Interview: Father Brown Season 11, Mark Williams Reveals the Secrets Behind the Crime-Solving Priest

In the highly anticipated eleventh series of the popular daytime crime drama Father Brown, Mark Williams returns as the crime-solving priest alongside a talented guest cast that includes Sylvester McCoy, Ingrid Oliver, Ian Gelder, and John Light. The show, made by BBC Studios Drama Production for BBC One and BBC iPlayer, captivates audiences with its intriguing mysteries and much loved characters. Mark recently spilled the beans on the new season.

Mark Williams, known for his charismatic portrayal of Father Brown, reveals the continuing appeal 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’s constant curiosity and interest in the world around him are qualities Williams finds easy to generate, as he shares, “He is fascinated by the arrangement of life itself and the way people deal with each other and the things they don’t say… It’s very much the same for him. He has that Miss Marple thing of being the quiet observer.”

As for the highlights of the new series, Williams hints at exciting storylines, saying, “We have got some very good plots this year… 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.” Williams also reveals that he contributed his own plot idea for the series, revolving around a dance competition, showcasing the diverse talents of the regular cast.

Discussing the guest stars on Father Brown, Williams expresses his admiration for their work, stating, “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… It’s great because not only do we move locations regularly, but we have different cast members, too.”

When asked about his performance as Father Brown, Williams acknowledges the influence of American detective series like Colombo and the late Peter Falk, saying, “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.” Williams also reveals his excitement about incorporating Colombo references into Father Brown, adding a touch of nostalgia for fans of the classic series.

Exploring the unique role of clergy in crime solving, Williams explains, “Because they’re outside society… 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.” Father Brown, driven by a desire to restore peace and justice, offers a distinctive approach to solving mysteries, focusing not only on intellectual puzzles but also on the well-being of the individuals involved.

When asked about his future plans on the show, Williams refuses to make any long-term commitments, remarking, “I don’t really do that. I think it’s bad for the soul… You never know whether you’re going to work again, which is one of the cruelties of this business, along with rejection.” Williams’s humble perspective reminds us of the challenges actors face in an unpredictable industry.

With its universal appeal and captivating storytelling, Father Brown has struck a chord with audiences around the world. Williams believes the show’s success lies in its ability to provide resolution and insight into the human condition, saying, “It’s solved. So you can put it away afterwards and say, ‘Right, that’s good. We solved that. We learned about the human condition.’”

Even in unconventional places, Father Brown’s impact is evident, as Williams shares a heartwarming anecdote, “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.”

As Father Brown returns to BBC One this January for its eleventh series, viewers can look forward to more thrilling mysteries, heartfelt performances, and the unwavering determination of Mark Williams’s beloved character.