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Father Brown BBC1 weekdays 2.10pm


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Old 18-01-2013, 21:31
mel_drew
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When we read a well written book, we generally form a mental picture of the main characters. Nowadays, when so many books are adapted for film and television, it becomes obvious that, sometimes, our picture differs from that of the person who casts the role. Doesn't mean that they are wrong. Or that we are right.

I haven't read any of the Father Brown stories. I come to this purely as a viewer, and I'd guess that the vast majority of the audience do, too. As such, I don't have any preconceptions as to how the character is portrayed in the books and am enjoying it as well acted, elegant, drama. Mark Williams, for me, is doing a splendid job.

I've read some of the Blandings books - in the distant past - and was not offended at all by Timothy Spall, who was not far distant from my mental picture of Lord Emsworth. I do have issues with some other aspects of "Blandings", but not with the casting.
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Old 18-01-2013, 21:38
Granny McSmith
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I read the Father Brown books years ago, then watched the Kenneth More series on TV. I thought More was excellent, and now I think Mark Williams, though quite different, is equally excellent in the part.

I agree with the previous poster about Timothy Spall in Blandings, as well.

Sometimes you do have a picture of a character in your mind, and the actor cast as that character can disappoint, but if you keep an open mind, they grow on you. An example for me is Jason Isaacs as Jackson Brodie in the adaptation of Kate Atkinson's books . When i first saw him, I thought he was nothing like Jackson Brodie. After the first episode I couldn't imagine Brodie any other way.
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Old 18-01-2013, 21:50
gkmacca
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It's a daytime programme. 99% of daytime programmes are dire. Well done for one that is decent quality.
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Old 18-01-2013, 22:17
Killary45
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I read the Father Brown books years ago, then watched the Kenneth More series on TV. I thought More was excellent, and now I think Mark Williams, though quite different, is equally excellent in the part.

I agree with the previous poster about Timothy Spall in Blandings, as well.
I don't object to Williams because he is totally different from the Fr Brown that was written by Chesterton. Those making an adaptation for TV can change a character if they want. But the Brown as written in this series, who can look into the "windows of the soul", requires a totally different sort of actor. If they had made it into a comedy then Williams would have been OK.

As for Spall playing Lord Emsworth, does anyone really think that he could be a earl living in a stately home with a butler and staff? Emsworth has been played by Ralph Richardson and Peter O'Toole. They did not have to make any effort at all to seem posh, so they could put their talents into making something of the baffled but feisty character.

IMHO the role would have been ideal for John Le Mesurier , or Gryff Rhys Jones. But nobody can believe that Spall is posh. For me it spoiled the programme seeing him obviously having to put all his effort into just pretending to be posh with nothing left .

Casting is an art. Could you imagine Spall playing Sergeant Wilson in Dad's Army? Or Williams playing Sherlock Holmes or Poirot?
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Old 18-01-2013, 22:28
Ed Sizzers
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I've not read the books, or even heard of the character before this week. Until now, the only Father I ever knew invesigated anything was Dowling!

But for me it's been William's performance that has made the show so very watchable, and he's perfectly suited to the role. He's done a superb job of balancing the gentle and caring aspects of the character, alongside his intelligence and fierce desire to see justice done.
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Old 18-01-2013, 23:24
scumcat
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I've not read the books, or even heard of the character before this week. Until now, the only Father I ever knew invesigated anything was Dowling!

But for me it's been William's performance that has made the show so very watchable, and he's perfectly suited to the role. He's done a superb job of balancing the gentle and caring aspects of the character, alongside his intelligence and fierce desire to see justice done.
Hear hear, really liking this and think Williams is great
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Old 19-01-2013, 00:21
cylon6
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I've not read the books, or even heard of the character before this week. Until now, the only Father I ever knew invesigated anything was Dowling!

But for me it's been William's performance that has made the show so very watchable, and he's perfectly suited to the role. He's done a superb job of balancing the gentle and caring aspects of the character, alongside his intelligence and fierce desire to see justice done.
I agree. What a pleasant surprise this has been. Heard people talking about it and thought I'd give it go. So glad I did as it's been great, the cast is all good but Mark Williams deserves special praise for playing the title character. As others have said this show should be primetime. I'll be amazed if it doesn't become a Sunday evening hit.

The creators of the drama Rachel Flowerday and Tahsin Guner talk about it here.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/writersro...a-Father-Brown
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Old 19-01-2013, 11:31
Killary45
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I agree. What a pleasant surprise this has been. Heard people talking about it and thought I'd give it go. So glad I did as it's been great, the cast is all good but Mark Williams deserves special praise for playing the title character. As others have said this show should be primetime. I'll be amazed if it doesn't become a Sunday evening hit.

The creators of the drama Rachel Flowerday and Tahsin Guner talk about it here.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/writersro...a-Father-Brown
Thanks for that link. I think that the writers did a great job in creating a set of recurring characters - none of whom appear in the books (as far as I can remember).

I will just have to agree to disagree with those who think that Mark Williams is doing a good job. Do they think that he would have been any good instead of Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock? Or would he have been a decent alternative to John Thaw as Morse? IMHO he is as miscast as Brown as he would have been in those roles. He simply cannot bring to Fr Brown the intelligence, depth and seriousness that the writers have put into the script.
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Old 19-01-2013, 12:36
cylon6
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Thanks for that link. I think that the writers did a great job in creating a set of recurring characters - none of whom appear in the books (as far as I can remember).

I will just have to agree to disagree with those who think that Mark Williams is doing a good job. Do they think that he would have been any good instead of Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock? Or would he have been a decent alternative to John Thaw as Morse? IMHO he is as miscast as Brown as he would have been in those roles. He simply cannot bring to Fr Brown the intelligence, depth and seriousness that the writers have put into the script.
I'm interested to read the books now. I'm not familiar with them so I'm new to the character, I do like what I've seen.
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Old 19-01-2013, 12:38
cylon6
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Launching during the snowy weather certainly helped the show's ratings but they were still good on the non snow inflated days.

Monday 2.08m
Tuesday 1.47m
Wednesday 1.67m
Thursday 1.77m
Friday 2.25m
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Old 21-01-2013, 16:32
Uriah
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I am really enjoying it but I've no idea how Lady Felicia was out drawing in the countryside then found a man stuck up a tree after being thrown from a train - where did it come from?

Sorry of this is a spoiler but it isn't if you know what I mean as it happens at the start.
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Old 21-01-2013, 17:18
Granny McSmith
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I am really enjoying it but I've no idea how Lady Felicia was out drawing in the countryside then found a man stuck up a tree after being thrown from a train - where did it come from?

Sorry of this is a spoiler but it isn't if you know what I mean as it happens at the start.
I'm not sure what you mean. Where did what come from? The man was thrown from a train and landed in a tree. Lady Felicia came from home with her painting stuff to do some painting. The train was passing over a bridge. The tree had presumeably been there for some time.


Anyway, I liked today's episode. I especially liked Sister Boniface - I hope we see her again!
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Old 21-01-2013, 18:37
Staffsyeoman
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Of those I've seen - and I didn't like the first episode - today's (21 Jan) was the best so far. As the series has gone so very far off the original stories, I too would like to see the nuns return - but only occasionally. It musn't become Father Dowling!

Might it be too much to hope for ITV3 or someone to show the Kenneth More ones...or for Film 4 to show the Alec Guinness film...
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Old 22-01-2013, 08:56
Uriah
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I'm not sure what you mean. Where did what come from? The man was thrown from a train and landed in a tree. Lady Felicia came from home with her painting stuff to do some painting. The train was passing over a bridge. The tree had presumeably been there for some time.


Anyway, I liked today's episode. I especially liked Sister Boniface - I hope we see her again!
I love it Granny tbh. I just don't know where the railway appeared from. It certainly wasn't obvious to me ... mind you that is hardly surprising
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Old 22-01-2013, 16:02
Hugh Letdown
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So far this is a much better show than the old one.

The old show was drippy; and Kenneth More's Father Brown was the drippiest part of it.

This show is more in the format of a lot of the British Detective adaptations: character-driven with wit and heart and a minimum of gory bullshit. So, while not breaking any new ground at all, it's at least a new series of a tried and true formula with a new set of variables/characters.

I, too, can't understand why they are rushing them out and at such a strange hour. Still, if they want to give me 10 hours of this in 2 weeks? I'll take them and watch them at my leisure.
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Old 22-01-2013, 22:54
Borefest
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I'm not sure what you mean. Where did what come from? The man was thrown from a train and landed in a tree. Lady Felicia came from home with her painting stuff to do some painting. The train was passing over a bridge. The tree had presumeably been there for some time.


Anyway, I liked today's episode. I especially liked Sister Boniface - I hope we see her again!
I liked this episode as well and lovede Sister Boniface......then was to to see her on last night Comic Relief Great British Bake Off.

I hope they make some more Father Browns much better than Doctors
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Old 23-01-2013, 08:30
theid
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I'm glad I chanced to see that this was on and set up a series link. I've caught up with the first two episodes and am really enjoying it. I read several of the books donkeys years ago and have watched the Alec Guinness film in the dim and distant past.

Like others, I can't understand why it's being shown in the afternoons and not prime time. I'd far rather watch this than almost all of the crud that's offered for evening viewing.

They pay the actors much less for programmes scheduled to be broadcast before 6pm. Infuriating for us, as there have been many good dramas recently in the BBC 2pm slot - but that's business for you. It shouldn't happen because the Beeb should not be pursuing viewing figures (which mean we end up with endless talent shows on prime time) but until someone raps them over the knuckles about it I'm afraid you'll have to look for dramas on the afternoon schedule.
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Old 23-01-2013, 14:11
ilovewallander
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I'm really glad I found this while flicking through the channels last week. It's a shame there are only three left. I think Mark Williams has been great in the role, but I've never read any of the books so I've got nothing else to go on. I like the little touches of humour in the stories

Next week in the same time slot we've got a drama series called Moving On. I think I've heard of this series.

Edit: This will be the fourth series of Moving On and Jimmy McGovern writes them.
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Old 23-01-2013, 14:20
gkmacca
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We're our own worst enemies when it comes to daytime TV, because we all complain there's not enough quality during daytime and then when a decent programme comes along we all say, 'Why isn't this on during the evenings??' Well done to the BBC (DS will ban me for saying such a thing!) for trying something like this, and it can always be repeated at a later date at peak time.
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Old 23-01-2013, 14:47
ilovewallander
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We're our own worst enemies when it comes to daytime TV, because we all complain there's not enough quality during daytime and then when a decent programme comes along we all say, 'Why isn't this on during the evenings??' Well done to the BBC (DS will ban me for saying such a thing!) for trying something like this, and it can always be repeated at a later date at peak time.
I think they'll repeat them on a Sunday in the late afternoon/early evening slot (5pm ish) like they did with Land Girls and The Indian Doctor.
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Old 23-01-2013, 16:34
somerset fox
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Hmm, nice use of ARIAL font in the treasure hunt banner today, and a logo. Neither of which would have been around in the '50s as ARIAL was invented until the '80s.
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Old 23-01-2013, 16:45
Granny McSmith
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Hmm, nice use of ARIAL font in the treasure hunt banner today, and a logo. Neither of which would have been around in the '50s as ARIAL was invented until the '80s.
Really? That has just totally ruined my enjoyment of the programme. I will be boycotting it in future.
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Old 23-01-2013, 20:37
Hugh Letdown
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Hmm, nice use of ARIAL font in the treasure hunt banner today, and a logo. Neither of which would have been around in the '50s as ARIAL was invented until the '80s.
Bizarre MUCH?

Oh, and a logo to you azwell.
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Old 23-01-2013, 22:16
gerry d
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I have been recording them & putting them onto disc.I should get round to watching some of them this weekend.
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Old 24-01-2013, 07:52
theid
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So far this is a much better show than the old one.............

I, too, can't understand why they are rushing them out and at such a strange hour. Still, if they want to give me 10 hours of this in 2 weeks? I'll take them and watch them at my leisure.

It's all to do with BBC payment rates, which are much less for dramas scheduled for pre-6pm broadcast. Very annoying for actors and production staff alike, but I suppose at least their work is being made and broadcast, even if it means exploitation!
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