Father Brown, the BBC’s beloved cosy crime drama, has confirmed that season 14 has begun filming – and even better, that two more seasons are on the way. The exciting news will delight fans of the series, which centres on the titular crime-solving clergyman played by Mark Williams.
It’s also been announced that, as filming started again recently in the Cotswolds, a number of other popular characters will be returning, including Tom Chambers’ Inspector Sullivan, Claudie Blakley’s Mrs Isabel Sullivan and John Burton’s Sergeant Goodfellow.
In addition, Nancy Carroll will return as Lady Felicia, along with Lex Shrapnel as Father Lazarus, Roger May as Bishop Fox and Kieran Hodgson as Father Lindsey. A new character is also set to join for series 14: Rita Flint, described by the BBC as Father Brown’s “new no nonsense housekeeper”, who apparently has a rocky start.
BBC
As fans will expect, there’s also set to be a host of exciting guest stars across the series, with comedian and Strictly star Bill Bailey and Casualty’s Clive Mantle announced.
Alongside the filming announcement, Mark Williams said: “We started filming series 14 of Father Brown in the first week of April and while it’s always a wrench to leave my garden at home when it’s just burgeoning, the Cotswold countryside makes up for it.
“The trees are wearing their Swank-coats of blossom: Hawthorn, Apple, Pear and Blackthorn, and the splendid white and pink Cherries. There are lots of Magnolias too, looking like enormous wedding bouquets, and all the trees are coming into leaf. I love the Horse Chestnut leaves still drooping, not yet plumped up. The grass looks worthy of the Salad Bowl and the arable fields are greening. If you are not careful you could come over all poetic; but we’ve got 10 shows to make – no time for versifying. Cassock on, let the sleuthing begin…”
Meanwhile Helen Munson, Commissioning Editor at the BBC, added: “He’s back! We are delighted to be working with BBC Studios again to give the devoted fans 2 more series of our crime fighting cleric. With top notch writing, fabulous cast and the beautiful Cotswold as the backdrop it’s no wonder that Father Brown continues to be a firm favourite with the audiences all over the world.”
Gary Moyes//BBC
And Father Brown certainly does have its fans, with many taking to IMDb to share their praise of the show across the different seasons.
One viewer branded it “marvellous nonsense”, going on to describe Father Brown as “delightful” and “fluffy”, before adding that “TV is missing more of this sort of silliness”.
Someone else said Father Brown was “glorious viewing”, adding that they found the series “quite wonderful”, “easy viewing”, “funny” and “intriguing”.
Another viewer said the series is “delightful”, going on to say: “The cast of talented actors make this lighthearted show binge worthy…”
Father Brown series 14 is coming to BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
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TV Editor, Digital Spy Laura has been watching television for over 30 years and professionally writing about entertainment for almost 10 of those. Previously at LOOK and now heading up the TV desk at the UK’s biggest TV and movies site Digital Spy, Laura has helped steer conversations around some of the most popular shows on the box. Laura has appeared on Channel 5 News and radio to talk viewing habits and TV recommendations. As well as putting her nerd-level Buffy knowledge to good use during an IRL meet with Sarah Michelle Gellar, Laura also once had afternoon tea with One Direction, has sat around the fire pit of the Love Island villa, spoken to Sir David Attenborough about the world’s oceans and even interviewed Rylan from inside the Big Brother house (housemate status, forever pending).