Father Brown Season 10 Episode 1 Recap

The Winds Of Change – The episode begins at the newly opened Kembleford Model Village. Father Brown (Mark Williams) congratulates Peter Mossop (Mike Sengelow) and Joe Telford (Lucas Hare) for their creation. He asks Jennifer Mossop (Clare-Louis English) if she’s proud of her husband, Peter. Jennifer says it isn’t enough to forgive Peter for abandoning her for the last three years. They rush over to get a closer look at the model of St. Mary’s Church. Father Brown says in a letter, Mrs. McCarthy says leaving Kembleford worked out for the best because her sister had another heartbreak and Bunty is on an African safari.

Father Brown and Chief Inspector Sullivan (Tom Chambers) greet Sergeant Goodfellow (John Burton). Joe demands to know why Harry Grover (Aidan McArdle) is there. Grover sarcastically admits to liking the two-inch models better than the real parish council. Joe suggests he leave Kembleford because none of the locals want him there. Grover drops some cash into the collection jar before leaving.

Father Brown conducts interviews for the parish secretary. Agnes Burns (Elizabeth Bennett) describes herself as “highly organized” and “thorough.” He says there is no question of her commitment to the Lord. She claims to have attended mass every Sunday since she was eight years old. With Burns gone, Father Brown tells Mrs. McCarthy that he’s found her replacement when Mrs. Isobel Devine (Claudie Blakley) bursts through the door. She assures him there is plenty of time for God as long as it doesn’t interfere with her passion, Kembleford Players. He explains the requirements of the parish secretary before asking her to assess St. Mary’s accounts sheet. She describes it as “interesting.”

Brendan Streatham (Ash Hunter) says the Streatham Meadow project would put 200 homes in Kembleford’s green areas. He assures the locals that only Grover and his sister, Scarlett Streatham (Whitney White) will benefit. Scarlett suggests new citizens could help their village. Joe tells her that the citizens want Kembleford to stay the same. Grover claims the parish council believes higher revenue for local shops isn’t important to them before tossing cash into the air. The attendees scramble for the money.

Joe calls Grover a “disgrace” as he gets into his car. Peter assures him that tomorrow’s vote will be the end of Grover. Isobel informs Sullivan of her husband, Ronald’s passing. He assures her that Ronald was a good person. Father Brown tells her that he’s chosen someone else to fill the parish secretary position. She watches as he shakes hands with Agnes.

Joe’s stabbed by someone he knows. Goodfellow says none of Joe’s belongings were stolen. After suggesting Joe knew his attacker, Father Brown says Joe habitually took the same route at the same time every day. He tells Sullivan that someone placed Joe’s statue at the same location in the model village about two hours before his murder. Goodfellow asks if he witnessed a prediction of Joe’s murder. Sullivan informs them of his plan to speak with Grover.

Grover’s preparing to leave Kembleford when Father Brown, Goodfellow, and Sullivan arrive. He assures them that the Streatham Meadow development will be voted in. Sullivan informs him of Joe’s murder. Grover claims to have been packing his bags between 9am and 10am. Father Brown says £150 is a lot of money. Grover says he gave that away at the meeting last night. Father Brown says that money would be estimated to be closer to £50. Grover admits to paying cash before asking if that’s grounds for his arrest.

Peter places a wreath for Joe when Scarlett and Grover approach. Brendan tells her that she has some nerve to show up there. She assures him that she’s only paying her respects like him. Holding out his hand, Grover tells Peter that what happened to Joe has nothing to do with them.

Sullivan’s irate that his boss has been cleared of all bribery charges. An officer asks what is his plan. Sullivan tells him that he’ll return to London to make sure his boss goes down for his crimes.

Father Brown informs Burns of Joe’s statue being in the exact location an hour before he was murdered. He asks if they’re to believe the killer placed it there. Burns tells him to not ask her. He warns her that the St. Mary’s tour must be delayed because a woman’s in serious danger.

Father Brown discovers Grover kneeling over Jennifer with a bloody knife in his hand. Goodfellow arrests Grover while Sullivan questions Father Brown about the placement of Jennifer’s statue in the model. They agree Joe utilized a similar knife to kill Joe. Sullivan informs him that Grover had a bundle of money on his person. Father Brown suggests he was trying to bribe Jennifer.

Grover claims to have been driving to Scarlett’s place when he saw Jennifer’s vehicle in the lay-by. He admits to pulling the knife out of her body. Sullivan tells him that he set it up but like Joe, Jennifer refused his bribe. Grover assures him that isn’t what happened.

Brendan assures Peter that Grover will go down for his crimes. Father Brown admits to believing Grover has been set up by the real killer who’s still walking free.

Isobel causes Father Brown to veer his bicycle off the road. She rushes over as he sets upright. She reminds him of Grover’s role as Constant, Jennifer’s lover in “The Provoked Wife.” She claims Grover admitted to taking the role to garner support for the Streatman Meadow project. When Jennifer found out, she demands the director, Mildred find a replacement for Grover. He informs her that his plan before crashing was to speak with the person who may have killed Jennifer and Joe. She shows enthusiasm for working with him to solve crimes.

Father Brown asks Scarlett if they spread her father’s ashes on Streatham Meadow. Scarlett says it was her father’s favorite place in the world. He tells her that she supports homes being built there. She assures him that it’s the only way she can keep her father’s farm in operation because it has a huge debt. He says she needed to win the vote. She denies killing Jennifer and Joe before saying Tom will back up her story. He asks what happened between her and Brendan. She says Brendan’s idea of farming is chemical-free and no harm comes to animals. She inherited the farm because Brendan and her father fell out before he died. Brendan doesn’t know she’s in debt with the farm.

After counting the Streatham Meadow votes, Father Brown informs the citizens of Kembleford that the project has been approved. Peter calls Brendan a “hypocrite.” Brendan assures him that he voted against it.

Isobel suggests Brendan and Peter would be murder suspects if they voted for Streatham Meadow. He agrees with her.

Peter tells Father Brown that Brendan betrayed Jennifer and Joe. Father Brown informs him that the Streatham Meadow project will remain on hold as long as Grover’s facing murder charges. While Peter goes for water, Father Brown looks at the ballots and April 1954 calendar.

Isobel tells Father Brown that “The Provoked Wife” director, Mildred described Jennifer and Grover’s scenes as “electric.” He asks when were the rehearsals held. She says on Tuesday and Thursday weekly.

Father Brown suggests Grover never wanted the Streatham Meadow to win the vote. He says Jennifer told Peter that Kembleford Players met four or five times a week when it was really two meetings. He suggests Jennifer was meeting him. Grover says after they fell in love, Jennifer asked to have him replaced for fear others would catch onto their relationship. Father Brown tells him that they were going to run away together. Grover says the meeting was arranged through a note that he sent.

Father Brown asks Peter if he was aware Grover and Jennifer were involved. Peter admits to not saying anything about their affair in hopes of keeping her. He says once Streatham Meadow lost the vote, Grover would leave Kembleford.

Father Brown warns Brendan that the police pathologist will identify his handwriting on one of the ballots marked “yes.” Brendan admits to voting for Streatham Meadow to save his father’s farm from being sold to pay Scarlett’s massive debt.

Father Brown informs Isobel that Brendan was in Hambleton discussing natural farming practices when Joe was killed. He suggests the killer is utilizing the Kembleford model to map out the murders. Scarlett’s alibi is her farmhand so she couldn’t have killed Jennifer. She says only Peter and Grover are left. He asks her to find his statue while he goes to the police station.

Peter stops Father Brown on his way to the police station. Father Brown suggests Streatham Meadow was a diversion for the real motive, Jennifer and Grover’s plan to leave Kembleford. When Peter discovered Grover’s note, he killed Jennifer as Grover pulled up. He killed Joe to divert the attention away from him. Peter tells him that Joe was aware of Jennifer and Grover’s affair but refused to tell him because he wanted the model village completed. As he draws his knife, Isobel opens her car door, knocking him to the ground.

Father Brown tells Grover to put £5 in the collection box for his fees. Grover tells him that he’s leaving Kembleford now that Jennifer’s gone. Burns tells father Brown that they need to discuss his priorities. He agrees.

Scarlett and Brendan tell Father Brown that they’ll work together to try to save their father’s farm. Father Brown tells Isobel that the parish secretary needs someone open-minded and can drive a car like an ambulance. Elated, she shakes his hand.

Sullivan informs Father Brown that he’s been permanently transferred to Kembleford by his scheming boss whose successor pulled out. Father Brown asks why he pulled out. Sullivan claims it had to do with rumors of an “interfering priest” as the episode comes to an end.

 

Father Brown Review

Jennifer takes a role in “The Provoked Wife” where she meets Grover who’s cast as her lover, Constant. Jennifer and Grover fall in love while her husband, Peter builds a model village of Kembleford.

Grover’s behind a development in a green area known as Streatham Meadow.  He’s backed by Scarlett Streatham, the heir of the Streatham farm. Scarlett believes the development is the answer to her massive debt and saving her father’s farm. Her brother, Brendan who supports green energy rallies against the development.

Father Brown hire Agnes to replace Mrs. McCarthy as the parish secretary. Agnes has no interest in his criminal investigations. Isobel who recently lost her husband throws herself into his investigation.

The investigation is about a murderer who utilizes the village model to map out the murders. Joe is killed on a path that he and his dog took at the same time, every day. The murderer is still at large when Jennifer is murdered in a lay-by. Father Brown finds Grover kneeling over her lifeless body with a bloody knife in his hand. Inspector Sullivan arrests Grover for her murder. Father Brown sets out to find the real killer.

Joe and Grover clashed because he was against Streatham Meadow because he feared it would harm the integrity of Kembleford. Peter and Brendan are also against the development but later vote, to approve it.

Scarlett has an alibi, her farmhand, and Brendan was away in Hambleton. Peter discovers a note from Grover to Jennifer in which they plan to leave Kembleford. He kills her at the lay-by as Grover pulls up. He killed Joe to throw the case off but Father Brown saw through his deception.

The story has a soap opera-like aesthetic. The investigation is amateurish and predictable. Father Brown is a sanctimonious priest. For the most part, the acting was good. It would’ve been nice to see more of Gloucestershire and Cotswolds’ scenery. The  statues as part of the model village weren’t an identical replica of the real characters. Some were good, others not so much.

The episode deserves a 6 for effort. Get more Father Brown recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by clicking the link. Don’t forget to advertise your brand on our platform.

 

Father Brown Season 10 Cast

• Father Brown (Mark Williams)
• Isobel Devine (Claudie Blakley)
• Jennifer Mossop (Clare-Louis English)
• Harry Grover (Aidan McArdle)
• Agnes Burns (Elizabeth Bennett)
• Chief Inspector Sullivan (Tom Chambers)
• Sergeant Goodfellow (John Burton)
• Scarlett Streatham (Witney White)
• Joe Telford (Lucas Hare)
• Mayor of Kembleford (Chris Wilson)
• Brendan Streatham (Ash Hunter)

Where Was Father Brown Season 10 Filmed

Filming took place for Father Brown season 10, written by Dan Muirden and directed by John Maidens, in Gloucestershire (Village of Guiting Power), Cotswolds, Warwickshire, Oxfordshire (Broughton Castle, Bloxham School), and Blockley where the Church of St Peter and St Paul are located.

Is The Model Village Of Kembleford Real

There was no information about the model village online.

Where To Watch Father Brown Season 10

Season 10 of Father Brown opened on Friday, January 6, 2023 on BBC One. It also plays on BBC iPlayer and will be available in the United States on BritBox later this year.