The enduringly popular BBC daytime drama Father Brown has been renewed not only for a twelfth season but also for a thirteenth instalment, assuring fans that this beloved series will remain on their screens for the foreseeable future. Filming for Season 12 has commenced in Birmingham and the Cotswolds, with an expected premiere in early 2025.
Based on the short stories by G.K. Chesterton, Father Brown follows a Roman Catholic priest with an uncanny knack for solving mysteries. The titular character, played by Mark Williams, is an unlikely but formidable detective, offering gentle yet astute observations of village life and human nature. The show blends mystery, humour, and exploration of the human condition, all set in the fictional village of Kembleford in the Cotswolds during the mid-to-late 1950s.
Williams reprises his role, along with a talented supporting cast, including Claudie Blakley as Mrs. Devine, John Burton as Sergeant Goodfellow, and Tom Chambers as Chief Inspector Sullivan.
The longevity of the show and its global success are testament to its compelling storytelling and the magnetic performance of its lead actor. Williams himself has expressed his continued enthusiasm for the character, “as we start the 12th season of Father Brown I feel like I’m starting to get to know him. He’s a mysterious sort of bloke, the sort of person who you can never predict other than knowing he won’t do what you expect. The best thing about playing the character is that I am never, ever bored by him.”
Season 12 promises to deliver cosy village life, beautiful scenery, thoughtful observations, and intriguing murders. The synopsis reveals exciting developments: Mrs Devine and Chief Inspector Sullivan’s wedding plans are thrown into turmoil by a surprise visit from the groom’s father, while Sergeant Goodfellow’s professional future is called into question. Brenda finds herself ballroom dancing on national television, and Father Brown encounters a deadly new nemesis, in addition to receiving a top-secret mission from a cardinal, which leads him to enlist the help of his old adversary, Flambeau.
