Father Brown, set in the picturesque fictional Cotswold village of Kembleford, is a BBC period drama set in the 1950s. The series title character, Father Brown, is a Catholic priest. Further to being the priest at St Mary’s Catholic Church, Father Brown likes to solve murder cases.

Image Credit: IMDb.com

Father Brown’s passion for solving crimes frequently annoys the local bumbling police inspector because his success rate is unblemished. As for the police inspector himself, he has a tendency to arrest the wrong people.

The Britain we see in these episodes is vastly different than the one we see today. Even though it has been several years since the Second World War ended, Britons are still struggling with deprivations and various other hardships.

During the period in which the series is set, the death penalty still exists in the United Kingdom. Father Brown adamantly opposes capital punishment.

Series Main Cast

Mark Williams — Father Brown

Sorcha Cusack — Bridgette “Mrs M” McCarthy

Emer Kenny — Lady Penelope “Bunty” Windermere

Jack Deam — Inspector Gerry Mallory

John Burton — Sergeant Daniel Goodfellow

Series Recurring Characters

Roger May — Canon Damien Fox

John Light — M. Hercule Flambeau

Gina Bramhill — Marianne Delacroix

Jonathan Rigby — Radio Commentator (voice)

Alan Williams — Harold “Blind ‘Arry” Slow

The series eight premiere finds the Kembleford Choristers in fine form under Bridgette “Mrs M” McCarthy’s (Sorcha Cusack) leadship. Kembleford Choristers succeed in making into the final stage of the much-coveted Three Counties Choir Competition. Taking place at Worcester Cathedral, the 1953 final promises many surprises.

Not wanting to have anyone arrive late to the final, Mrs M arranges for a coach to take the choristers from the village to the cathedral. With one of the choir members being ill, Mrs M talks Felicia, Lady Montague (Nancy Carroll) into singing.

Sergeant Daniel Goodfellow (John Burton) is part of Mrs M’s merry group. Inspector Gerry Mallory (Jack Deam), who’s daughter is singing in a junior competition, joins the group as they travel to the competition. Then there is, of course, Father Brown (Mark Williams). One can’t have a Father Brown episode without the series title character.

On route to the cathedral, events conspire to prevent the Kembleford Choristers from reaching the competition in time. Even though Father Brown and Inspector Mallory suspect sabotage by one of the choristers, Mrs M suspects a rival choir master might have had a hand in their troubles. Does someone have a dark secret they would rather keep hidden?

Guest Appearances in The Celestial Choir

Ashley Campbell — Wesley Summerton

Sarah Ingram — Barbara Curtley

Daisy Maywood — Audrey Belchant

Joseph Prowen — Nicholas Curtley

Hugh Sachs — Lawrence Ashton

Nancy Carroll — Felicia, Lady Montague

Beatie May (Annabelle Apsion), beekeeper and an overly protective mother, is found dead in a smoke-filled room. Whilst Inspector Gerry Mallory (Jack Deam) arrests Shambu Maier (Reece Bahia), mainly because of his dangerous practical jokes, the real killer remained at large.

When it is revealed Ms May had changed her will, we discover Mr Maier’s true parentage. Reflecting this truth, Ms May bestows on the boy a large diamond. The diamond is hidden somewhere on her property. Finding the diamond means unlocking coded anagram. Does Mr Maier have the skills it takes to unlock the code?

Father Brown (Mark Williams) comes to believe Eileen Slither (Pippa Haywood) might have had a hand in Ms May’s untimely death. Ms Slither and Ms May had been neighbours for at least sixty years. Could a missing cake and a photograph of Ms May’s gardener provide the Catholic priest with the answer?

Guest Appearances in The Queen Bee

Annabelle Apsion — Beatie May

Reece Bahia — Shambu Maier

Grace Molony — Hannah Baxley

Pippa Haywood — Eileen Slither

Nigel Planer — Ronnie Grunion

Inspector Gerry Mallory (Jack Deam) arrests Lady Penelope “Bunty” Windermere (Emer Kenny) for the murder of wealthy socialite Teddy Neville-Crowley (Ziggy Heath). The victim had been bludgeoned to death. During a party held at the victim’s residence, Bunty was the last person seen with Mr Neville-Crowley.

Seconds before the police inspector arrests Bunty, Father Brown (Mark Williams) notes there is a bloodstain on her dress. Mr Neville-Crowley, according to Bunty, was behaving in an ungentlemanly manner. Even though Bunty hit Mr Neville-Crowley with a branch, Bunty has no recollection of hitting him more than once.

During the trial, we find prosecuting barrister Roger Sharpe QC (Nick Fletcher) attack Bunty’s dubious morals. Even though Inspector Mallory is adamant of Bunty’s guilt, Father Brown (Mark Williams) and Sergeant Daniel Goodfellow (John Burton) tirelessly work to prove their friend innocent of the crime.

During their investigation, despite Inspector Mallory’s objections, Father Brown and Sergeant Goodfellow discover Mr Neville-Crowley was being blackmailed. What connection did Mr Neville-Crowley have with a secret baby and a mother that had committed suicide?

Guest Appearances in The Scales of Justice

Julian Forsyth — Judge Gordon Pickering

Alice Bailey Johnson — Margot Neville-Crowley

Rob Callender — Max Neville-Crowley

Ziggy Heath — Teddy Neville-Crowley

Aki Omoshaybi — Charlie Reid

Robert Portal — Bertie Quinton QC

Nick Fletcher — Roger Sharpe QC

Jacob Shephard — Andrew Grimes

A “Convention of Merriment,” led by former Chief Inspector Sir Toby Dobson (Neil Pearson) arrives in Kembleford. Kembleford is the home of Uncle Mirth. The “Convention of Merriment” is a fair of jesters.

When discredited Dr Belmont (Annabel Cleare) stumbles into the fair and dies, Father Brown (Mark Williams), Bridgette “Mrs M” McCarthy (Sorcha Cusack), and Lady Penelope “Bunty” Windermere (Emer Kenny) find themselves in the midst of a group of grieving souls acting as vigilantes righting wrongs throughout the country.

Guest Appearances in The Wisdom of the Fool

Annabel Cleare — Dr Belmont

Neil Pearson — Sir Toby Dobson

Alexander Morris — Fred Dobson

Paul Copley — Mr Feste

Natey Jones — Doodle

Emily Joyce — Edith Dobson

Hercule Flambeau (John Light) seeks Father Brown’s (Mark Williams) help to catch the thief Alexander Romanici. It is soon revealed Alexander Romanici is none other than Flambeau’s own daughter Marianne Delacroix (Gina Bramhill).

Knowing how her father operates, Ms Delacroix has been beating her father to the things that he wants to steal. Unfortunately for her, one of the people she steals from is Italian mafia don Vincenzo Murgida (Vincenzo Nicoli). Mr Murgida will kill to recover his property.

Father Brown is asked to referee a contest between father and daughter to determine which one of them is the better thief. The loser must not only give up their life of crime, they must also relinquish their entire collection of stolen objects.

Having agreed to referee the contest, the Catholic priest devises a contest where Mr Flambeau and Ms Delacroix must retrieve five chess pieces. The winner at the end of the contest is the person in possession of the most chess pieces. Neither Mr Flambeau or Father Brown realise Ms Delacroix has made a deal with Mr Murgida. With the being no honour amongst thieves, it doesn’t look like Mr Murgida intends to hold up his side of the deal.

Guest Appearances in The Folly of Jephthah

Hannah Morrish — Pippa Thubron

Simon Schatzberger — Alan Filchett

Vincenzo Nicoli — Vincenzo Murgida

Bridgette “Mrs M” McCarthy’s (Sorcha Cusack) sister, Roisin Crayford (Niamh Cusack), shows up in Kembleford. Since neither Father Brown (Mark Williams) nor Lady Penelope “Bunty” Windermere (Emer Kenny) were aware Mrs M had a sister, this comes as a huge surprise. Mrs Crayford, with a husband in prison, owes money to loan sharks.

Not long after Mrs Crayford arrived in Kembleford, she made friends with Romani traveller Trafalgar Devlin (Grant Masters). Devlin was apparently an accomplished fortune teller and curse lifter.

When Mrs Crayford and her elder sister visit with Mr Devlin, the fortune teller reads their tea leaves. He reveals to the women the winning numbers in a coming charity bingo game. The top prize is £750. A game Mrs M wins.

Mrs M, as promised, gives half the money to bingo organiser Samuel Hinds (Nigel Betts). Mr Hinds is desperate for money because the cost of the church roof restoration had bloomed significantly.

Peter Bailey (Graeme Hawley), a schizophrenia sufferer, is at the event with his wife Anna Bailey (Alison Pargeter). When Mrs Bailey is discovered dead and Mr Bailey holding the murder weapon, Inspector Gerry Mallory (Jack Deam) arrests him. Is there a connection between the bingo organiser, Mrs M winning £750, and the Baileys?

Guest Appearances in The Numbers of the Beast

Niamh Cusack — Roisin Crayford

Grant Masters — Trafalgar Devlin

Nigel Betts — Samuel Hinds

Graeme Hawley — Peter Bailey

Alison Pargeter — Anna Bailey

Sidney “Sid” Carter (Alex Price), accompanied by his new girlfriend Maeve Lochlin (Bronté Terrell), returns to Kembleford aboard Pat Lochlin’s (Ian Puleston-Davies) narrowboat. Mr Lochlin is witnessed arguing with local factory owner Roger Barford (Andrew Whipp) in a local pub.

Shortly thereafter, Mr Barford is found dead. Mr Barford was bludgeoned to death with a fisherman’s priest. Contextually speaking, not that this isn’t common knowledge, a fisherman’s priest is a tool used to dispatch a catch after it is caught. Mr Barford is found with the receipt of a gold necklace stuffed into his mouth.

Asked to investigate the issue by Sid and Maeve, Father Brown (Mark Williams) soon discovers barmaid Polly Beavington (Gabrielle Creevy) used to work at Mr Barford’s factory before she was dismissed. It was Mr Barford that had found Ms Beavington a job at the canalside pub. Was she dismissed from the factory because she was pregnant or was there another reason?

Mr Lochlin, asked by Mr Barford to collect an object from a jewellery store, had switched a valuable necklace with a cheaper less valuable chain. Father Brown discovers Mr Barford, even though Mrs Barford had suspected him of fidelity, truly loved his childless wife.

Guest Appearances in The River Corrupted

Alex Price — Sidney “Sid” Carter

Bronté Terrell — Maeve Lochlin

Ian Puleston-Davies — Pat Lochlin

Gabrielle Creevy — Polly Beavington

Andrew Whipp — Roger Barford

Hannah Yelland — Georgia Barford

An artist’s muse, Isabella Peroux (Grainne O’Mahony), is presumed dead after her suicide letter is discovered at the top of a sea-facing cliff face. There was no trace of a body.

Father Brown (Mark Williams), Bridgette “Mrs M” McCarthy (Sorcha Cusack), and Lady Penelope “Bunty” Windermere (Emer Kenny) are drawn into Benjamin Milton’s (George Webster) obsessive world when attending the artist’s exhibition.

When Nanny Ribble (Harriet Thorpe) is murdered, with art collector Conrad French (Justin Avoth) having been nearly electrocuted, Mr Milton concludes he must be next. Is there more to Mr French’s story than first meets the eye?

Guest Appearances in The Curse of the Aesthetic

Grainne O’Mahony — Isabella Peroux

George Webster — Benjamin Milton

Justin Avoth — Conrad French

Rhiannon Neads — Katie Milton

Danielle Phillips — Rose Vickers

Harriet Thorpe — Nanny Ribble

Lady Penelope “Bunty” Windermere (Emer Kenny) helps her new boyfriend, Harvey St Gardner (Ben Lamb) and his sister, fashion designer, Lady Vivien St Gardner-Verde (Rosalie Craig) hold a fashion show in Kembleford. Bunty, being the generous hostess she is, invites the entire entourage to stay with her at Montague Hall.

They are followed from London to Kembleford by journalist/gossip columnist Barbara Farrell (Amanda Lawrence) who has Bunty, Harvey, Vivien and her husband Sir Ralf and top model Camille in her sights. The journalist is angry with Mr St Gardner for getting her fired from her London newspaper.

When Ms Farrell is discovered dead by Father Brown (Mark Williams), Bridgette “Mrs M” McCarthy (Sorcha Cusack), and Bunty, secrets pertaining to opium usage, gambling debts, and the cryptic message of deadheading the roses lead the trio to a back street abortion clinic in London’s EastEnd.

Guest Appearances in The Fall of the House of St Gardner

Rosalie Craig — Lady Vivien St Gardner-Verde

Ingvild Lakou — Camille Hogan

Ben Lamb — Harvey St Gardner

Amanda Lawrence — Barbara Farrell

Nick Waring — Sir Ralph Verde

When Reginald Brody is found dead at the bottom of Helmsley Tower, given the circumstances, Inspector Gerry Mallory (Jack Deam) immediately concludes the casuse of death is suicide. Even though Inspctor Mallory believes Mr Brody jumped from the tower, one owned by Alistair Hemsley MP (Gyuri Sarossy), Chief Inspector Valentine (Hugo Speer) returns and takes over the case.

Sidelining both Inspector Mallory and Sergeant Daniel Goodfellow (John Burton) to following up leads, even though the inspector is visibly annoyed, Chief Inspector Valentine chooses to work with Father Brown (Mark Williams).

The chief inspector believes the presence of a red scarf around Mr Brody’s neck when his bost was discovered was a message indicating the death wasn’t a suicide. Chief Inspector Valentine, given his experience of Kembleford, reminds Inspector the nothing about the village has even been “plain and simple.”

Eight-years earlier, Chief Inspector Valentine had arrested Mr Body’s son, Phillip, for murdering Natasha Lipinski. Father Brown was, according to Bridgette “Mrs M” McCarthy (Sorcha Cusack), was in Rome at the time Ms Lipinski was murdered. Mr Brody’s son was convicted and sent to prison. He died in prison. The chief inspector has come to believe he arrested the wrong person.

During the investigation, Chief Inspector Valentine is discovered on Helmsley Tower’s roof top by Inspector Mallory and Sergeant Goodfellow next to William Helmsley’s (James Anderson) dead body. With the murder weapon in the chief inspector’s hand and the only appearnt way onto the roof blocked with a chair, Inspector Mallory arrests his superior officer. Mr Helmsley was the MP’s brother.

Adding a further level of annoyance for Inspector Mallory, Chief Inspector Sullivan (Tom Chambers) returns to investigate Chief Inspector Valentine’s arrest. Once again, Inspector Mallory is moved aside by a chief inspector. Favouring to work with Father Brown, Chief Inspector Sullivan treats Inspector Mallory and Sergeant Goodfellow in the same manner previously seen by Chief Inspector Valentine.

What is the connection between Ms Lipinski to the more recent murders of Mr Brody and Mr Helmsley? Mr Helmsley references an evil shrine hidden behind a curtain. Is this a lead Father Brown, Mrs M, and Lady Penelope “Bunty” Windermere (Emer Kenny) can follow?

Guest Appearances in The Tower of Lost Souls

Cal MacAninch — George Oakley

Gyuri Sarossy — Alistair Helmsley MP

Hugo Speer — Chief Inspector Valentine

Susannah Wise — Emily Helmsley

James Anderson — William Helmsley

Tom Chambers — Chief Inspector Sullivan

The ninth series of Father Brown is scheduled for 2021.