Father Brown (TV Series 2013– ) - IMDb IMDb There was an error trying to load your rating for this title. Some parts of this page won't work property. Please reload or try later. X Beta I'm Watching This! Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Error Series inspired by the stories of GK Chesterton; a Catholic priest has a knack for solving mysteries in his English village. Creators: Bunty Lady Felicia's niece is suspected of murder while being looked after by Father Brown. 9.0 On the day that Father Brown is visiting Gloucester University to see his old friend Professor Hilary Ambrose, a man suffering from memory loss, a medal from the university's trophy cabinet is stolen... 8.8 Father Brown attends an exhibition of Agnes Lesser's dioramas of murder scenes, which have helped the police solve crimes. She is also seeking his, and other guest's, help to ascertain how exactly ...

8.7 a list of 25 titles created 18 May 2014 a list of 47 titles created 24 Sep 2015 a list of 30 titles created 11 months ago a list of 58 titles created 8 months ago a list of 36 titles created 6 months ago Search for " Father Brown " on Amazon.com Connect with IMDb Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. A Cambridgeshire clergyman finds himself investigating a series of mysterious wrongdoings in his small village of Grantchester. Stars: James Norton, Robson Green, Morven Christie Death in Paradise (TV Series 2011) Crime | Drama | Mystery A British inspector is transferred to Saint-Marie's police department, but he hates the sun, sea, and sand. The series follow his investigations into murders on the island. Later series see another British DI head the investigative team.

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Stars: Geraldine McEwan, Julia McKenzie, Stephen Churchett Our female sleuth sashays through the back lanes and jazz clubs of late 1920s Melbourne, fighting injustice with her pearl-handled pistol and her dagger-sharp wit. Stars: Essie Davis, Nathan Page, Hugo Johnstone-Burt Set amongst the stunning gardens of Europe, Rosemary Boxer and Laura Thyme, two professional gardeners, find themselves drawn into solving mysterious crimes. Stars: Felicity Kendal, Pam Ferris, Ryan Philpott Inspector George Gently (TV Series 2007) Crime | Drama | Mystery With the help of DS John Bacchus, Inspector George Gently spends his days bringing to justice members of the criminal underworld who are unfortunate enough to have the intrepid investigator assigned to their cases. Stars: Martin Shaw, Lee Ingleby, Simon Hubbard Inspector Morse has an ear for music, a taste for beer and a nose for crime. He sets out with Sergeant Lewis to solve each intriguing case.

Stars: John Thaw, Kevin Whately, James Grout New Tricks (TV Series 2003) Comedy | Crime | Drama Three retired police officers are drafted in to solve cold cases, with a touch of comedy and drama Stars: Dennis Waterman, Amanda Redman, Alun Armstrong Edit Storyline Series inspired by the stories of GK Chesterton; a Catholic priest has a knack for solving mysteries in his English village. 14 January 2013 (UK) See more » Also Known As: Did You Know? Trivia Mark Williams declined to return for the 20th anniversary special of "The Fast Show" due to commitments to this series. See more » Connections (United Kingdom) – See all my reviews I really enjoyed watching this BBC adaptation of GK Chestertons, Father Brown stories. It was really perfect viewing for a winters afternoon. Having read all the stories I realise that some people will not be happy with the way this adaptation has been made. In particular Mark Williams as Father Brown was far from the physical image Chesterton created in the stories. I for one don't think this matters as Williams gives an excellent performance in my opinion. The setting is perfect postcard England.

There is a few plot holes in the episodes if you compare them to the stories, but I hope this series will attract more people to read the stories. As a lover of the English crime drama I for one hope that they make another series, there is still plenty of stories to adapt after all. 19 of 24 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes 'Do You Write Under Your Own Name?': Father Brown: TV review 'Do You Write Under Your Own Name?' Martin Edwards' Crime Writing Blog Tuesday, 15 January 2013 Father Brown: TV review Father Brown is a brand new BBC TV drama featuring G.K. Chesterton's legendary priest-detective. Oddly enough (at least, I thought it was odd to begin with) it is being shown in the afternoons, 10 episodes of 50 minutes shown on week-days for a fortnight, so most crime fans will be watching it via recordings or iPlayer, as I did with the first episode, The Hammer of God, based on one of the most celebrated stories in the canon. This isn't the first time that TV has had a go at Father Brown.

Kenneth More starred in 13 episodes in the 70s, but I was a student then and didn't watch them. Nor have I ever caught up with the DVDs, so if any reader of this blog has any views on whether that series is still watchable, I'd be glad to know. What of the new series? Mark Williams plays Father Brown, and the regular cast includes Sorcha Cusack. The stories have been shifted into the 1950s, long after the originals were written, that is, and the setting is the Cotswolds, which is suitably photogenic. The Hammer of God is a long, long way from the graphic violence of Ripper Street, although it begins with a rather more explicit focus on the blacksmith's wife's adultery than you find in the original story, and the motive for the crime is not at all Chestertonian. Purists may wince, but the question is, if you want to adapt these stories for the modern audience, how do you go about it? You have to look at what the writers were trying to do, and they have given an interesting insight into their approach. I felt that on the whole the writers did a good job.

Okay, there was a bit of clunkiness in some of the scenes, and I'm surprised there wasn't more focus on paradox, which is at the heart of Chesterton's writing. But it was easy watching after a long working day, and it's just possible that Father Brown might become a guilty pleasure for a decent number of viewers -including me. In any case, it's really welcome that a writer of genuine distinction is being brought back into the limelight, even if he would be startled by some of what is being done with his work. Posted by Father Brown (Series) - TV Tropes Father Brown You need to login to do this. Get Known if you don't have an account Share "Father Brown is not your average priest." — Sid to Mrs Steel, in "The Rod of Asclepius" Season 3 regulars: Mrs McCarthy, Lady Felicia, Sid, Father Brown and Inspector Sullivan A daytime BBC television series inspired by the Father Brown mystery stories written by G. K. Chesterton , starring Mark Williams (who you might recognise as Arthur Weasley , Brian Williams or, further back in time, part of Paul Whitehouse's team on The Fast Show ) as the titular mystery-solving Catholic priest.

The series takes some liberties with Chesterton's original stories. Where the originals were written and set between 1911 and 1936 and had the good father turn up all over the world, this series is set in the 1950s and positions Father Brown as the kind-hearted and insightful parish priest of the fictional small town of Kembleford in the Cotswolds. It also gives Father Brown a regular supporting cast. In the first series they were Inspector Valentine (Hugo Speer), a long-suffering policeman who finds Father Brown interfering in his investigations more often than not; Mrs. McCarthy (Sorcha Cusack), the holier-than-thou parish secretary; Susie (Kasia Koleczek), a Polish refugee who works as Father Brown's part-time housekeeper; Lady Felicia (Nancy Carroll), a wealthy socialite with a wandering eye and a frequently-absent husband; and Sid (Alex Price), a local handyman and petty crook whom Father Brown tries to keep on the straight and narrow.The fifth series introduced Bunty (Emer Kenny), Lady Felicia's niece.

The first series aired over two weeks in January 2013, composed of ten episodes; half were loose adaptations of Chesterton's original stories, and the other half were wholly original. A second series was commissioned and aired over the course of two weeks in January the following year. A third series was shown in January 2015, and a fourth in January 2016. A Christmas special was shown in December 2016, before the start of the fifth series in January 2017. Tropes: Affably Evil : The murderer in "The Daughters Of Jerusalem". As he prepares to kill Father Brown , he says "I'm looking forward to all this being over. Popping the question... maybe a kiddie or two" Arch-Enemy : Hercule Flambeau. Arranged Marriage :In the "Labyrinth of the Minotaur" Joan is the bookworm daughter of a millionaire, being pushed into an arranged marriage with a handsome young aristocrat whose family needs money. Lady Felicia: An arranged marriage? How very Victorian!

Davina Malfort: [almost snarling] Unfortunately, not all of us are in a position where we can turn up our noses at "Trade" . Artistic License ï¿½ Pharmacology : In "Bride of Christ", two people are murdered with sodium ferrocyanide covered hard candy. Cyanide would kill most oxygen-breathing organisms, but ferrocyanide would not. And it is stated in the very episode! Ass Shove : Bunty threatens to do this in The Eagle and the Daw. Bunty: Father Brown is the best man I have ever met and, if you say one more word against him, I will take your silly little sign and insert it into a place where no-one can read it! Asshole Victim : The first few minutes of a given episode usually show the Victim of the Week being a jerk to various people before getting murdered, to ensure we have a nice long list of possible suspects.

Though, in Series 5, this has been drastically shortened to just show an incomplete view of the victim's demise or, in the case of the victim in The Hand of Lucia, the attack that left her blinded in one eye, explaining the stylish eyepatch she's wearing when she next appears. Authentication by Newspaper : In "The Daughter of Autolycus", the kidnappers of Flambeau's daughter send him a photograph of her holding that day's newspaper. Backwards-Firing Gun : In "The Lair of the Libertines", one Victim of the Week is killed when the killer removes the safety catch from his pistol. This causes the firing pin to shoot out backwards when he fires the pistol, hitting him between the eyes. Badass Bookworm : Marianne Delacroix in "The Daughter of Autolycus" is a student of something that seems Mediaeval history or literature. See also the Damsel out of Distress entry. Becoming the Mask : The man performing the Dead Person Impersonation in "The Truth in the Wine" comes to thoroughly believe in the dream of the late colonel, and does his best to live a life worthy of the man he's impersonating.

Blasting It out of Their Hands : Flambeau's daughter shoots the pistol out of the hand of one of her kidnappers during her escape. When Flambeau expresses incredulity at this, she admits that she had actually been aiming for his head and failed to account for the recoil. Book Safe : In "The Brewer's Daughter", the woman in gaol Father Brown is trying to clear tells him to look for the Holy Grail. It turns out that the key to her father's safe is hidden inside a book titled The Holy Grail. Break the Cutie : Poor Oona in "The Grim Reaper". She bursts into tears in her first scene, and that's before Father Brown believes she's writing poison pen letters, people think she's an adulteress and spit at her in the street - and, oh, her husband has confessed to murder. Canon Foreigner : Aside from Inspector Valentine, based on a character who appeared in the early stories, all the supporting cast are original creations. Catch Phrase : Father Brown is prone to say "Seek Forgiveness", or something very similar. Character Development : Over the series Lady Felicia and Mrs McCarthy grow to like each other more.

Also in one episode in Series Five we see just how much Sid means to Father Brown. Christianity Is Catholic : Subverted in the first episode, which features members of the Church of England, but on the whole the series tends to feature and revolve around Catholicism, and most of the main characters are Catholic. Of course, since the show openly and clearly revolves around a Catholic priest, this is justified. Chuck Cunningham Syndrome : Befalls Susie after the first series. Circle of Standing Stones : The scene of the murder in "The Standing Stones". Clear My Name / Clear Their Name : In "The Owl of Minerva", Inspector Sullivan is framed for murder. After breaking out of gaol, he is forced to team-up with Father Brown and his associates in order to clear his name. Cold Reading : Father Brown accurately pegs this as part of the methodology of Kalon, the leader of the cult-like Church of Apollo. Unfortunately, it manages to work on Suzie, who has been feeling particularly vulnerable, prompting Father Brown and Sid to try and extract her from Kalon's clutches.

Corpsing: Inspector Mallory (somehow) narrowly averts this when he remarks on learning that a Kembleford resident might have been abducted by aliens in The Fire In The Sky. Mrs. McCarthy: He did not say "aliens"! Mallory: That's a relief. Because I'd send Goodfellow to patrol the outer cosmos but his rocket boots are at the cobblers! Cramming the Coffin : In "The Curse of Amenhotep", the killer attempts to dispose of Father Brown by sealing him inside a sarcophagus. Crash Course Landing : In "The Missing Man", Father Brown has to be talked through landing a light plane after the pilot (a young girl) freezes at the stick. The person talking him down inadvertently makes the 'crash course' joke, and Father Brown mutters several prayers throughout the process. Creepy Catholicism : Prominent in "The Upcott Fraternity", which takes place at the titular Upcott seminary school. The murderer wears a cilice around his leg, leaving a trail of blood.

Cricket Episode : In "The Last Man", the arrest of the new cricket captain of Kembleford's cricket team for the murder of the team's fast bowler, and a suicide the year before in the cricket pavilion and a match against a rival village to determine the ownership of the cricket ground finds Father Brown consoling the victim's mother, solving a murder involving blackmail, playing cricket and watching Lady Felicia as the last man of the innings. Crossdresser : The Victim of the Week in "The Missing Man". His crossdressing actually leads to his demise, as the person who shoots him does not recognise him in drag, and shoots him thinking he is a female intruder. Curse Cut Short : Surprisingly, Father Brown utters one of these at the end of the Series 2 episode, "The Mysteries of the Rosary". After finding the titular rosary, he produces the small silver case in which he'd kept it from the lockbox in order to present it to Professor Ambrose. In its place, however, is a note from mercenary-slash-thief Flambeau. Cue the priest exclaiming, "The thieving-" While, judging by the reactions of Bunty and Mrs.

McCarthy, he isn't actually interrupted, Inspector Mallory's curse in The Smallest of Things is - from the viewers' point of view - drowned out by the popping of a champagne cork. And, in The Sins Of Others, Sid has one after Father Brown follows him to Reese's house. His curse is also cut off by a champagne cork, which he uses to lead him to the party being held there at the time. Curtain Camouflage : In "The Man in the Shadows", Sid is forced to hide behind a curtain when he is snooping around outside the archive and the door opens unexpectedly. Cut Phone Lines : In "The Lair of the Libertines", the phone line to the hotel is cut. Father Brown discovers this just after he finds the first body. Damsel out of Distress : In "The Daughter of Autolycus", Flambeau's daughter Marianne is kidnapped. By the time Flambeau and Father Brown arrive with the ransom, Marianne has already escaped, overpowered her abductors, and tied them up. Dead Person Impersonation : In "The Truth in the Wine", a sergeant took over the identity of a colonel with whom he shared a hospital room.

Realising he was dying, the colonel asked the sergeant (who had no family) to take over his identity and return to England to fulfill his dream of turning the family estate into a vineyard. Not having been home to England in decades, he was confident no one would spot the substitution and coached the sergeant on everything he would need to know. Detective Mole : In "The Standing Stones", the local policeman who is assisting the investigation turns out to be the killer. Disney Death : At least one Victim of the Week , who appears in "The Devil's Dust", turns out to be alive despite blood-stained clothes making it look like she had been murdered at at least one point in the investigation. Disposable Sex Worker : The first Body of the Week in "The Lair of the Libertines" is a prostitute who does not get any lines. Down to the Last Play : In "The Last Man", Kembleford is playing a vital cricket for ownership of the local cricket ground. With three balls left and six runs needed to win, the opposing team engages in some Unnecessary Roughness to knock out Kembleford's star player with a cricket ball to the head.

Kenbleford already being a man down, Lady Felecia goes in as last man, and hits a six on the final ball. Due to the Dead : At the end of "The Wrong Shape", Mr. Quinton 's ashes are scattered over his deceased baby daughter's grave in a private service. Dying Moment of Awesome : An understated one during "The Wrath of Baron Samdi" Father Brown realises he has been poisoned, but like the good Christian he is, is not angry or fearful, just a bit surprised. He just has time to ask how the poison was administered, and then, with a beatific smile and chuckle says: Father Brown: Mrs McCarthy was right. [beat] Never expected those to be my last words. [collapses to the ground] Also subverted, because he's not quite dead. Egomaniac Hunter : The killer in "The Lair of the Libertines" is ultimately revealed to be this. Elevator Failure : A sabotaged lift is used as a murder weapon in "The Crackpot of the Empire". The killer knew that the victim's selfishness would make him demand to be the first into lift, which then immediately plunged to the bottom of the shaft.

Eureka Moment : Not surprising in a mystery series. One notable time is in "The Grim Reaper", when Oona realises there was no chaff in her husband's clothing, which means he couldn't have pushed Albert Tatton into the threshing machine - so he has made a false confession. Evil Counterpart : Kalon in "The Eye of Apollo" is this for Father Brown. Both are devout men of faith, but where Father Brown believes in reason, is kind-hearted and sincere, puts the well-being of his parishioners first and cares only about Suzie's well-being throughout the episode, Kalon is a blind fanatic , is smug and duplicitous, is devoted to his church to the point where he is willing to sacrifice others to protect it, and lusts after Suzie and wants her for himself. The Exiles : Edward and Jia-Li become these in "The Prize of General Gerard". After Jia-Li murders Gerard rather than submit to being his mistress, she and Edward, who had fallen in love with each other, flee Britain with forged passports. Father Brown, having satisfied himself that Jia-Li was truly repentant for killing Gerard, turns a blind eye to their escape.

Faux Affably Evil : The murderer in the episode "The Face of Death" is definitely this. Fed to Pigs : How the killer disposes of the bodies in episode "The Shadow of the Scaffold". This is discovered when a finger bone with a ring on it is discovered in the stomach of a pig being prepared for tripe. Fiery Cover Up : This is what the killer appears to have been attempting in "The Brewer's Daughter". In reality, it was the reverse. The killer set the fire in such a way as to make it obvious it was arson as part of an elaborate frame-up. Finger-Licking Poison : In "The Time Machine", one victim was killed by strychnine placed in the bowl of his pipe. In "The Wrath of Baron Samedi", a musician is murdered when the killer coats the reed of his saxophone in poison. The killer later dusts Father Brown's toothbrush with the same poison.

Framing the Guilty Party : The murderer does the 'Frame Yourself' version in "The Brewer's Daughter"; laying out an Orgy of Evidence against themself, then relying on Father Brown to realise this evidence was planted, and then uncover the second more subtle set of clues planted to implicated someone else. The 'Framing a Known Guilty Party' version happens in "The Hangman's Demise". The Victim of the Week actually commits suicide, but does it such a way as to make it look like murder, and frames someone he knows committed murder years before but whom the police cannot touch. Genre Savvy : Sister Boniface in the "Bride of Christ" just loves being in involved in a murder mystery. She's even holding a copy of Agatha Christie 's "Sparkling Cyanide" when the police come to interview her. Giving Them the Strip : After being pinned to a target by a crossbow bolt in "The Lair of the Libertines", Father Brown escapes by taking off his cassock. Gold Digger : The Victim of the Week in "The Curse of Amenhotep" is the much younger second wife of Sir Raleigh Beresford.

And by much younger, we mean she is younger that Sir Raleigh's adult son. She admits to her lover that she only married Sir Raleigh to get her hands on his money. Hat Damage : In "The Lair of the Libertines'', the doctor shoots the fez off Cryus's head, which serves to show the viewers how heedless of others safety the doctor is. For the rest of the episode, Cyrus's fez has a neat bullet hole in it. Hoist by His Own Petard : In "The Lair of the Libertines", the Egomaniac Hunter who is stalking Father Brown falls victim to one of the many mantraps they had scattered over the grounds of the hotel. Holier Than Thou : Father Roland in "The Daughters of Jerusalem" is incredibly pious and tends to look down on Father Brown because of it. It turns out to be over-compensating for guilt due to his love for a woman he met while a missionary. Human Mail : In "The Paradise of Thieves", the murderer gained access to the bank vault by having himself shipped in inside a crate supposedly containing pieces of art.

Human Sacrifice : In "The Standing Stones", a group of villagers plan to sacrifice an innocent in order to end an outbreak of polio. Hunting the Most Dangerous Game : An Egomaniac Hunter does this to Father Brown at the end of "The Lair of the Libertines". Inspector Lestrade : Inspector Valentine. Sullivan is a somewhat lesser example of this. While he does make arrests and attempt to progress the investigation, his knowledge almost always lags behind that of the "meddling" Father Brown. If Jesus, Then Aliens : Raised in "The Eye of Apollo", where members of the sun-and-astral-spirit worshipping cult challenge Father Brown that, as a Catholic priest, he should be open-minded towards the possibility of otherworldly phenomenon of the type they preach. Father Brown points out that there is a distinction between what is possible and what is probable. Imagine Spot : In order to investigate the murder of an infamous author in The Hand of Lucia and having learned that the case thus far has had parallels with her latest book, Father Brown, Bunty and Mrs. McCarthy read it together in search of clues. In doing so, they each get an Imagine Spot of their own.

"Lucia had the power to turn any male sophisticate, any male intellectual into a savage beast..." - Bunty imagines herself in the role of Lucia, lying on a divan while she watches two shirtless men fight each other to the death. "Cardinal Vögel had been humiliated for the last time..." - Father Brown imagines himself walking out of a palace he's just set ablaze and laughing maniacally as the whole place burns down. "Lucia danced all night with the Grand Duke of Luxembourg..." - ...while McCarthy imagines herself (as Lucia) dancing with an amorous duke for all of ten seconds before cutting her imagination short, declaring she needs some air. In-Series Nickname : You'd find it difficult to find an instance in which Inspector Mallory doesn't call Father Brown "Padre". Intoxication Ensues : In "The Lair of the Libertines'', the hostess at the hotel feeds Father Brown a fruitcake laced with opium. This makes father Brown very woozy and he quickly passes out. It's Personal : Inspector Mallory towards the end of "The Wrath of Baron Samdi": Mallory: You're all suspects in the murders of Joseph Sinclair and Father Brown.

My sergeant's going to search you and your belongings. And whichever one of you did it, I'm personally going to see that you hang. Janitor Impersonation Infiltration : In "The Owl of Minerva", Sullivan and Sid pose as window washers in order to break into the police station. Jerkass Has a Point : In the first episode, the loutish Norman Bohen is taunting the Catholics present at the Anglican vicar's party about their religious differences, and makes dismissive reference to the pomp and ceremony of Catholicism. While Father Brown's parishioners react with great offense, Father Brown himself has a look on his face that suggests that he thinks Bohen has a little bit of a point. Laxative Prank : In "The Time Machine", a girls spikes her sister's water bottle in an attempt to cause her to lose a race. Unfortunately, this act coincides with her sister keeling over from a dose of strychnine. "L" Is for "Dyslexia" : Lucia and Lady Margaret Galloway in the Series One episode "The Face Of Death". It's the fact that Lucia inherited the condition from her mother that leads Father Brown to solve the mystery.

Locked Room Mystery : "The Curse of Amenhotep". The Victim of the Week is found alone in a room that was locked from the inside. It turns out that she was poisoned earlier. The poison caused hallucinations that made her lock herself in the room where she succumbed to the poison. In "The Paradise of Thieves", the Victim of the Week is found locked inside a bank vault. Suspicion naturally falls upon the only person with keys to the vault. Father Brown believes him to be innocent and sets up to discover how this seemingly impossible crime could have been committed. Love Makes You Evil : In "The Theatre Of The Invisible", Jeremy - the new producer of the Up To You radio quiz - kills both the landlady of a Kembleford boarding house and Richie Queenan - the quiz's announcer - after becoming infatuated with Bunty. However, Father Brown's summation reveals the eventual double murder to be an accident (He failed to account for Mrs.

Rudge returning home early, just as his wax-and-gravel smoke trap kicked in; his original scheme was that he'd run into an empty house to rescue some kittens and have Bunty be impressed by his heroics) compounded by necessity (After smothering Richie, he made it look like suicide by dumping him in a bath surrounded by drugs and wine; filled with cold water to delay rigor mortis and tuning the radio in the room to a frequency whose broadcasts would only begin hours later to give himself an alibi). Loveable Rogue : Sid is constantly getting involved in petty crime. In more than one case he is suspected of killing the Victim of the Week , but Father Brown and Lady Felicia both consider him indispensable. As the series goes on Sid is much less involved in petty crime, but still has a dodgy reputation. Mercy Lead : The Egomaniac Hunter gives one to Father Brown in "The Lair of the Libertines": giving him the time it takes them to finishing loading their rifle in which to run. Mystery Magnet : Father Brown is always nearby when the bodies drop. Notably lampshaded by an annoyed Inspector Sullivan in "The Upcott Fraternity", which is set at Brown's alma mater.

Inspector Sullivan: Father Brown... I guess I shouldn't be too surprised. and further lampshaded by Inspector Mallory in "The Resurrectionists": Inspector Mallory: I'd like to find a quieter patch. [beat] Like the centre of Glasgow. Mythology Gag : Sid is so named because he's broadly similar to Bert, a Canon Foreigner in the 1954 movie, who was played by Sid James. Naked People Are Funny : When Father Brown, Lady Felecia and Mrs Mccarthy are stranded in the middle of nowhere, Mrs McCarthy is shocked when a man wearing nothing but a fez wanders past and greets her politely. He turns out to be a naturist staying at a local hotel. Nasty Party : In "The Crackpot of the Empire", Father Brown is one of the guests invited to a 'Welcome Home' party being held for a comedian recently released from an insane asylum. However, the invitations were fake and someone starts picking off the guests one by one. Obfuscating Disability : The killer in "The Shadow of the Scaffold". Father Brown discovers this when he realises that they could not have seen they claimed to have witnessed unless they were standing up. Oh Crap!

!: "In the Wrath of Baron Samdi" Mallory realises that Father Brown wasn't actually murdered by the poison, but he's still about to die in the post mortem that Mallory has ordered. Only Known by Their Nickname : Gerald Firth, shot in the head by a sniper during the war. After managing to survive and make a recovery, albeit suffering from delirium in the process, he gives himself a name by which he's known for the majority of the episode in which he features: Kalon. O.O.C. Is Serious Business : In "The Sins Of Others" you can see that the normally polite Father Brown is feeling the strain when almost barks at Inspector Mallory. Orgy of Evidence : During The Summation in "The Brewer's Daughter", Father Brown points out that the sheer amount evidence uncovered was unlikely unless the murderer was attempting a frame-up. The killer was attempting to invoke this trope by framing herself, and relying on Father Brown to then uncover the evidence she had left implicating a second suspect. Pinned to the Wall : In "The Lair of the Libertines", the killer prevents Father Brown from leaving the hotel grounds by using a crossbow bolt to pin his cassock to a target.

Poisoned Chalice Switcheroo : Father Brown pulls this in "The Man in the Shadows" with a slight twist as he does it to save a life. Knowing that a Soviet agent has put cyanide in her tea so she won't be taken alive, he asks her for some sugar and then switches teacups with her while her back is turned. Playing Against Type : Wynford Collins, the antiques dealer in The Tanganyika Green was played by comedian Miles Jupp . And, although he's got more acting roles under his belt already (such as the Harry Potter series and Doctor Who), Mark Williams could also count as this. Plot Driving Secret / Red Herring : With Father Brown being a crime mystery series, it's safe to assume that both of these pop up frequently. However, in "The Deadly Seal", the culprit - Natasha, Lady Felicia's goddaughter - decides to abuse Father Brown's status as The Confidant in order to throw investigators off the scent of the murder. By telling Father Brown in a confessional that Bishop Talbot was to be assassinated the following morning, Natasha forces the Catholic priest into a religious dilemma.

Being unable to break the "seal of the confessional" and explain the situation, he elects to attempt to avert the assassination. While he succeeds, the episode reveals that the false confession was a ruse to hide the true plot; for her to kill Talbot's chauffeur/bodyguard on behalf of his wife, who in turn made a pact to kill Natasha's father who had abused her as a child, somewhat mirroring Strangers On A Train. Politically Correct History : Generally averted. A notable example is when a good character actually blackmails someone over the fact that he is homosexual. She will give the money to a good cause, but even so... In several instances, Father Brown's own political and spiritual attitudes can a bit closer to the twenty-first century than you might otherwise expect from a 1950s Catholic priest. The episode "The Last Man" touches on attitudes towards gays and Indians. Strongly averted in "The Wrath of Baron Samdi" when the black characters can't rent a room in Kembleford. and here .

Essentially, a lot of the main changes between the original stories and this adaptation are for reasons of cost and to adapt the show in such a fashion that it fits into the modern television landscape. Protect This House : Or more specifically, Protect This Churchyard. When a coffin is dug up, Father Brown is quietly outraged that the peace of the grave has been violated and sets up a rota to keep watch in case the graverobbers come back. They do. Put on a Bus : Over the course of the show's run thus far, the lead detective in Kembleford's police force - the main non-villainous foil for Father Brown's sleuthing - has made way for a successor twice. Inspector Valentine, after taking the credit for the convictions made with the Father's help, landed a promotion to the rank of Detective Chief Inspector which necessitated a move to London so he could serve in their Metropolitan Police at the end of Series 1. His replacement, Inspector Sullivan is later replaced by Inspector Mallory in Series 4. Sid Carter gets put on the proverbial bus twice.

In Series 4, he was accused and convicted of assaulting Judith Miles - who was a prostitute at the time - and, despite Father Brown's best efforts, spent an entire year in jail. After being exonerated from the main case of The Sins Of Others, he decides to leave Kembleford and spend some time travelling the world. Early in Series 5, Lady Felicia leaves England owing to her husband becoming Governor of Northern Rhodesia Punctuated! For! Emphasis! : After hearing the confession of Norman Bohen's brother in "The Hammer Of God" and the reasons why he committed the crime and doesn't feel guilty about either the crime or the possibility that Elizabeth could hang for it, Father Brown yells, "God! Is not! Your scapegoat!!" The fact that this is pretty much the only occasion over the course of the whole series in which the sleuthing priest raises his voice in anger/outrage, it isn't just the punctuation that emphasises the line. Race Against the Clock : In "The Shadow of the Scaffold", Father Brown has three days (as authorities wait for the results of her pregnancy test to come back) to solve a murder before the woman convicted of the crime hangs.

The Bus Came Back : Sid Carter returns, only to become one of the prime suspects in The Sins Of Others, complete with a Time Passage Beard to show his year in a jail cell. Father Brown delivers one of these speeches at the end of "The Curse of Amenhotep" to try to improve someone's attitude and behavior. It's pleasingly effective. In "The Wrath of Baron Samdi" an understandably distraught Sid unleashes one of these on Inspector Mallory: Sid: You are nothing but a Keystone Cop. Useless, incompetent, lazy... Recurring Riff : The show's main theme is used in various forms and tempos as dramatic incidental music during many of the episodes. Reusable Lighter Toss : Used by the killer in "The Lair of the Libertines" to ignite a Vapor Trail that destroys a motorbike and nearly kills Lady Felecia and Mrs McCarthy. Shaming the Mob : Father Brown does this in "The Standing Stones", delivering a speech to a group of villagers who were planning a human sacrifice in an attempt to stop an outbreak of polio. While it does not sway the leader, it gives most of them pause, and make one of them switch sides and cut Father Brown's bonds so he can escape.

Shout-Out to Shakespeare : In "The Prize of General Gerard", Father Brown compares Edward to Hamlet, suggesting that like the Melancholy Dane, Edward was pretending to be insane as part of his plan to avenge his father. Edward believed that his uncle Gerard killed his father and seduced his mother. Turns out he was right. So Much for Stealth : The 'stepping on a twig' version happen to Inspector Sullivan in "The Owl of Minerva" as he is sneaking up on a secret meeting being held by Father Brown. Fleeing, he runs straight into the murderer. Stealth Hi/Bye : Happens in "The Bride of Christ" as Father Brown is questioning a couple of nuns. Both nuns are surprised when Father Brown takes off as they're admitting their sins. Suicide, Not Murder : Happens in "The Hangman's Demise". The Victim of the Week commits suicide in a manner designed to look like murder, and leaves evidence framing one of his friends. Overlaps with Framing the Guilty Party , because the reason he did it was that he had learned his friend had committed a murder years ago and gotten away with it.

By making him out to have committed this murder, he was attempting to ensure the friend would still go to the gallows. Touchï¿½ : A silent one during the verbal duel near the end of "The Eye of Apollo". After Father Brown insists the falsehood of a central tenet of Kalon's religion, the cult leader's immediate comeback causes Brown to adopt a facial expression that could only suggest this. Father Brown: There are no astral spirits!! Kalon: Says the man who believes in virgin births. Father Brown: [lengthy pause, with a touché look on his face] ...sorry. There is a double meaning to this example, however, since Father Brown also says this before delivering Kalon with conclusive proof that his religion actually is based on nothing more than the delusions of a fevered and damaged mind: Kalon's religious symbol, which be believes to have been delivered to him by the aforementioned astral spirits, is in fact based on nothing more than his confused reaction to a doctor's stethoscope while under medical treatment. Teeth-Clenched Teamwork : A one-sided version; Inspector Valentine gets very irritated with Father Brown's nosing into his job, but recognises that the priest often knows what he's doing.

Valentine's replacement, Inspector Sullivan, arguably has a dimmer view of Brown's involvement. In the eight episodes in which he's led the police side of the investigation, from "Maddest Of All", up to the penultimate episode of Series 2, "The Grim Reaper", he's done little else but insist that the sleuthing be left to the pros. In the last episode of Series 2 "The Laws of Motion",he actually arrests Father Brown. Inspector Sullivan, has his own instance of this in "The Eye of Minerva". Having been made the scapegoat in a conspiracy initially involving a journalist and being charged with - and almost convicted for - murder, Sullivan makes his way back to Kembleford for two reasons: the town is the only place where he can prove his innocence and, whether he likes/approves of it or not, he knows that Father Brown's tendency to meddle will work out as more a help than a hindrance. Trigger Phrase : In "Sins of the Father", the murderer hypnotises one of his patients into going into a trance whenever he hears a particular piece of music and killing whoever is playing it, and then sends the sheet music to the man's son to practise for a music competition.

He did not foresee his patsy later coming on someone else playing the same piece of music. Turn in Your Badge : In one episode Father Brown is told by his unamused bishop that he is going to lose his parish. Undercover Cop Reveal : In "The Owl of Minerva", Father Brown and Inspector Sullivan are cornered by the murderer and another member of the conspiracy, only for the other member to turn out to be an inspector from Special Branch who arrests the murderer. Underside Ride : Inspector Sullivan does this to escape in "The Owl of Minerva"; clinging to the underside of the van that is supposed to be transporting him to prison. Unnecessary Roughness : In "The Last Man", a vital cricket match comes down to three balls left and six runs to win. The opposition bowler deliberately bowls a ball at Kembleford's star player's head to knock him out. Vapor Trail : In "The Lair of the Libertines", the killer punctures the petrol tank of the motorcycle being used to leave the hotel. When is runs out petrol and stalls, the killer ignites the trail of petrol with a Reusable Lighter Toss . The bike explodes, barely missing incinerating Lady Felecia and Mrs McCarthy.

Vehicular Sabotage : The Victim of the Week in "The Laws of Motion" has the brake lines of her car cut while she is participating in a hill climb. In "The Judgement Of Man", Sid makes the seemingly inconsequential announcement that the sparkplugs from the Rolls Royce have been stolen. It isn't until later in the episode that things become clearer. Although never depicted on-screen. it's safe to assume that Chip, aka Flambeau, stole the sparkplugs so that he would be able to befriend Lady Felicia to the extent that she would invite him to the Belvedere Gallery. In "The Sins Of Others" a hired assassin cuts the brake lines of a sports car and nearly wipes out most of the regular cast Vitriolic Best Buds : For two people who make a big show of how much they don't like each other, Mrs. McCarthy and Lady Felicia do seem to spend an odd amount of time hanging out together. Waking Up at the Morgue : Happens to Father Brown in "The Wrath of Baron Samedi" when he is drugged with a poison that lowers his heart rate to the point where he appears to be dead.

Wham Episode : The episode "The Eye of Apollo" in Season One is a great deal more intense and darker than most of the other episodes in the series. The ï¿½Sins Of Othersï¿½ in Series Five is even more Darkerand Edgier . It opens with a revelation about one of the regular characters. The very first face we see, emerging from the darkness, has an unexpected Beard of Evil . We learn that Father Brownï¿½s heart has been quietly breaking during Series Five, making it all a little Harsher in Hindsight . The whole episode is full of Adult Fear for him, and he worries that he is beaten, not just as an amateur detective, but as a moral teacher. Thatï¿½s just for starters. For heavens sake, there is an armed assault on Father Browns garden and the very uncharacteristic sight of two of the series regulars holding guns and threatening in all seriousness to use them. Add in the brutal beating of a prostitute desperate for a better life, and itï¿½s hardly cosy afternoon TV.

Beyond the Darkerand Edgier aspects thereï¿½s also an underlying theme of parental love ï¿½ people willing to do anything for their children ï¿½ shown in three different examples. Wham Line : Towards the end of "The Wrath of Baron Samedi": Tommy Sinclair: [to Father Brown] And you're not going to be able to tell on me either. [beat] You won't be able to, not after the poison I gave you. What the Hell, Hero? : Father Brown to Mrs. McCarthy in "The Devil's Dust" for her bigoted remarks at the atomic emergency meeting. Where Everybody Knows Your Flame : Father Brown and Mrs McCarthy visit a underground bar for crossdressers in "The Missing Man". Father Brown works out what sort of club it is fairly quickly, but Mrs McCarthy remains in the dark. Whodunnit to Me? : In "The Prize of General Gerard", Father Brown was evidently poisoned by cut-up tiger whiskers in his fish soup, and insisted on finishing the murder investigation, declaring that he was beyond hope and at least he can could function until he died.

Turns out he didn't eat the fish soup; he was faking being poisoned because he reasoned that the killer was a person of conscience because he(or as it turned out, she) had researched a possible cure for the poison and even offered it to Father Brown. Wife Husbandry : "The Prize of General Gerard"; Gerard made it clear to Jia-Li, his Chinese-born adopted daughter, that he only brought her to England so that, once she was old enough, she would become his mistress, and even planned to have his nephew Edward committed to an asylum when he found out the truth. Jia-Li and Edward by this time were in love with each other, and Jia-Li murdered Gerard rather than submit to his desires. Wrench Whack : In "The Laws of Motion", the Victim of the Week is done in with a blow to the head from a lug wrench. The killers then plan to make it look like she died in a car accident. The X of Y : So many examples: "The Daughters of Jerusalem", "The Owl Of Minerva", "The Curse of Amenhotep", "The Rod Of Asclepius" .... You Have Got to Be Kidding Me!

: Inspector Mallory, who seems born to say a line like this, says it in "The Resurrectionists". With good reason. A headless body is no longer headless :: Indexes :: Father Brown mysteries on BBC Father Brown mysteries on BBC March 13, 2013 by Gene Veith 17 Comments G. K. Chesterton’s Father Brown mysteries, about a mild-mannered priest who solves crimes because he understands man’s sinful nature, is being televised on BBC. It’s been so popular that it has been renewed for a second season. Unfortunately, the series isn’t being shown here, not even on BBC America, and it isn’t available on Netflix. Someday, we can hope, since BBC typically does a terrific job with material like that. (Have you seen the BBC adaption of the Kurt Wallander mysteries by Henning Mankell, starring Kenneth Branagh?) If anyone has seen the Father Brown stories, let us know how they are. I know we have readers from across the pond.

(Details about the series after the jump.) From Mathew Block: The BBC recently produced a new television series of Father Brown stories starring Mark Williams (“Arthur Weasley” of Harry Potter fame) in the title role. The series was initially designed as a ten-episode arc, with one episode airing every day (weekends excluded) from January 17 to January 25. It began with “The Hammer of God” and ended with “The Blue Cross.” Of course, there are some difficulties in transitioning Chesterton’s famous priest-detective from the page to the small screen. As Michael Newton noted a day after the series began, Chesterton’s protagonist is so humble a character, so unconcerned about his own self, that it’s hard to make a show that focuses directly on him: Father Brown is comically unobtrusive. Indeed it seems that Chesterton was at first occupied with making a joke in which he wrote detective stories where the aim was to puzzle out who the real detective is. Often Brown makes his first appearance as an aside or as one item in a list, edging sideways into the story. His most conspicuous feature is his inconspicuousness.

Neither film nor TV is a medium built for the celebration of humility. So we are to understand that the new series has had to make certain changes in order to “work” for television. Father Brown makes a more direct transition to the centre of the stories. Moreover, the tales are reconfigured to take place in one small English village in the 1950′s. As a result, the great French detective Valentine (Chesterton’s initial foil) becomes an English detective, rather than a world-renowned investigator. But then, such changes are to be expected: all translation is by necessity interpretation and re-creation. We know that the show was well-received in England; more than 2 million people tuned in for each episode, and so the show has been commissioned for a second series. But has the new translation to television done justice to Chesterton’s original? Well, that’s something we in the United States and Canada will just have to wait to discuss until the show makes an appearance in North America. The question as to what religious impact the show might have on the English audience also remains to be seen. After all, the stories of Father Brown are about a Catholic priest.

More than that, they are about a respectable, intelligent Catholic priest. In a country where only 59.3 percent of the population still self-identifies as Christian (2011 statistics, down from 71.8 percent in 2001, and increasing numbers are declaring themselves atheists, the presence of a strong Christian character on popular television is certainly significant. After all, as starring actor (and self-described “pantheistic humanist”) Mark Williams himself explains, Father Brown is not simply another television detective: [Father Brown] has a huge appetite for the detail of life and for humanity, and he cares very much about people’s souls. That’s the most interesting thing about him as a sleuth: it’s not him solving a conundrum or a crossword, he’s dealing with what he sees as people’s eternal damnation. And when he works it out, the sky turns black and is full of harpies; he’s desperately committed to his morality. I have to say, I’m looking forward to seeing BBC’s new small-screen take on redemptive mystery. The mother of all lock-ins » About Gene Veith I am a retired English professor and college administrator.

I have written over 20 books on different facets of Christianity & Culture. Tom Hering A 13-episode U.K. production (1974) was shown on PBS Mystery!, and is available on DVD. Cincinnatus BBC productions are either amazing (cf. the most recent adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s tales, Sherlock) or insufferably boring, apparently written for stereotypical white English senior citizens (cf. Doc Martin). Hanni Tom Hering, I ha no idea! I am pretty good at hunting these great British TV shows down, but totally missed the 1974 series, didnt even know PBS Mystery was running then. Thanks and to GV Cincinnatus My point being, given the subject matter (Chesterton’s stories are a little bit “cute”), that this could go either way. Lars Walker One of my Facebook acquaintances (I forget who) has seen it and did not like it at all. Said it was not only updated in date, but in opinions. Father Brown is now a modernist Anglican. Tom Hering Hanni @ 3, I think it was first shown on Mystery! in the 1980s.

As for British productions about Catholic detectives, I’m liking Cadfael, which I’ve just recently started watching on DVD. When I’m not watching Doc Martin, of course 😀 . Klasie Kraalogies I’m really looking forward to this – when it eventually comes here. Maybe on PBS / Knowledge (BC’s version of PBS). Doc Martin was ok – I liked Cadfael, and am a devoted fan of Sherlock!, Inspector Morse, Lewis, Miss Marple, Poirot… you get the drift. Tom Hering George Gently. Klasie Kraalogies Tom @ 8 – I have only seen bits of it, but it I did like what I saw. Oh, and lets not forget New Tricks. Klasie Kraalogies It would seem that we are discussing British Crime drama. Because there is this other British/Welsh show, that has a new season starting up in 17 days, that I could mention… Tom Hering Who is it about? And will the stories ever make any sense? Steve Billingsley Foyle’s War was quite good as well. SKPeterson Tom – The Brother Cadfael mysteries are fantastic. I enjoyed them very much and read the novels as a result.

They are also quite good and very quick reads. I wish BBC would pick up where HBO failed and do a credible version of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series. helen Where can I get Cadfael on DVD, please? (I’ve got all of the volumes in paperback) David M My wife and I have really enjoyed Pie in the Sky. It’s another British crime/comedy (a cromedy?) about a detective who is semi-retired and tries to run his own restaurant while the police force keeps calling him back to solve politically sensitive cases. How is Wallander? We’ve seen previews, but it looks a bit dark. Anybody’s thoughts? Lars Walker All Scandinavian mysteries are dark and depressing. I don’t know of any exceptions to this. And I speak as an ethnic Scandinavian. Josh Radke Here is an overview from a very good British friend of mine whom I often go to when I need an opinion on British TV: “Mark Williams is certainly no Kenneth More. Mark Williams is best known here for light roles and I can’t honestly say that I’ve seen him in a “serious” part, whereas Kenneth More had perhaps a wider general acting range.

If I were forced to choose, I would say that if you want a “traditional” Fr. Brown, you’d be better watching More. If you want 50 minutes of feelgood detective drama with a moral dimension, then check out the new version. In the new version, Fr. Brown’s housekeeper, (played wonderfully by Sorcha Cusack of the great Irish acting dynasty), often shows a “holier-than-thou” judgemental attitude to people and situations and Fr. Brown usually has to gently remind her that only God can judge and that He will always be the first to forgive someone who truly repents. [So it’s] Father Brown – but NOT as perhaps you know him. The comedy side is well served whilst although the setting is in a predominantly Catholic village, (itself a fairly unlikely occurrence in this country), the religious element is perhaps underplayed. It should be remembered that this show actually aired as afternoon drama here in England rather than prime-time. As a result, it perhaps appeals to a different audience than many other detective shows. Having said that, the updating to the 1950’s certainly works.

Also, the inclusion of post WWII Polish refugees into most episodes is a reminder that the current influx of Poles as economic migrants that we have here is not the first time we have had immigrants from Eastern Europe. Above all, remember that this is entertainment and not evangelising. Overall, I enjoyed it.” Sign up for free newsletters and special offers Get the Best of Patheos Newsletter Get the Evangelical Newsletter Father Brown Season 4 Release Date – Release Date Home › Posts › TV Series › Father Brown Season 4 Release Date Father Brown Season 4 Release Date February 29, 2016 Posted in: TV Series “Father Brown” is a British mystery drama TV series that premiered on January 14, 2013, on BBC One. The TV series follows the life of the modest and inconspicuous priest, who is actually a formidable enemy of the criminal world. The show’s protagonist is based on the character of the same name created by G. K. Chesterton. The TV series has a score of 7.4 out of 10 on IMDB, based on over 1,380 users’ votes, 23 reviews from viewers, and 2 reviews from critics.

The series was rated by the Daily Mail at 4 stars out of 5. The show is broadcast worldwide. Thus, it airs in Australia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Netherlands, as well as in the United States. On June 30, 2015, “Father Brown” TV series was renewed for a fourth season. Season 4 began filming at Gloucester Cathedral. “Father Brown” TV Series Brief Overview The events of the TV series take place in the early 1950s. The storyline of the show revolves around Father Brown (Mark Williams), the parish priest at St Mary’s Catholic Church, who possesses the most of such qualities that were inherent to Sherlock Holmes. Thus, he is a brilliant detective, who solves crimes without mistakes, unlike the local police inspector which frequently arrests the wrong suspect. Father Brown knows how to pay attention to invisible details, he is able to read the facial expressions that may say more than the words, as well. Deep scan and ability to think logically make Father Brown a formidable enemy of the criminal world.

Season 4 Release Date As mentioned above, BBC One has confirmed the renewal of “Father Brown” for a fourth season, the premiere of which is slated for January 4, 2016. Fortunately, thanks to our notification system, we’re able to notify you about the “Father Brown” season 4 release date. Don’t miss the premiere! Subscribe to our notifications, using the form below. Renewal: CONFIRMED, Release Date: January 4, 2016 (1 votes, average: 9.00 out of 10) Loading... Father Brown – new BBC series with Mark Williams | Past Offences: Classic crime, thrillers and mystery book reviews Past Offences: Classic crime, thrillers and mystery book reviews As a long-time fan of the Father Brown stories by G. K. Chesterton, I have been eagerly anticipating the BBC’s adaptation. I’ve set up this page as an index of the show’s appearances on the Web.

Episodes The Blue Cross , Friday 25 January, 2.15-3.05pm The making of the show The Radio Times previews the series with a brief interview with the new Father Brown, Mark Williams: ‘He has a huge appetite for the detail of life and for humanity, and he cares very much about people’s souls. That’s the most interesting thing about him as a sleuth: it’s not him solving a conundrum or a crossword, he’s dealing with what he sees as people’s eternal damnation. And when he works it out, the sky turns black and is full of harpies; he’s desperately committed to his morality.’ Back in October I interviewed the BBC’s Producer Ceri Meyrick (@cerimeyrick) about the making of Father Brown. The stories are set all over the world and in lots of different times – GK wrote them over a period of several decades, of course, but he died in 1936, so moving them to the 50s was a big change. We were advised that period shows work better if they are set within living memory, so that’s why we updated it.

We wanted the TV show to be anchored in a time and a place – unlike the stories. My feeling was that the stories had a timeless feel to them anyway. The show’s writer, Rachel Flowerday (@buskeroo), wrote for The Writer’s Guild about the creative process: We spent a chilly December day driving around the Cotswolds, where we’d settled on setting Father Brown: the original stories have no precinct, with Father Brown popping up in Paris, on a boat, in a country house – great fun, but way too costly for daytime telly. We saw amazing houses, met a Reverend and toured the vicarage that became Father Brown’s presbytery, and over a pie-and-mash lunch in a local pub, locked down the gang of characters, era and Gloucestershire village setting of our interpretation of Father Brown. ‘I’ve been a character actor for 25 years and nobody’s ever cast me for my sexual attraction… So it’s not something I worry about’ – Mark Williams interviewed in the Radio Times.

Rachel also blogs with another writer , Tahsin Guner about working together: First, as is apt, a confession: before working on Father Brown, I’d never read a single word of GK Chesterton. Or written a murder-mystery. Or a period piece. Or developed a new TV series. I’d written numerous episodes of Holby City, as well as Casualty, Eastenders, and Doctors, but this was new territory. I was well outside my comfort zone – but I think that’s a good place for a writer to be. If you’re interested in the soundtrack, the show’s composer Debbie Wiseman (@wisemandebbie) can be heard on BBC Radio 4 talking about her approach. And finally, the scripts for The Hammer of God and The Flying Stars are available from the BBC Writer’s Room. Reviews Mark Lawson in the Guardian draws a parallel between Father Brown and Blandings, also launching this week on the BBC. Although showing on consecutive days and not billed as part of a themed sequence, BBC1 next week launches two new shows offering a broadcasting equivalent of what art curators like to call a “conversation” between pictures hanging on opposite walls.

Apparently both are attempts to revive a style of drama that has fallen out of fashion – ‘warm, innocent, literary translation’. Meanwhile, Robin Jarossi at Crime Time Preview was less than impressed: Working out who the culprit is should not have viewers straining their analytical faculties to breaking point, despite the killing itself being a tad implausible. The formula is simple – whoever looks shifty is not the killer; the person who is not shifty is the killer. Past Offences by Rich Westwood is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License . Put the word out...

Question: Who plays Father Brown in the 2013 BBC TV series of the same name?
Answer: Mark Williams