There is clearly still plenty of life left in ‘Father Brown‘, as the BBC has handed the much-loved daytime crime drama a two-series renewal with Series 14 already beginning to film in the Cotswolds.
Led by Mark Williams (Harry Potter, The Fast Show), the long-running mystery series has become one of the BBC’s most reliable hits, and the broadcaster is now officially backing it for both Series 14 and Series 15. That is a pretty strong vote of confidence for a show which first launched back in 2013 and has quietly become a huge success both in the UK and around the world.
Series 14 will once again see ‘Father Brown’ solving murders and mysteries in 1955 Kembleford, with returning cast including Tom Chambers (Death in Paradise, Holby City) as Inspector Sullivan, Claudie Blakley (The Essex Serpent, Manhunt) as Mrs Isabel Sullivan, and John Burton (Coronation Street, The Taming of the Shrew) as Sergeant Goodfellow. Familiar faces also returning include Nancy Carroll (The Crown, The Gold) as Lady Felicia, Lex Shrapnel (Captain America: The First Avenger, The First Omen) as Father Lazarus, Roger May (Doctors, Casualty) as Bishop Fox, and Kieran Hodgson (Prince Andrew: The Musical, The Flash) as Father Lindsey.
Joining the cast this run is Hannah Bristow (The Boys in the Boat, The Diplomat) as Rita Flint, Father Brown’s new no-nonsense housekeeper, who apparently gets off to a rocky start. The new episodes will also feature guest appearances from Bill Bailey (Black Books, Never Mind the Buzzcocks) and Clive Mantle (Casualty, Game of Thrones), which is a pretty strong sign the BBC is not exactly taking its foot off the gas.
The storyline for Series 14 sounds like it is mixing the usual village murder mayhem with something a little more personal and dangerous. Alongside cases involving magicians, avant-garde artists, meals on wheels, and deadly spiders on the loose, Father Brown will also have to contend with the return of Father Lazarus, who is once again out of prison and apparently looking for revenge. That sets things up for what the BBC is billing as an exhilarating finale.
The renewal also comes with a nice extra nod to Mark Williams, whose creative contribution has now been recognised with an Executive Producer credit on the series as well.
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…”
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.”
The show’s longevity is not especially surprising when you look at the numbers. The BBC says ‘Father Brown’ is the UK’s number one daytime drama of the last decade, with 140 episodes produced so far, and that Series 13 recently finished as the number one daytime drama of 2026 to date. It has also built a sizeable international audience, airing across North America, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
Not bad going for a crime-solving priest wandering around the Cotswolds.
‘Father Brown‘ Series 14 does not yet have a premiere date but will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK early next year. If you want to keep track of this or any other shows, you can add them via our Never Miss system, and you’ll be notified when it gets a UK premiere date. Visit Never Miss.
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