<P> The series is set during the early 1950s, in the fictional Cotswold village of Kembleford, where Father Brown, priest at St Mary's Catholic Church, solves murder cases . A bumbling police inspector, who often arrests the wrong suspect, gets annoyed by Father Brown's success . </P> <P> Father Brown uses the distinctive skills of his close friends as well as his own wits to solve cases, occasionally to the neglect of his more mundane parish duties . His vocation as a priest often gives him an insight to the truth, so that justice (but occasionally, not the letter of the law) may be served . His commitment to obeying the Seal of the Confessional often presents unique circumstances . The time period is when Britain was still struggling with deprivation and shortages in the aftermath of the hardships of the Second World War . The country still applies the death penalty as a sentence for capital crimes such as murder . Father Brown opposes capital punishment . </P> <Ul> <Li> Father Brown--Mark Williams (2013--present): a slightly crumpled, shambolic and mild - mannered Roman Catholic priest who, by appearance, is easily forgotten . His apparent innocence belies a playful wit and a razor - sharp intellect . His greatest strength, both as a priest and as a detective of crime, is his love and understanding of other people . He's not there to judge, but to save souls . </Li> <Li> Mrs Bridgette McCarthy née Maguire--Sorcha Cusack (2013--present): the Irish parish secretary at St Mary's . She checks the facts for Father Brown, acts as his confidante on official Church business and everything else, defends him from the ire of the congregation, and makes sure he eats . She has a tendency to brag about her award - winning strawberry scones . Mrs McCarthy is a frequent gossip--though claims she is not--and often at odds with Lady Felicia, although she and Lady Felicia eventually admit to being close friends . She is married, but leaves her husband after he returns from having lived with another woman following the war . </Li> <Li> Lady Felicia Montague née Windermere--Nancy Carroll (2013--2018): a bored socialite and Countess, apparently from an old recusant family, with a roving eye when her husband, Monty, is away . She is a staunch supporter of Father Brown and frequent nemesis of Mrs McCarthy, despite a grudging respect between the women . She left at the start of Series 5 when her husband is appointed Governor of Northern Rhodesia, but made a guest appearance in Series 6, "The Face of the Enemy". </Li> <Li> Sidney "Sid" Carter--Alex Price (2013--2018): An artful dodger, Sid, is an occasional black marketeer, part - time crook and informant who becomes Lady Felicia's chauffeur, and whom Father Brown makes the church's handyman while trying to keep on the straight and narrow . However, his skills, and links to the criminal underworld of Kembleford, are often needed to solve a case . He made a guest appearance in Series 6 in the episode "The Face of the Enemy". </Li> <Li> Zuzanna "Susie" Jasinski--Kasia Koleczek (2013): Father Brown's part - time housekeeper, who lives in a nearby post-war Polish resettlement camp . Her true first name was revealed in the episode "The Eye of Apollo ." </Li> <Li> Lady Penelope "Bunty" Windermere--Emer Kenny (2017--present): the wayward niece of Lady Felicia seeking refuge after being photographed leaving a sleazy nightclub with a married man and cited in divorce proceedings . </Li> <Li> Inspector Valentine--Hugo Speer (2013--2014): head of the local police force, finds himself constantly torn between secret admiration for Father Brown and deep frustration with him . He would like to collaborate, but has been burnt once too often by Brown's unorthodox moral code . Nevertheless, he comes to respect his methods and even admits, upon his departure, that he might miss Father Brown . </Li> <Li> Inspector Sullivan--Tom Chambers (2014--2015): replaced Inspector Valentine, who was promoted to Detective Chief Inspector and went to London at the start of the second series . A somewhat arrogant man, Sullivan is even more exasperated by Father Brown's meddling and contradicting his findings, but is eventually won over . </Li> <Li> Inspector Mallory--Jack Deam (2016--present): the replacement for Inspector Sullivan . Like his predecessors, he is often exasperated by Father Brown, whom he sarcastically refers to as "Padre ." However, he is a far more zealous (and occasionally resourceful) detective, and chases after leads with great enthusiasm, even when they lead him to the wrong conclusion . </Li> <Li> Sergeant Albright--Keith Osborn (2013--2014): played dogsbody to Inspectors Valentine and Sullivan . </Li> <Li> Sergeant Goodfellow--John Burton (2014--present): continued playing the dogsbody for the Inspector with increasing involvement . Credited in the opening beginning in series 5 . </Li> <Li> M. Hercule Flambeau--John Light (2013--present): nemesis of Father Brown; jewel and art thief with seemingly no conscience . He and Father Brown have encountered each other at least once in every series; in series four he reveals he has a daughter, Marianne Delacroix, whom he had never met . </Li> </Ul> <Li> Father Brown--Mark Williams (2013--present): a slightly crumpled, shambolic and mild - mannered Roman Catholic priest who, by appearance, is easily forgotten . His apparent innocence belies a playful wit and a razor - sharp intellect . His greatest strength, both as a priest and as a detective of crime, is his love and understanding of other people . He's not there to judge, but to save souls . </Li>

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