BBC confirmed on Thursday that beloved crime drama series Father Brown is set to return for a further two series.
In a recent update, the broadcaster revealed that filming for the twelfth series is well and truly underway.
Meanwhile, a thirteenth series has also reportedly been recommissioned and confirmed too.
Mark Williams, 64, is set to return alongside popular cast members Tom Chambers (Chief Inspector Sullivan), Claudie Blakley (Mrs Devine), Ruby-May Martinwood (Brenda) ,and John Burton (Sergeant Goodfellow).
Filming is currently taking place in the Cotswold’s with a first look snap from set showing Mark back in character as the charismatic clergyman sleuth, Father Brown.
Commenting on the exciting news of the upcoming series, Mark said: ‘As we start the 12th season of Father Brown I feel like I’m starting to get to know him.
‘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.
He added ‘The best thing about playing the character is that I am never, ever bored by him.’
In the new series, viewers can expect to see a medieval death at a Tudor battle re-enactment where Mrs Devine finds herself accused of murder.
Elsewhere in the show, Sergeant Goodfellow’s professional future will be thrown into question while Brenda will be seen ballroom dancing on national.
Neil Irvine the executive producer for BBC Studios Drama Production said: ‘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.
He concluded ‘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.’
The new series is set to land on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in early 2025.
The daytime crime drama, which stars Mark Williams as the titular character, was first shown in 2013.
The series is based on short stories by GK Chesterton about a crime-solving Catholic priest in the fictional Cotswolds village of Kembleford in the 1950s, and the show pulled in 2.5 million viewers in the UK.
It comes after Mark revealed in 2020 that he had become an unlikely pin-up, after a fan cheekily pinched his bottom when asking for a selfie.
During a second incident, an American lady bowled over to him during filming and said, ‘Father Brown, I feel like I know you.’
When asked by The Daily Mail’s Weekend if he felt like a sex symbol he laughed: ‘No, I don’t. I’ve never been employed for my attractiveness.’
‘I don’t know about Father Brown, but a friend of mine said that when she was a child in Ireland there was always a bit of a “What’s under the cassock?” romance about the young seminarians.
‘But I think I’m a bit too old for that, in fact a lot too old for that.’
The adulation is hardly surprising since the universal appeal of the acclaimed series has made it one of the most successful daytime shows ever.
As well as the UK, it has also been viewed by audiences in US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Italy, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Hungary, Poland, South Korea and Japan.
Set in the stunning Cotswolds countryside, Father Brown offers gloriously nostalgic episodes full of drama, warmth, and humour.
But the real pull of the stories is their moral compass.
Chesterton created the character more than 100 years ago as an antidote to Sherlock Holmes – while Arthur Conan Doyle’s detective relies on scientific reasoning untouched by emotion, Father Brown solves crimes with his charisma and a deep understanding of human failings.
James Parker is a UK-based entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to the West End, he offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.
