Father Brown star, Mark Williams, appeared on Wednesday's episode of BBC Morning Live to talk about the new series
11:34, Wed, Jan 7, 2026 Updated: 11:37, Wed, Jan 7, 2026
Mark Williams appeared on Wednesday's Morning Live (Image: BBC )
Father Brown is returning for series 13 on Friday 9 January on BBC One.
And ahead of the British period detective show's comeback, legend Mark Williams, who has played main character Father Brown since 2013, appeared on Wednesday's episode of BBC Morning Live to talk all about the new season.
It was announced earlier this month that fan favourite, Mrs McCarthy, played by Sorcha Cusack, would be making a surprise return to the show after four years.
Mrs Bridgette McCarthy was a staple from the very first episode in 2013 but left after series nine in 2022. Mrs McCarthy was the Irish parish secretary at St Mary's, acting as a confidante and loyal friend to Father Brown.
The character, who always made sure Father Brown eats and was known for her award-winning strawberry scones, is also a frequent gossip.
In the later series, amid her exit, Mrs McCarthy is no longer Father Brown's parish secretary as she has left Kembleford and returned to Ireland to live closer to her sister.
Mrs McCarthy, played by Sorcha Cusack, will be making a surprise return (Image: BBC)
However, it has now been announced that Mrs McCarthy is back for series 13 after a four year break and a first look clip sees her running into Father Brown for the first time.
Talking about the return on Wednesday's episode of BBC Morning Live, Mark, 66, teased: "Well Mrs McCarthy comes back on a mission and of course he's always been really fond of her.
"She's sort of a touchstone for him. He relies on her common sense, well he did rely on her common sense, and her kind of grounding. So he's very pleased to see her and her him I think!
"But thereby hangs a tale, so it all gets rather complicated very, very quickly."
Father Brown is returning for series 13 on Friday 9 January on BBC One (Image: BBC)
Mark is back as Father Brown, the crime busting clergyman based on the classic character created by GK Chesterton, in the new series.
The upcoming season also sees the return of fan favourite cast members Tom Chambers as Inspector Sullivan, Claudie Blakley as the new Mrs Isabel Sullivan, Ruby-May Martinwood as Brenda and John Burton as Sergeant Goodfellow.
Also returning are Nancy Carroll as Lady Felicia, John Light as Hercule Flambeau, Lex Shrapnel as Father Lazarus, Roger May as Canon Fox and Kieran Hodgson as Father Lindsey.
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Guests including Maureen Lipman, Julia Sawalha, Phil Daniels, Debra Stephenson, Davood Ghadami, Kevin Harvey, George Rainsford and Timothy Watson will join Mark Williams in the 13th series of the internationally popular drama made by BBC Studios Drama Productions for BBC One and iPlayer.
Father Brown returns this Friday 9 January at 2pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.