Meet the cast of Father Brown season 12
Meet Father Brown and his partners in ecclesiastical crime-solving and find out where you've seen those actors before.
A new year brings a new run of cosy crime drama Father Brown, which is back for its 12th season, once again starring Mark Williams as the priest from GK Chesterton's stories.
Joining Williams in the new episodes are the rest of the central cast from the past couple of seasons, including Tom Chambers, Claudie Blakley, John Burton and Ruby-May Martinwood.
Meanwhile, as always, there is a stellar guest cast who have been assembled, with the likes of Denis Lawson, Simon Day, Colin McFarlane, Anita Dobson, Robert Wilfort, Felicity Montagu and Angela Rippon all popping up throughout season 12.
But who else is in the series and who do they all play? Read on for all you need to know about Father Brown, his cohorts and the stars behind the characters.
Father Brown cast and characters - Season 12
Mark Williams plays Father Brown
Who is Father Brown? Like many of the best TV detectives, Father Brown's unassuming manner conceals a brain like a steel trap. As a priest, it's his job to understand people – and to see into their souls – which also proves to be particularly helpful in his work as an amateur sleuth.
Where have I seen Mark Williams before? The actor has been a recognisable face on British TV screens for many years now, but he's arguably best known as one of the stars of '90s comedy sketch series The Fast Show.
Doctor Who fans will know him as Brian Williams, father of the Doctor's travelling companion Rory, Harry Potter fans will know him as Ron's dad Arthur Weasley, while in recent years he's had roles in The Effects of Lying, Here We Go, Still Open All Hours, Blandings, Hustle and Being Human.
Claudie Blakley plays Mrs Devine
Who is Mrs Devine? Mrs Devine is Father Brown's right-hand woman, who first arrived in season 10. She is engaged to Chief Inspector Sullivan.
Where have I seen Claudie Blakley before? Blakley has previously appeared in series including Silent Witness, Call the Midwife, Grantchester, Manhunt, Man vs Bee, Cranford and Lark Rise to Candleford. Films she has appeared in include Gosford Park and The Nan Movie.
John Burton plays Sergeant Goodfellow
Who is Sergeant Goodfellow? Sergeant Goodfellow is a police officer in Kembleton who slips Father Brown nuggets of useful information about a case.
Where have I seen John Burton before? Burton is no stranger to playing officers of the law, having been seen as DC Cody in Coronation Street, PC Steve Watson in Noah’s Ark, PC Joe Sambrook in The Bill and DS Andy Nicoll in Catch Me If You Can.
Viewers may also have spotted him in numerous other soap roles as well as in BBC drama Best Interests, TV movie All in the Game and 2006 drama Afterlife.
Tom Chambers plays Chief Inspector Sullivan
Who is Chief Inspector Sullivan? A rather arrogant police detective, Sullivan was eventually won over by Father Brown's meddling ways. He is now engaged to Mrs Devine.
Where have I seen Tom Chambers before? The former Strictly Come Dancing winner is best known for his roles as Sam Strachan in Holby City and Max Tyler in Waterloo Road. He's also appeared in both Emmerdale and Casualty more recently.
Ruby-May Martinwood plays Brenda Palmer
Who is Brenda Palmer? Brenda is a young woman who was first introduced in season 9, when she was at a local girls' borstal, and now lives with Father Brown and helps with his cases.
Where have I seen Ruby-May Martinwood before? Martinwood has been seen on screen in shows including Tom Hardy's Taboo and hit detective series Death in Paradise. She appeared as Brenda in one episode of Father Brown season 9 before going on to become a main character in season 10.
Nancy Carroll plays Lady Felicia Montague
Who is Lady Felicia? Socialite Lady Felicia has an uncanny knack for stumbling across dead bodies, which usually elicits the famous fits of screaming that kick off one of Father Brown's cases. She's a loyal aide to the priest.
Where have I seen Nancy Carroll before? The actress is best know for her prolific stage career, but recent screen roles suggest a taste for crime – you may have spotted her in The Suspicions of Mr Whicher, Silent Witness, Murder in Provence and episodes of Midsomer Murders, in addition to Call the Midwife, The Crown, 2023 film Magic Mike's Last Dance, The Diplomat and Dalgliesh.
John Light plays Monsieur Hercule Flambeau
Who is Hercule Flambeau? Father Brown's arch-nemesis, Hercule Flambeau, is a ruthless jewel and art thief who pops up each season to cross swords with the priest.
Where have I seen John Light before? When it comes to his screen work, John Light is another actor who is no stranger to crime, having appeared as Dacourt in Maigret, alongside Rowan Atkinson, and as Professor Felix Garwood in Lewis and prequel Endeavour. He also recently starred as Richard Binser in Agatha Raisin and appeared in Around the World in 80 Days, Murder in Provence and Showtrial.
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Previous Father Brown cast and characters
Sorcha Cusack plays Mrs Bridgette McCarthy
Who is Mrs McCarthy? Mrs McCarthy is the parish secretary at St Mary's church, so is at the centre of much of village business, which is good since she enjoys a bit of gossip. She's devoted to Father Brown, helping him with his cases, and making sure he eats. She doesn't always see eye to eye with Lady Felicia, and there are regular clashes between them — but they both share a grudging respect for one another.
Where have I seen Sorcha Cusack before? Cusack comes from a family of actors, her sisters Sinéad Cusack, Niamh Cusack and Catherine Cusack are all in the business and she's the sister-in-law of Sinéad's husband Jeremy Irons and aunt to their son Max Irons. Numerous film and TV roles have included appearances in Guy Ritchie film Snatch, Mrs Brown's Boys, This Way Up and A Discovery of Witches.
Emer Kenny plays The Honourable Penelope "Bunty" Windermere
Who is Bunty? Lady Felicia's niece shares her eye for the gents, and along with Mrs McCarthy often joins Father Brown on his investigations. She's whip-smart, an accomplished shot, and can pick a lock in 3.5 seconds.
Where have I seen Emer Kenny before? Kenny is best known for her stint on Albert Square as EastEnders's Zsa Zsa Carter and since then has been seen in BBC3 comedies Pramface, Badults, Siblings and The Curse.
She also wrote and played a supporting role in ITV detective drama Karen Pirie and played Joan in the BBC's TV movie Eric & Ernie, which followed the beginnings of comedy duo Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise.
Jack Deam plays Inspector Mallory
Who is Inspector Mallory? An overzealous, and often misguided, police investigator, Inspector Mallory who doesn't always appreciate "Padre" Father Brown interfering in his cases.
Where have I seen Jack Deam before? Best known as pyromaniac Marty Fisher in Channel 4's Shameless, Jack Deam has also appeared in Heartbeat, Silent Witness, Ridley and as rapist Phil Simmonds in a 2000 Coronation Street storyline.
Lorna Watson as Sister Boniface
Who is Sister Boniface? Sister Boniface is a Catholic nun and vintner who often acts as a scientific adviser to the police, and is an old friend of Father Brown, who ends up embroiled in a case this season. She previously appeared in the show's first season, and subsequently got her own spin-off, The Sister Boniface Mysteries.
Where have I seen Lorna Watson before? Watson is a comedian and actor known for her comedy partnership with Ingrid Oliver, starring in The Sister Boniface Mysteries, and as appearing in shows including The IT Crowd and Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators.
Father Brown returns on Friday 10th January at 2pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Authors
James Hibbs is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering programmes across both streaming platforms and linear channels. He previously worked in PR, first for a B2B agency and subsequently for international TV production company Fremantle. He possesses a BA in English and Theatre Studies and an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.
