beauty and atmosphere of the filming locations. She recalled, “We had a Father Brown Run Club organised by the wonderful camera crew, which was fun for everyone to bond and stay fit. Mark’s spirit, experience, and humour kept the whole cast going through each day.” Reflecting on memorable scenes, she noted, “We filmed a yoga episode in an especially beautiful Cotswolds location—we’re very fortunate to work in such a stunning part of the country.”
Series 13 also features a change of scenery with scenes filmed at Weston-super-Mare beach. Mark Williams shared his enthusiasm for this coastal setting: “I’ve wanted the show to visit the seaside for years because a charabanc trip is so evocative of the 1950s. Weston-super-Mare was the obvious choice as the closest seaside to the Midlands. We had a fantastic time there, enjoyed the classic fish and chips, and were joined by guest stars Maureen Lipman, Alex Macqueen, and Julia Sawalha.”
The new series picks up after the joyful wedding of the Sullivans. The story follows their adjustment to married life with Isabel becoming part of the Policeman’s Wives Society, while Brenda embarks on a journey of self-empowerment by learning to drive and taking on the role of Parish Secretary. Father Brown faces new challenges when Flambeau asks him to visit Father Lazarus in prison, igniting a tense game of cat and mouse that unsettles Canon Fox.
With Bishop-Elect Fox’s consecration imminent, he sets plans into motion that threaten to upend life in Kembleford. Notably, for the first time, Father Brown and his friends take a trip to the seaside, adding a fresh dynamic to the series.
Catch Father Brown series 13 every Friday at 2pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.