Father Brown series 13: Amazing guest cast from Corrie, Casualty and Call the Midwife plus a shock return for fan-favourite character
Mrs McCarthy is back!
Father Brown is back for more sleuthing, and series 13 features a terrific cast of guest stars to rival even Midsomer Murders!
Harry Potter star Mark Williams returns as the crime-fighting clergyman and this series features a string of taxing cases brought to life by some very familiar faces guesting on the show – plus there’s the return of an original character, Mrs McCarthy!
Here’s everything we know about the new series including guest cast and a breakdown of what happens in each episode…
What’s the plot of Father Brown series 13?
Father Brown is back with a new host of crimes to solve in the sleepy village of Kembleford. Expect more murder and mayhem as the clergyman tries to track down missing babies, solve the death of a local theatre manager, and crack the case of a valuable statue that has been stolen.
We will also see Father Brown have yet another run-in with criminal mastermind Flambeau in the new series. Despite Flambeau’s illegal activities, there’s always been a rapport between the pair.
Flambeau tasks Father Brown with visiting Father Lazarus in prison, which causes trouble with the rule-abiding Bishop Elect, Canon Fox.
Fox plans to take his revenge upon Father Brown, which could have major consequences for Kembleford. Can Father Brown manage to secure his position in his parish? Or might he be kicked out? “Yes, Father Brown has a real crisis, and it looks like it’s unsolvable…until fate intervenes,” teases star Mark Williams.
Plus, the new Mr and Mrs Sullivan settle into married life and a new home. Isabel is delighted to be welcomed into the Policeman’s Wives Society.
Meanwhile, Brenda starts to learn how to drive with the help of Sergeant Goodfellow and loves the chance to cover the role of Parish Secretary.
When does Mrs McCarthy return to Father Brown?
The biggest surprise in the opening story of the new series is the return of Mrs Bridgette McCarthy. The Irish parish secretary featured in the very first episode of Father Brown in 2013 and quickly became a firm fan favourite.
Everyone loved the way she strongly expressed her opinions and always defended Father Brown. She also found herself in danger on many occasions.
The character, played by Sorcha Cusack, was last seen in the final episode of series 9 in 2022. So it’s great to have her back as Mrs McCarthy for the first episode of Father Brown series 13.
The story revolves around the fact that Mrs McCarthy’s great niece has run away from a refuge for unmarried mothers. She becomes the chief suspect when the nurse arranging for her twin babies to be adopted against her will is murdered. Can Father Brown prove that Mrs McCarthy’s great niece is innocent?
Sadly for fans, Mrs McCarthy is only in the first episode. But you never know, she could be back again one day!
Where was Father Brown series 13 filmed?
Star Mark Williams loves filming Father Brown because the cast and crew visit so many amazing places.
Mark says: “We have filmed in The Chateaux Impney a French fantasy in Droitwich, the little theatre in Chipping Norton (an ex Salvation Army Citadel), the wonderful 18th Century octagonal Crown Courts in Warwick and an atmospheric ex-Nunnery in Great Malvern with a glorious chapel by Ninian Comper.
“Also, The Fleece Inn in Bretforton, which is an English pub time capsule, the spectacular Baroque church at Great Witley and, to top it off, a selection of lovely stone Cotswold houses and churches. What a fabulous itinerary. And we filmed an episode at the seaside!”
The cast and crew filmed their seaside scenes at Weston-super-Mare. It’s hard to imagine Father Brown at the beach!
When is the start date? How can I watch?
Father Brown series 13 begins on BBC One on Friday, January 9 at 2pm. The opening episode is titled The Good Refuge.
The second episode, The Hole in My Heart, will air on BBC One on Friday, January 16 at 2pm.
New episodes continue to be released by the BBC on Fridays, with episode three, The Palace by the Sea, set to air on Friday, January 23 at 2pm.
The whole series is now on BBC iPlayer as a box set.
How many episodes are in Father Brown series 13?
The new series is 10 parts. Series 12, which is still available to watch on BBC iPlayer, is also 10 parts. Indeed, every series has featured 10 episodes except series 3 and series 5, which both oddly had 15 episodes!
Prior to series 13 going out, there are 130 episodes of Father Brown to enjoy. So, if you’ve never seen it, there are plenty of stories to keep you busy.
Each of the episodes is about 45 minutes.
Is the village of Kembleford a real place?
No, the show is set in the beautiful village of Kembleford, but it isn’t a real place. The exterior of the Church of St Peter and St Paul in Blockley, Gloucestershire, doubles for Father Brown’s church, St Mary’s. Much of Kembleford is in fact Blockley, which has a population of just over 2,000 and dates back to the Saxons.
While the series is set in the Cotswolds, the early books by GK Chesterton were set in Cobhole, a fictitious village in Essex.
In Chesterton’s later books, Father Brown travelled all over the country for his cases. He even went abroad! In total, Chesterton wrote 53 short stories about Father Brown.
Who’s in the Father Brown series 13 cast?
Mark Williams returns to the titular role as Father Brown. Mark famously played Arthur Weasley in the Harry Potter films, and has also appeared in Doctor Who, Being Human and The Fast Show.
Tom Chambers is back as Inspector Sullivan. He also starred in Holby City and Casualty as Sam Strachan, and as Max Tyler in Waterloo Road. Tom also won Strictly Come Dancing in 2008.
Claudie Blakley returns to the series as the new Mrs Isabel Sullivan. Claudie has played Emma Timmins in BBC period drama Lark Rise to Candleford and Charlotte Lucas in Pride and Prejudice. More recently, she has starred in Manhunt, Flesh and Blood, and the Netflix comedies Man vs Bee and Man vs Baby, where she plays Jess, the long-suffering ex-wife of Rowan Atkinson’s character Trevor Bingley.
John Burton once more plays the dependable Sergeant Goodfellow, with Ruby-May Martinwood as Brenda. Plus, John Light reprises his role as likeable villain Hercule Flambeau.
Also in the new series are Nancy Carroll as Lady Felicia, Lex Shrapnel as Father Lazarus, Roger May as father Brown’s nemesis Canon Fox and Kieran Hodgson as Father Lindsey.
Father Brown series 13 guest cast
Father Brown has a reputation for great guest stars, and the new series doesn’t disappoint.
Maureen Lipman, Julia Sawalha, Phil Daniels, and Debra Stephenson will all make guest appearances. Plus, Davood Ghadami, Kevin Harvey, George Rainsford and Timothy Watson. Here is which star is appearing in which role – and when!
Episode 1 – The Good Refuge (Airs Friday, January 9 at 2pm on BBC One)
Sorcha Cusack plays returning character Mrs McCarthy. Sorcha is also known for playing Kate Wilson in Casualty and Helen Connor in Coronation Street.
Grace Daly plays a single mum to twins, Maire Fitzpatrick. You might know Grace from The Vanishing Triangle and Bring Them Down.
Clare Burt, best known for her theatre roles, appears as Sister Agatha. Her TV credits include The Bill, Holby City, Top Boy, The Diplomat, Passenger, The Long Shadow and ITV’s critically acclaimed crime series The Salisbury Poisonings.
Debbie Chazen stars as Nurse Dorothy Hyde. Debbie is best known for her comedy roles, including The Smoking Room and Psychoville. She has also starred in Holby City, Doctors, Call the Midwife, EastEnders, Sherlock and The Last Kingdom.
Bridget Marumo plays expectant mother Clarice James. Bridget is best known for her roles in ITV’s Vera and BBC medical drama, Casualty.
Jake Fairbrother appears as Peter James in Father Brown. He has appeared in movies including Skyfall, and TV series such as The Sandman, Grace, Foundation, Death in Paradise and The Family Plan.
Episode 2 – The Hole in My Heart (Airs Friday, January 16 at 2pm on BBC One)
The second episode sees Father Brown investigate when rock ‘n’ roll sensation the Hart Brothers return home to Kembleford, bringing murder along with them.
Ryan Quarmby stars as musician Johnny Hart. Ryan is best known to TV fans for playing Cynlaef in the historical fiction series, The Last Kingdom. He has also starred in Channel 4’s The Gathering and crime drama, FBI: International.
Ben Rose is playing band member Jack Hart. This isn’t the first time Ben has played a musician – he also played guitarist Bardon Quinn in the 2024 BBC drama This Town. He is also known for roles in Line of Duty and The Innocents.
Davood Ghadami plays suave Howie Brooks. Most viewers will know Davood as EastEnders’ Kush Kazemi and Eli Ebrahimi in Holby City. He also appeared in Strictly Come Dancing in 2017 and has starred in Doctor Who, The Bill and Silent Witness. He has also recently appeared in Prime Video’s biblical drama, House of David, and Beyond Paradise.
Natasha Calland appears as Betty Jasobson. Natasha is known for her roles in Queens of Mystery, It’s a Sin and Casualty.
London-based star Frances McNamee plays Meredith Blunkett. Frances is famous for starring in Channel 5 crime mystery Murder Most Puzzling. She has also appeared in From Beyond and Mister Seeing.
Episode 3 – The Palace by the Sea (Airs Friday, January 23 at 2pm on BBC One)
The third episode sees Father Brown sleuthing beside the seaside when Sullivan’s beloved Aunty Pat is arrested for murder.
Maureen Lipman stars as Aunty Pat, who runs a seaside hotel. Maureen Lipman is a legend of the stage and screen, having played a huge range of roles over the years. Fans will most likely know her as Evelyn Plummer in Coronation Street. She received high praise for her role in Educating Rita. Her iconic voiceover as Beatrice on the BT ads in the 80s and 90s made her a household name.
Julia Sawalha plays Cynthia Wendle. Julia became a household name after playing Saffy in Absolutely Fabulous and Carla in Jonathan Creek. She has also starred in Lark Rise to Candleford, Press Gang and Pride and Prejudice.
Alexander Macqueen is Raymond Wendle. Alexander is famous for playing Neil’s dad, Kevin, in The Inbetweeners. He has also starred in Holby City, The Thick of It and the HBO series Sally4Ever.
The Archers star Timothy Watson appears as Max Bishop. Timothy is also known for his roles in Mr Selfridge, where he played Mr Perez.
Kareem Alexander is Timothy Moon. Kareem has appeared in TV shows like Doctor Who, Silent Witness, Doctors, Litvinenko and Vampire Academy.
James Quinn plays Sergeant George Oldham. Soap fans will recognise James as DS Willets in Coronation Street. The actor has also had four guest roles in Emmerdale over the years, spanning from 1991 to 2002.
Episode 4 – The Crackpot and the Dummy (Airs Friday, January 30 at 2pm on BBC One)
The fourth episode sees Father Brown do some digging when an old friend, eccentric ventriloquist Uncle Mirth, is arrested for murder.
Toby Longworth plays Uncle Mirth. Viewers will recognise Toby as Paul from Not Going Out, BBC2 series Extras and The IT Crowd. He is also known for his extensive voiceover work on Doctor Who and Star Wars.
René Zagger is Eric Gramby. René is famous for playing PC Nick Klein in The Bill from 1999 to 2004. He has also starred in Doctor Who and played CSI Madison in Sherwood.
Rafaela Nicolay stars as Gwen Kirkov. The Swiss actress is recognised for her roles in FBI: International and Transatlantic.
Matilda Ziegler portrays Mildred Gramby. Matilda played Donna Ludlow in EastEnders, Pearl Pratt in the BBC adaptation of Lark Rise to Candleford and Irma Gobb in Mr Bean.
Phil Cornwell plays Kount Volker. Phil is famous for his voice work and impressions on shows like Spitting Image, Get Fresh and Dead Ringers. He has also acted in Midsomer Murders and The Bill.
Episode 5 – The Shadow of Lazarus (Airs Friday, February 6 at 2pm on BBC One)
In the fifth episode, Father Brown and Flambeau play a deadly game of cat and mouse with their nemesis Father Lazarus.
Lex Shrapnel is Vincent Lazarus. Lex is famous for his roles in Holby City, Endeavour, Midsomer Murders, A Town Called Malice and Sharpe.
Aaron Anthony plays Principal Officer Francis. Aaron will be familiar to soap fans for playing Ellis Chapman in Emmerdale between 2019 and 2022. He also played Adam in Delicious and has appeared in Holby City and Doctors.
Tony Gardner portrays Monsignor Russo. Tony has starred in shows including Last Tango in Halifax, My Parents Are Aliens and Fresh Meat.
Sophia Myles is Lady Veronica Shepherd. Sophia has appeared in Doctor Who, Spooks and played Beth Turner in supernatural TV drama, Moonlight.
Madison Clare plays Mary Jackman. She has appeared in shows including Grantchester and Holby City.
Episode 6 – The Obedient Wife (Airs Friday, February 13 at 2pm on BBC One)
Episode six sees Father Brown investigate when Violet Goodfellow is attacked by the killer of a senior policeman.
Alex Blake plays Gerald Webber. Alex is a well-known face on TV, having appeared as the private secretary to the Prince of Wales, Stephen Lamport, in The Crown. He has also starred in Chernobyl, Andor, Mrs Wilson, New Tricks, Silent Witness and Midsomer Murders.
Elizabeth Rider is Carole Lawson. Elizabeth has gained recognition from TV fans for a multitude of shows, including Coronation Street, Doctors and EastEnders. She also played Helen Braithwaite in At Home with the Braithwaites, DCI Maureen Smith in Waking the Dead, DCC Andrea Wise in Line of Duty and Judge Isobel Cavendish in Showtrial.
Marianne Oldham stars as Joyce Webber. Marianne has starred in The Midwich Cuckoos as Jane Colter, Lady Marwood in Grantchester, Magdalena Bryne in Endeavour and A Very English Scandal.
Naomi Radcliffe is Violet Goodfellow. Oldham-born Naomi has starred in shows including Where the Heart Is, Coronation Street, Cold Feet, Scott & Bailey, Holby City and Spotless.
Rob Ostelere portrays Michael Rendon. Rob gained fame as Doctor Arthur Digby in Holby City. He also made history for playing Waymar Royce, the first character to be killed off in Game of Thrones!
Episode 7 – The Bodhi Tree (Airs Friday, February 20 at 2pm on BBC One)
In episode 7, Father Brown investigates when Lady Felicia’s friend drops dead during a yoga session at a Buddhist retreat.
Daisy Beaumont plays Frances Dewfield. Daisy will be familiar to fans for her roles in EastEnders as Helen Graham in 2000 and Selina Branning in 2008. She has also starred in Doctor Who, Whitechapel, A Touch of Cloth and New Tricks.
Tom Wu portrays Tenzin Choda. He is famous for his role as the blind monk in the Netflix historical drama, Marco Polo. Tom has also starred in the 2018 crime drama, Strangers.
Jack Armstrong is Bastian Hawthorne. Jack has a vast career in films, TV and on the stage. On TV, he has appeared in shows including Holby City and Shipwreck Secrets. He is famous for roles in Persuasive, We Progress, Toothbrush and Diary of a Football Hooligan on the big screen.
Gordon Kennedy stars as Shuggie Gower. Viewers will know him from Robin Hood, Red Dwarf, The Windsors and Sherlock.
Hermione Juniper Leitch is Tabitha Dewfield. Hermione is famous for her roles in God of Age in 2024 and Fall in Blue in 2025.
Episode 8 – The Oath of Silence (Airs Friday, February 27 at 2pm on BBC One)
The eighth episode sees Father Brown in a race against time to prove the innocence of a man standing trial for murder.
Andrew Lancel plays Royce Holland. Andrew is a well-known actor on TV, having appeared in everything from Cardiac Arrest as Doctor Andrew Collin to DI Neil Manson in The Bill. He also played Coronation Street super villain Frank Foster.
Nick Fletcher portrays Roger Sharpe QC. Nick started his career playing Luke Cresswell in Grange Hill and has gone on to star in True Dare Kiss, Conspiracy of Silence, Midsomer Murders, Outlander and Whitechapel.
Sarah Beck Mather is Josie Holland. Sarah’s appeared in The Duke, Deep Cover and Black Mirror.
Bill Champion is Arthur Goddard. Bill gained recognition for his roles in Blitz, Messiah and Casualty.
Kevin Harvey plays David Ensley. Viewers will know Kevin from Two Doors Down, The Inheritance on Channel 5, The Gathering on Channel 4 and Death in Paradise.
Sion Tudor Owen stars as Lucian Blakeley. Sion has starred in Submarine, Highlander, Doctor Who and The Bill, as well as two roles in Coronation Street, one as Mr Lane, a client of Leanne Battersby in 2007 and then as art expert Colin, in 2015.
Samantha Baines plays Bonnie Baldridge. Samantha is famous for her roles in Call the Midwife, The Crown and Silent Witness.
Episode 9 – The Power of Suggestion (Airs Friday, March 6 at 2pm on BBC One)
In episode nine, Father Brown investigates the murder of a Hollywood starlet who is killed while filming a washing powder advert.
George Rainsford plays Ron Sanderson. Casualty fans will know George as Ethan Hardy in the medical drama. He has also played Jimmy in Call the Midwife and starred in Waking the Dead, Secret Diary of a Call Girl and Wild Target.
Tia Bannon is Meg Wilson. Tia gained fame for her role in the Apple TV+ thriller, Prime Target. She has also starred in The Midnight Sky, Maintenance Required and The Drifters.
Debra Stephenson stars as Katherine Vale. Debra is no stranger to TV fans, having starred in everything from soaps to comedy. Debra played Frankie Baldwin in Coronation Street, Shell Dockley in Bad Girls and has starred in Waterloo Road and Holby City and Playing the Field. She is also a huge favourite on The Impressions Show with Culshaw and Stephenson, Newzoids and Spitting Image.
Phil Daniels plays Frank Hicks. Phil is also no stranger to soap fans, having played Kevin Wicks in EastEnders from 2006 to 2008. He is also famous for narrating Blur’s hit song ‘Parklife’. Phil has also starred in New Tricks, Only Fools and Horses prequel Rock and Chips, House of the Dragon, Call the Midwife and Outlaws.
Mia Rodgers portrays Eva Richards. Mia has starred in The Sex Lives of College Girls, Trauma on ITV and Defending the Guilty.
Episode 10 – The Bishop’s Revenge (Airs Friday, March 13 at 2pm on BBC One)
The final episode of the series sees bishop-elect Fox kidnapped after taking revenge on Father Brown. Can the priest find him in time for his consecration?
Jonathan Coy portrays Lord Rufas Silk. Jonathan is a familiar face on TV, having played solicitor George Murray in Downton Abbey, Henry in Rumpole of the Bailey and Lieutenant Bracegirdle in Hornblower. He has also appeared in Foyle’s War, Brideshead Revisited and The Bill.
Siobhan Redmond plays Mrs Tilda Nettles. Siobhan played Chief Superintendent Karen Campbell in Taggart, Ann-Marie in Two Doors Down and has also appeared in Between the Lines and Sea of Souls.
Gracie McGonigal is Lady Martha Silk. She made her TV debut in the Amazon Prime series The Power and will star in Bridgerton series 4, which arrives on Netflix at the end of January.
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What happened at the end of series 12?
Isabel handed her resignation to Father Brown, saying she planned to move to London with the Inspector after her wedding. Sullivan had been offered the position of Detective Superintendent.
But Isabel didn’t want to go. She’d always loved Kembleford and was alarmed by the size of London when Sullivan handed her a map.
Sullivan’s bullying father, Walter (Denis Lawson), was keen for his son to move to London. So keen he’d only give his blessing to the marriage if they went to the capital.
However, during the episode, Sullivan learned that his father had sabotaged his mother’s dreams of being a doctor. Not only that, but he’d hit a man with his car and left him to die. So, Sullivan fired his dad as his best man and reinstated Goodfellow.
Plus, during his marriage vows, Sullivan revealed to Isabel that he wanted to remain in Kembleford. Bless!
After the ceremony, Sullivan told his dad exactly what he thought of him. At the end of the series, Sullivan promised Goodfellow that he would get him reinstated as a police officer. Plus, Isabel withdrew her resignation.
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