Father Brown is set to return for its thirteenth series on BBC One this Friday, 9 January. Mark Williams, the iconic actor portraying the titular priest since 2013, spoke on BBC Morning Live about this much-anticipated new season.
One of the season’s most exciting developments is the unexpected return of Mrs Bridgette McCarthy, played by Sorcha Cusack. Mrs McCarthy, the beloved Irish parish secretary and loyal friend to Father Brown, originally appeared from the show’s first episode in 2013 but departed after the ninth series in 2022.
Known for her warm hospitality—including her famous prize-winning strawberry scones—and sharp local gossip, Mrs McCarthy was a grounding presence in Father Brown’s life. Before leaving, the character moved to Ireland to be closer to her sister.
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Now, after a four-year absence, Mrs McCarthy is back in Kembleford. A preview clip teases her first encounter with Father Brown since her departure. Mark Williams shared insights about her comeback during his BBC Morning Live interview: “Mrs McCarthy comes back on a mission, and of course, he’s always been really fond of her. She’s a touchstone for him. He relied on her common sense and grounding. So he’s very pleased to see her, and her him, I think! But thereby hangs a tale—things get rather complicated very quickly.”
The upcoming series also features beloved returning characters like Inspector Sullivan (Tom Chambers), Mrs Isabel Sullivan (Claudie Blakley), Brenda (Ruby-May Martinwood), and Sergeant Goodfellow (John Burton). Other returning favorites include Lady Felicia (Nancy Carroll), Hercule Flambeau (John Light), Father Lazarus (Lex Shrapnel), Canon Fox (Roger May), and Father Lindsey (Kieran Hodgson).
Guests in the new season include Maureen Lipman, Julia Sawalha, Phil Daniels, Debra Stephenson, Davood Ghadami, Kevin Harvey, George Rainsford, and Timothy Watson, joining Mark Williams in this internationally acclaimed detective drama produced by BBC Studios Drama Productions for BBC One and iPlayer.
Father Brown returns Friday 9 January at 2pm, airing on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.