As the BBC begins filming on ‘Father Brown‘ Season 12, they have also announced Mark Williams’ crime-solving priest will return for Season 13.
Mark Williams is back as Father Brown, the charismatic clergyman sleuth based on the classic character created by GK Chesterton. The cosy-crime series also sees the return of popular cast members Tom Chambers as Chief Inspector Sullivan, Claudie Blakley as Mrs Devine, Ruby-May Martinwood as Brenda and John Burton as Sergeant Goodfellow.
Following the exciting proposal at the end of series 11, the sleepy village of Kembleford is abuzz with good news as Mrs Devine (Blakley) and Chief Inspector Sullivan (Chambers) look forward to their upcoming wedding. But when a surprise visit from the father of the groom quickly throws preparations into turmoil, will they even make it to the church?
“As we start the 12th season of Father Brown I feel like I’m starting to get to know him,” said star Mark Williams. “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.”
With a medieval death at a Tudor battle re-enactment, Mrs Devine finding herself accused of murder, Sergeant Goodfellow’s professional future thrown into question and Brenda ballroom dancing on national television, Father Brown and the gang are busier than ever. And when a Cardinal from the Vatican arrives with a top-secret mission for Father Brown, the priest must request the help of his old adversary Flambeau, while a new nemesis lurks in the shadows…
“Father Brown is a real favourite with Daytime and iPlayer viewers, so we couldn’t be more excited to commission both series 12 and 13 together, giving audiences another two years of new episodes to look forward to, and underlining our continued commitment to commissioning drama in the Midlands,” adds Head of BBC Daytime and Early Peak Commissioning Rob Unsworth.
‘Father Brown’, which first aired on BBC Daytime in 2013, is now a global success with 120 episodes made. Father Brown’s 11th series recently concluded on screen and averaged 2.5 million viewers. The series continues to be a hit internationally and is viewed by audiences in US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, India, Italy, France, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Hungary, Poland, Turkey, South Korea and Japan.
Father Brown is a BBC Studios Drama Production for BBC One and BBC iPlayer, commissioned by Rob Unsworth, Head of BBC Daytime and Early Peak commissioning. The Executive Producer for BBC Studios Drama Productions is Neil Irvine and the Series Producer is David Innes Edwards. Helen Munson is the Commissioning Editor for BBC Daytime. BBC Studios distributes Father Brown internationally.
“I’m delighted that Father Brown will be cycling back onto our screens for a further two series. The show has an enduring magic which has captured the imagination of viewers across the globe – a testament to Mark’s magnetic performance, compelling storytelling and our talented Midlands crew,” comments Neil Irvine, Executive Producer for BBC Studios Drama Productions. “Series 12 will introduce Father Brown’s biggest fan, amateur playwright Father Lindsey and a deadly new nemesis, alongside the return of some old favourites.”
‘Father Brown‘ Season 12 does not yet have an exact premiere date but will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in January 2025. If you want to keep track of this or any other show, you can add them via our Never Miss system, and you’ll be notified when it gets a UK premiere date.