Father Brown season 11 full season guide: plot, cast, and more

Father Brown season 11 cast: People: Brenda Palmer (RUBY-MAY MARTINWOOD), Sgt. Goodfellow (JOHN BURTON), Father Brown (MARK WILLIAMS), Mrs Devine (CLAUDIE BLAKLEY), Chief Inspector Sullivan (TOM CHAMBERS)
Father Brown season 11 cast: Brenda Palmer (Ruby-May Martinwood), Sgt. Goodfellow (John Burton), Father Brown (Mark Williams), Mrs Devine (Claudie Blakley), Chief Inspector Sullivan (Tom Chambers) (Image credit: BBC)

Father Brown season 11 sees the crime-fighting priest, wonderfully played by Mark Willaims, return for a fresh batch of cases, with the whole series available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.

Father Brown is a huge hit on BBC One daytime — we reckon it should be on primetime! — and we have cast details, including some great guest stars such as Doctor Who legend Sylvester McCoy and ex Strictly Come Dancing star Kevin Clifton. Fan favourite Flambeau (John Light) is back.

Mark Williams says: "It’s an honour to be returning to Father Brown for an eleventh series of warmth, drama and humour, as well as sleuthing with my partners in crime solving. It's also always a treat to film in the beautiful Cotswolds."

If you've never seen Father Brown and are a fan of shows like Death in Paradise, then we'd highly recommend it. Meanwhile, US fans can watch it on BritBox.

Here's everything we know about the series based on the character made famous from GK Chesterton's short stories...

Father Brown season 11 release date

Father Brown season 11 returned on Friday 5 January on BBC One at 1.45 pm. The whole series is available now as a box set on BBC iPlayer.

In the US, Father Brown season 11 was released on BritBox on Tuesday, January 23. Father Brown season 10 is currently available to watch in full on BBC iPlayer (see our best BBC dramas guide for more shows to enjoy).

What’s the plot?

Father Brown season 9 Mark Williams as Father Brown

(Image credit: BBC Studios/Stuart Wood)

The year is now 1955 and Chief Inspector Sullivan and Mrs Devine seem to be getting rather close, much to the interest of Father Brown and Brenda!

As ever Father Brown is tasked with solving a string of highly puzzling cases including a food fayre to die for and a real-life crime at a crime writing festival. There's also a village rivalry that turns deadly while Father Brown and Sister Boniface become embroiled in a murder at an arts and crafts fair. 

Sister Boniface star Lorna Watson spoke to us about being in the episode and working with Mark Williams. She said: "It was so lovely! There’s a great scene where we’re cycling down a country lane in the Cotswolds with our habits flapping about! My comedy partner Ingrid Oliver is in that episode, and it's the first time we’ve worked together in 10 years!" 

Also in the series, Brenda faces ghosts from her past when her old friend Dr McClurgy (Sylvester McCoy), makes contact. Flambeau, Father Brown’s frenemy, also makes a return, bringing trouble as ever. He arrives with his estranged father, Gabriel, and Father Brown finds himself on a dangerous mission...

What happens in episode 1?

Brian Fleming (KELVIN FLETCHER), Ursula Fanshaw (BARBARA D'ALTERIO) in Father Brown season 11 in a barrel race

Brian Fleming (Kelvin Fletcher), Ursula Fanshaw (Barbara D'Alterio) racing (Image credit: BBC)

The whole of Kembleford turns out for the Kembleston Olimpicks, against rival village Hambleston. But when fierce Hambleston competitor Ursula Fanshaw meets a grisly end during the spinach-eating competition, Father Brown must work out what happened. When he realises that Kembleford captain Dr Geoffrey Fleming was the intended target, Geoffrey's feud with his brother Brian (Kelvin Fletcher) seems to be behind the murder...

What happens in the other episodes?

Dr Angus McClurgy (SYLVESTER McCOY) in Father Brown season 11

Guest star Sylvester McCoy as Dr Angus McClurgy in episode three (Image credit: BBC)

In episode two, "The Forensic Nun", Father Brown investigates when his old friend Sister Boniface is implicated in the murder of a renowned artist. 

In episode three, "The Hermit of Hazelnut Cottage," Brenda faces ghosts from her past and becomes embroiled in a local dispute that ends in murder. Sylvester McCoy guest stars. 

In episode four, "The Last Supper", Father Brown has a lot on his plate when a food fayre comes to Kembleford, bringing murder with it. 

In episode five, "The Father, The Son", Flambeau is stunned to find his estranged father at St Mary’s, who has a dangerous mission in mind. 

In episode six, "The Quill of Osric", Father Brown must discover the culprit when a novelist is attacked at a crime-writing festival. 

In episode seven, "The Word of the Condemned," Lady Felicia asks Father Brown to help prove a convicted serial killer didn’t murder her beloved goddaughter. 

In episode eight, "The Last Tango in Kembleford", Father Brown investigates when the competitive atmosphere at a local dance school leads to a dance with death. 

Kevin Clifton as Talent Scout in Father Brown.

Kevin Clifton as a talent scout in episode eight (Image credit: BBC Studios)

In episode nine, "The Dead of Night", Father Brown is determined to unmask a mortal being when a supposed vampire strikes in the village. 

In episode ten, "The Scars of War", Sullivan asks for Father Brown’s help when Mrs Devine’s son Eddie is framed for murder. 

Father Brown cast

Harry Potter legend Mark Williams is back as Father Brown. Lorna Watson is also back as Sister Boniface. Also returning are John Light as Flambeau, Ruby-May Martinwood as Brenda Palmer, Claudie Blakley as Mrs Devine and Tom Chambers as Sullivan. Ex-Time Lord Sylvester McCoy and former Emmerdale favourite Kelvin Fletcher are among the guest stars.

Guest star Kevin Clifton spoke to us about his part in episode eight and working on the show. "It was so much fun! Everyone was really lovely and welcoming. Mark’s very much like the dad in that environment, and to have that experience of working alongside someone like him was wicked. He really guided me through it, which was lovely."

Is there a trailer?

No not yet.

David Hollingsworth
Editor

David is the What To Watch Editor and has over 20 years of experience in television journalism. He is currently writing about the latest television and film news for What To Watch.

Before working for What To Watch, David spent many years working for TV Times magazine, interviewing some of television's most famous stars including Hollywood actor Kiefer Sutherland, singer Lionel Richie and wildlife legend Sir David Attenborough. 

David started out as a writer for TV Times before becoming the title's deputy features editor and then features editor. During his time on TV Times, David also helped run the annual TV Times Awards. David is a huge Death in Paradise fan, although he's still failed to solve a case before the show's detective! He also loves James Bond and controversially thinks that Timothy Dalton was an excellent 007.

Other than watching and writing about telly, David loves playing cricket, going to the cinema, trying to improve his tennis and chasing about after his kids!