The Royal Visit

The life and soul of the Father Brown TV series left when Sorcha Cusack left the series. She portrayed Mrs. McCarthy with vigor. It was a very real character that she brought to life.

She was replaced by Claudie Blakley as the new church office manager. Blakley tries hard, but she always sounds like she is reading her lines on a stage. She is really bad compared to Sorcha Cusack. It certainly is not a real human character anymore.

Bunty the arrogant cow was replaced by Brenda Palmer (Rudy May Martinwood). I am not sure what she does. She seems to have some kind of job at the church, but mostly it is to make faces and say sarcastic remarks. If they ever make a live action version of Curious George, Rudy would be perfect for that role.

Princess Margaret is about to pay a royal visit to Kembleford. To open the school library which had a fundraiser.

Mrs Clement is the headmistress and she is at loggerheads with the mayor. Happy to get the plaudits to meet royalty but the mayor did little to raise funds himself.

During a rehearsal in advance of the visit. Mr Harrison the drunken school caretaker is found dead.

Mrs Clement is the main suspect. She was angry at him for failing to lock the library as it got ransacked.

Father Brown is sure that someone in the rehearsal party did the crime. It could be the mayor, the assistant to the princess or the Royal security policeman.

The first big surprise for Father Brown. Mr Harrison was Mrs Clement's father. Although he was an absent father with a criminal record. She took him in and gave him a job. However he was not the only one with a shady past.

This is probably the better episode in the recent run of Father Brown. Even Inspector Sullivan has doubts about the main suspect. I just did not peg him as a keen football fan.

Princess Margaret is set to visit Kembleford, but her visit is out in doubt when a school caretaker is murdered under the very noses of The Royal aides.

I think this was an absolute classic, I'd argue this was the standout episode from Series ten (thus far that is.) A wonderful, well reasoned storyline, The Royal interest really did add another layer. I thought they absolutely nailed this one.

Mrs Devine was great once again, she really does have an eye for a handsome man in a suit, will she ever end up with Inspector Sullivan? It was nice to see The Good Inspector's who challenged, he's been a bit grumpy, a bit superior since joining, they had to take him down a peg or two.

Great production values once again, loved the costumes, but best of all was Inspector Sullivan's car.

Thoroughly enjoyed, 9/10.

The mystery is great and more about reflects different walks of civilian life, so plenty to watch if not into royalty. This Royal Visit episode is set only a couple of years into the reign of Queen Elizabeth II and was filmed around the time of her Platinum Jubilee, yet aired a few months after her death, so it has a real sense of history. Furthermore the 1950s transition from middle-aged King to young Queen was quite different to the change from EII to Charles III in 2022, and this edition reflects that with Brenda realising Royals aren't as different to her as she first thought. Thus there's quite a lot packed into this story - including the slight continuation of Mrs Divine and the Inspector's saga, which has really added a new dimension to the series.