Father Brown’s bike out of storage as S12 to begin filming in April

On: February 18, 2024, By: Bill Young

Father Brown’s bike in storage. Photo: Bill Young

It’s been just a few years since our 2015 stay in Moreton-in-Marsh during filming of series 3 of Father Brown for our behind-the-scenes production of Father Brown: Saving Souls, Solving Crimes for PBS. Fast forward to 2024 where Father Brown’s bike is coming out of storage and getting ready to make the streets of Kembleford safe once again.

With series 11 having just transmitted in the UK in January, series 12 will begin filming near Birmingham in April which, if things go as planned, the new series will likely drop in January 2025 in the UK with a U.S. broadcast on public television stations following later that year.

Father Brown making the streets of Kembleford safe once again. Photo: BBC

For that 2015 production, the opportunity to spend a week on set with Will Trotter (executive producer), Ceri Meyrick (producer) and the brilliant production team behind the camera who create Father Brown and the drop-dead gorgeous visual setting of the Cotswolds was nothing short of magical.

The entire production team gave us unprecedented access to the set for our production of Father Brown: Saving Souls, Solving Crimes from the former Moreton-in-Marsh Hospital to the new home to the Kembleford Police Station and Inspector Sullivan to the Stanway Cricket Club, to the church in Blockley that is the home to St. Mary’s and all points in-between. While I will never understand cricket, cast and crew did their best to explain this gentleman’s game which dates back to the 16th century.

In addition to the top-notch crew, the regular Father Brown cast of Mark Williams, Nancy Carroll, Sorcha Cusack, Tom Chambers and Alex Price were invaluable in sharing their thoughts and insights as to the characters that they continue to bring to life on the BBC and public television each year.

The special not only gave fans a look at ‘how the sausage is made’, it also gave fans of the series a sense as to the beauty of the English countryside. We talked to writers of the series and learned where the ideas came from for each script and also the endless efforts of the costume and art departments who spend countless hours making sure everything is spot on 1950’s.

Also lending their thoughts and talents to the special were Mark Williams (Father Brown), Nancy Carroll (Lady Felicia), Sorcha Cusack (Mrs. McCarthy), Tom Chambers (Inspector Sullivan) and Alex Price (Sid Carter.

As we left 1950’s Kembleford and returned to 21st century Moreton-in-Marsh, we were struck by the overall passion of cast and crew who create Father Brown and make it the show you’ve come to not only enjoy but also expect after 11 series and over 100 episodes!