Father Brown series 4

News has reached Past Offences that, fresh from their victory at the Royal Television Society Awards (Birmingham branch), the Father Brown team is airing series four beginning on the 4th of January.

The BBC episode guide only looks at the first five episodes so far.

• The Mask of the Demon [4 January] B movies come to Kembleford.
• The Brewer’s Daughter [5 January] sees shifty sidekick Sid receiving the answer ‘yes’ to the old question, ‘Does your dad own a brewery?’
• The Hangman’s Demise [6 January] Brown investigates the poisoning of a former hangman, and apparently someone has designs on Mrs McCarthy’s strawberry scones.
• The Crackpot of the Empire [7 January] sounds like a take-off of the Phantom of the Opera, with Brown trapped in a derelict building with a vengeful comedian.
• The Daughter of Autolycus [8 January] sounds like it’s punching above its weight, frankly. ‘Flambeau enlists Father Brown’s help to steal the Pope’s coronation gift to the Queen of England.’

Now, going by the previous three series, there is *some* potential for theological and historical inaccuracy in the last episode, so be prepared for that. Putting such quibbles aside, I’m looking forward to more amiable entertainment.