Sister Boniface Mysteries | Series 4 Preview (U&Drama)

Lorna Watson is back as TV’s number one Vespa driving, crime-solving, Catholic nun alongside Max Brown as DI Sam Gillespie, Jerry Iwu as DS Felix Livingstone and Ami Metcalf as WPC Peggy Button.

Guest stars this series include Elaine C Smith (Two Doors Down), Tony Gardner (Last Tango in Halifax), Phil Cornwell (Stella Street), Gordon Kennedy (Vera, Harlots) and Peter Wright (Vanity Fair).

In Series 4, a bucking bronco goes haywire on the set of a game show, a killer scarecrow stalks the streets of Great Slaughter, the Scottish invade, a femme fatale drops to her death in a stunt gone wrong and to top it all CC Lowsley (Robert Dawes) has arranged something called “team building”.

Episode 1: American TV show “Foxman” is filming it’s series finale at Lord Matthew Sedgewick’s (Sam Alexander) stately home. Walt North (Dan Skinner) plays Foxman but he is less than gracious to Brett Hyde (Nathan McMullen) who plays sidekick Beaver, frequently upstaging him.

To make matters worse dedicated producer/director Hank Sawyer (David Bedella) has hired the biggest diva in England to play the Minx, Camilla Cattermole (Elisabeth Dermot Walsh). Camilla is instantly attracted to Sam (Max Brown) but he is drawn to her long suffering twin sister and stunt double, Jane (Elisabeth Dermot Walsh). Later Camilla insists on doing the ziplining stunt herself, but the rope breaks and she plummets to her death!

Sister Boniface (Lorna Watson) discovers the rope was sabotaged, but by whom? Meanwhile Reverend Mother Adrian (Carolyn Pickles) informs Lord Sedgewick, landlord to St Vincent’s, that the convent roof needs urgent repairs. The Earl admits that depends on the money from the filming coming through. But with the lead actress dead is this the end for Foxman and the convent? It’s Sister Boniface to the rescue!

Episode 2: It’s the annual Scarecrow Festival in Great Slaughter and the locals proudly display their scarecrows hoping for a chance at the cash prize. Conceited Martin Hubbard (Tony Gardner) is favourite to win with his Winston Churchill scarecrow. He teases naive Charlie Sanderson (Tommy Belshaw) about his entry and publicly admonishes his sister Sandra Hubbard (Anna Crilly) for helping nervous fellow contestant Clementine Bell (Kate Kordel) with a quick repair on her scarecrow’s clothes.

As judge CC Lowsley (Robert Daws) arrives Martin even attempts to get Clementine disqualified! Martin will stop at nothing to win, even intimidating the officious event organiser Alan Yarrow (Ben Rufus Green) as he collects entry fees. As the festival gets underway Sister Reginald (Virginia Foil) and Miss Thimble (Sarah Crowden) go to check out Martin’s scarecrow, only to be faced with his lifeless body, his mouth stuffed with straw!

Sister Boniface (Lorna Watson) and Sam (Max Brown) investigate, but their main lead is Miss Thimble who claims a scarecrow killed Martin. Miss Thimble can’t be right, can she?!

Episode 3: Mrs Clam’s (Belinda Lang) fun-loving sister Jeanie McIntyre (Elaine C Smith) returns to Great Slaughter after decades living in Scotland. She is planning a surprise birthday ceilidh for Mrs Clam and has travelled down with jovial husband Angus (Gordon Kennedy) and musician son Callum (Calum Gulvin).

They are joined by the rest of the ceilidh band; the severe John Adams (John Mackay) and his children, browbeaten Jimmy (Joseph Prowen) and vulnerable Maggie (Alyth Ross). Mrs Clam is shocked to see her family and disapproving of her brother-in-law Angus in particular.

John refuses to let Jimmy and Maggie go to the pub that night but they creep out anyway and play music for the punters, with Maggie singing beautifully. They are soon interrupted by a furious John who declares there will be no ceilidh and drags his children away. The next morning John’s body is found slain under the cake table in the village hall. Can Sister Boniface locate the murder weapon and identify the killer before the big night

Episode 4: The launch of Groovy Shoo’s fashionable new go-go boot approaches and the women working in the factory are informed they must work longer hours by stingy owner Arthur Millington (Peter Wight). Union leader Bernice McDowell (Dani Moseley) complains to friend Daisy Dunn (Amy Murphy) that they should be paid overtime but hard-up Daisy doesn’t want to rock the boat. Arthur’s artist niece Pamela (Grace Molony) surprises them with a visit, claiming she’d like a chat with her uncle.

At the Spitfire that evening Pamela’s feckless brother Dermot (Josh James) loudly declares that the women should stop moaning, you don’t hear the men complaining about their overtime pay. Before Arthur can shut Dermot up, Bernice hears and rushes out to speak to the men.

The next morning Arthur is found dead on his office floor and Sister Boniface (Lorna Watson) smells bitter almonds; he was poisoned! Meanwhile, Dermot mishandles the women’s pay dispute resulting in a women’s strike. Sister Boniface must tread carefully as she navigates the picket line, hot on the heels of a killer.

Episode 5: Game show Let The Games Begin is filming in Great Slaughter and CC Lowsley (Robert Daws) has his eyes on the cash prize to raise funds for the retired police dog charity. The gang are forced to audition, with only Lowsley and Felix (Jerry Iwu) succeeding.

Lowsley is paired with Mrs Clam (Belinda Lang), Felix with spiky aspiring actress Denise (Keturah Chambers) and Norman (Jack Gouldbourne) with Miss Thimble (Sarah Crowden). Presenter Freddie Fuller (Jonny Weldon) is not as charming as on TV, belittling his long-suffering PA Malcolm Everett (Joe Tracini) and refusing to share the limelight with glamourous assistant Angela Ainsworth (Hayley Johnston).

Freddie prematurely announces that the show is moving to the USA, infuriating the producer Giles Penistone (Bob Barrett). For the second task Bucking Bronco champion Brad takes the reins of the mechanical bull. But as the switch is flicked he is electrocuted! Sister Boniface (Lorna Watson) declares this was murder and the intended victim; Freddie. Can Sister Boniface and Sam (Max Brown) find the killer before they strike again?

Episode 6: Sam (Max Brown), Felix (Jerry Iwu) and Peggy (Ami Metcalf) are horrified to discover their surprise weekend away is at an old army base. CC Lowsley (Robert Daws) introduces enthusiastic ex cop Len Shepherd (Phil Cornwell) who will lead them in team building exercises.

They will be competing against their rivals Stowington Police. Cocksure DI Jack Stagg (Jay Taylor), ambitious DS Heather Thorne and naive PC Rupert Beagle (Tyler-Jo Richardson) are led by Lowsley’s enemy, the proud CC Horace Winthrop (Mark McDonnell). The prize they are all fighting for? The Police Team of the Year Award. The tasks get underway and it is clear Stowington will use dirty tactics to win.

Winthrop frequently undermines his team and clearly has history with Len. The next day they discover Winthrop’s room locked and Sam kicks down the door, finding Winthrop dead. At first glance it’s an accidental death however Sister Boniface (Lorna Watson) finds evidence to the contrary. But how did the killer escape a locked room? Can the Great Slaughter team identify the killer and win that award?!

Episode 7:  Reverend Mother Adrian (Carolyn Pickles) surprises the sisters with a wholesome weekend away. However they soon encounter a group of naked hedonists frolicking in the swimming pool! Sister Reg (Virginia Fiol) recognises Charity Gray (Genesis Lynea) who she used to work with back in Soho. Charity is joined by her lovers inventor Miles Fletcher (Oliver Dench), hairdresser Vivian Ashbrook (Sophie Ablett) and Dr Saatvik Bose (Jaz Singh Deol).

The house has been double booked and Charity’s friends insist they can’t leave; it is Charity’s birthday tomorrow. Reverend Mother surprisingly claims there is room for all of them and they continue with their plans. After dinner Reverend Mother allows the sisters to play charades with Charity and her friends.

Charity teases Sister Reg about her past indiscretions until Sister Reg shouts at her to “shut up”. The next morning there is a scream from Miles who has found Charity dead in her bed. Sister Boniface (Lorna Watson) suspects poison. As evidence racks up against Sister Reg, Sister Boniface endeavours to uncover the killer and discover why Reverend Mother is being so uncharacteristically nice.

Episode 8: Great Slaughter’s Quincentennial Celebration approaches, culminating in Reverend Mother Adrian (Carolyn Pickles) and Lord Matthew Sedgewick (Sam Alexander) symbolically handing a key over to the new owner of St Vincent’s, property developer Ronny Panesar (Alistair Toovey).

In the chapel, town councillor Lynn Goodwin (Emily Joyce) reveals the model for the new housing development to Ruth Penny (Miranda Raison) who has returned to cover the story. Sister Boniface (Lorna Watson) tries to be enthusiastic but Sam (Max Brown) is devasted at their impending separation. Later an argument breaks out between Sister Boniface’s heroine and archaeologist Sister Helena (Rachel Bell) and Lynn and Ronny.

The sister wants to document the chapel before they rip out the historic interiors. Mere hours later Sister Helena, is found dead in the chapel, having been bludgeoned over the head. Can Sister Boniface catch the killer before the nuns are forced to leave Great Slaughter for good?

Sister Boniface Mysteries returns Friday 26th September on U&Drama.