FATHER BROWN RENEWED FOR FURTHER TWO SERIES ON BBC ONE, MARK WILLIAMS REPRISES ROLE AS FILMING BEGINS

Mark Williams returns as the popular crime busting clergyman in the hit series made by BBC Studios Drama Productions for BBC One and iPlayer.

With filming having recently started again in the Cotswolds, Series 14 of Father Brown sees the return of popular cast members Tom Chambers as Inspector Sullivan, Claudie Blakley as Mrs Isabel Sullivan and John Burton as Sergeant Goodfellow, as well as other fan-favourite semi regular cast including Nancy Carroll as Lady Felicia, Lex Shrapnel as Father Lazarus, Roger May as Bishop Fox and Kieran Hodgson as Father Lindsey.

Hannah Bristow also joins the cast in Series 14 as Rita Flint, Father Brown’s new no nonsense housekeeper who has a rocky start to her position. As ever, there will also be a host of exciting guest cast across the series, including Bill Bailey and Clive Mantle.

Series 14 sees Father Brown and the team in the thick of murder and mystery yet again in 1955 Kembleford, solving cases involving magicians and meals on wheels, avant-garde artists and deadly spiders on the loose. While it might seem like business as usual, it is far from it, with Father Brown receiving a call from Father Lazarus, fresh from another prison break and hell-bent on revenge. The return of Father Brown’s most dangerous nemesis looms, testing the padre throughout the series before building to an exhilarating series finale.

Mark Williams says: “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...”

Helen Munson, Commissioning Editor at the BBC says: “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.

Neil Irvine, Executive Producer for BBC Studios Drama Productions says: “I’m delighted that Mark Williams is returning as Father Brown for a further two series and that his creative contribution has been recognised with an EP credit. With Hannah joining us to play intriguing new housekeeper Rita and Father Lazarus returning for a thrilling endgame, this series promises to be the most exciting yet.”

Father Brown series 14 will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer early next year. Details about series 15 will be released in due course.