Father Brown’s season 12 debut episode is on its way, so who are this week’s guest stars kicking off the cosy crime drama’s return?
Once again, the humble yet observant Father Brown (played by Mark Williams) is on hand to crack more crimes in the fictional 1950s Cotswold village of Kembleford.
In the first episode, entitled The Battle of Kembleford, the village is marking the 500th anniversary of the battle with a re-enactment, but it isn’t long before a real medieval-style murder is committed.
Father Brown season 12 episode 1 cast
Walter Sullivan – Denis Lawson
For the first time in the show’s history, Inspector Edgar Sullivan’s (played by Tom Chambers) dad, Walter Sullivan, will be showing up in Kembleford.
He is portrayed by Scottish actor Denis Lawson, who was Wedge Antilles in the original Star Wars trilogy, and John Jarndyce in the mini-series Bleak House.
More recently, he was Tom Campbell-Gore in Holby City and has since appeared in Sister Boniface Mysteries and Inside No.9.
Tyrone Higgs – Richard David-Caine
Actor Richard David-Caine is best known for his work on children’s television, having been featured in Class Dismissed, Big Fat Like, Horrible Histories, and an array of voiceover roles.
Swashbuckle has been his biggest role, though, as he played the character Line for six years before leaving in 2019.
David-Caine is to portray Tyrone Higgs in Father Brown, the “over-enthusiastic” head of the Historical Society who organises the battle reenactment.
Father Brown season 12 episode 1 cast: Who are the guest stars in Battle of Kembleford? (Image: BBC)
Father Brown season 12 episode 1: Walter Sullivan is played by actor Denis Lawson. (Image: BBC)
Father Brown season 12 episode 1: Tyrone Higgs is played by actor Richard David-Caine. (Image: BBC)
Frank Derbyshire – Nicholas Burns
Amateur historian Frank Derbyshire is far from happy when a famous historian arrives on the scene, stealing his spotlight as the village’s expert on the historic occasion.
Frank is portrayed by actor Nicholas Burns, who has had minor roles in Nathan Barley, The World’s End, and Emma in 2020.
Cecily Derbyshire – Melissa Johns
Frank is married to Cecily, who he argues with throughout the evening, with tensions clearly rising between the pair.
Actress and disability activist Melissa Johns was Sadie in The Interceptor, Imogen Pascoe in , Miss Scott in Grantchester, and Hannah Taylor in Life.
Father Brown season 12 episode 1: Frank Derbyshire is played by actor Nicholas Burns. (Image: BBC)
Father Brown season 12 episode 1: Cecily Derbyshire is played by actress Melissa Johns. (Image: GETTY)
Father Brown season 12 episode 1: Dr Alexander Manning is played by actor Luke Allen Gale. (Image: BBC)
Dr Alexander Manning – Luke Allen Gale
Dr Alexander Manning is the famous historian who was invited to the battle reenactment and put Frank’s nose out of joint with his presence.
Actor Luke Allen Gale will be remembered for featuring in the apocalyptic show Dominion and the ITV drama Monroe with actor James Nesbitt.
So who will be the first victim of Father Brown season 12 and how is the priest going to crack the intriguing case?
Father Brown season 12 premieres on Friday, January 10, at 2pm on One and iPlayer.