The 12 season of the beloved BBC crime drama, , is set to wrap up this week. The show, which draws inspiration from G.K. Chesterton’s Father Brown short stories, has been a hit since its debut in 2013.
Set in the picturesque Cotswolds village of Kembleford, the series follows a clergyman who uses his sharp wit and intuition to solve crimes. The latest season has seen Mark Williams’ titular Catholic priest solving cases ranging from murders at a medieval battle re-enactment to sinister visions plaguing a woman.
As Father Brown prepares to take a bow for another year, here are seven other shows that will satisfy fans of crime dramas, reports .
Father Dowling Mysteries
Before Father Brown, there was another Catholic priest-turned-detective on TV. The Father Dowling Mysteries aired for three seasons from 1989 to 1991, with American actor Tom Bosley playing the role of a Chicago-based priest who stumbles upon various crimes, including kidnappings and murders, in his fictional parish of St Michael’s.
If the premise sounds familiar, it’s because Father Dowling Mysteries drew heavy inspiration from Chesterton’s character. Where to watch: Available on DVD on Amazon.
The Sister Boniface Mysteries are a spin-off from Father Brown (Image: BBC)
Sister Boniface Mysteries
The spin-off series from Father Brown, Sister Boniface Mysteries, offers an equally cosy detective drama series, blending elements of comedy and drama without becoming too gruesome.
Lorna Watson, who first appeared as a Catholic nun in the 2013 episode of Father Brown titled The Bride of Christ, now stars in her own show.
It follows Sister Boniface as she fights crime in St. Vincent’s Convent, located in the fictional Cotswolds town of Great Slaughter. The series, which debuted in 2022, has already seen three seasons, and more are expected.
You can catch it on UKTV’s free streaming service U.
Cadfael
Based on The Cadfael Chronicles novels by Ellis Peters. Sir Derek Jacobi played the role of Brother Cadfael in this drama that ran for four seasons from 1994 to 1998.
Set in a Benedictine Abbey in Shrewsbury during the 12th century, the priest has just four days to solve his first case, before going on to crack many more. The cast also includes Gotham actor Sean Pertwee, The Demon Headmaster’s Terrence Hardiman, and ‘s Mark Charnock, with guest appearances from Hugh Bonneville, Toby Jones, Natasha McElhone, and Jonny Lee Miller.
You can watch it on ITVX.
Grantchester follows a crime-solving vicar in 1950s Cambridgeshire (Image: ITV)
Grantchester
The genre of crime-solving clergy continues to grow with Grantchester, based on James Runcie’s books. The series, which premiered in 2014, features Happy Valley’s James Norton as troubled vicar Sidney Chambers, who solves crimes in the 1950s Cambridgeshire village of Grantchester.
Robson Green also stars as Sidney’s right-hand man and police detective Geordie Keating.
Lead actor Norton exited the show in its fourth season, passing the baton to Tom Brittney, who played the next detective vicar, Reverend William Davenport, until the ninth season when Rishi Nair stepped into the role of Reverend Alphy Kotteram.
You can catch this on ITVX.
Death in Paradise is a British TV crime drama staple (Image: BBC)
Death in Paradise
For those who prefer a more light-hearted drama, Death in Paradise is a perfect choice. This British TV staple features detectives solving crimes on the fictional Caribbean island of Saint Marie.
The show’s formulaic approach ensures each episode presents a new case that gets neatly resolved by the end.
Since its premiere in 2011, audiences have adored the series, which has seen a variety of actors take on the lead detective role, including Ben Miller, Kris Marshall, Ardal O’Hanlon, and Ralf Little.
The success of Death in Paradise even led to a spin-off series, Beyond Paradise, led by Marshall, which is proving popular.
This can be viewed on iPlayer.
Ben Miller takes on the role of a sleuthing academic in Professor T (Image: ITV)
Professor T
Miller, after his character was written out of Death in Paradise, found a new home in another crime drama, Professor T.
In this series, he plays the lead role of Cambridge University criminologist Professor Jasper Tempest, a character with OCD and autism who tackles a new case each week.
Professor T is a British adaptation of the original Belgian series, and the UK version is now in its third series.
This can also be watched on ITVX.
Endeavour
The prequel series to Inspector Morse, which saw Shaun Evans step into the shoes of a younger version of the iconic detective originally portrayed by John Thaw, was a massive success.
Endeavour even earned the approval of Colin Dexter, the creator of Inspector Morse.
The show first aired in 2012 with a standalone pilot episode, before officially launching the following year and running for an impressive nine seasons.
The series was the brainchild of writer Russell Lewis, known for his work on Inspector Morse, The Bill, Wycliffe and Taggart, and it took viewers on a thrilling journey as they followed the young detective solving cases from 1965 to 1972.
You can catch up on all episodes of Endeavour on ITVX.
Father Brown season 12 concludes on One tomorrow at 2pm and is streaming as a boxset on iPlayer now