‘Father Brown’ Season 8 Episode 1 recap: What happened in ‘The Celestial Choir’?

The eighth season of Father Brown began in the UK today.

Based on the stories by GK Chesterton, the popular daytime crime drama is back with ten brand new episodes.

Set in the Cotswolds during the early 1950s, Father Brown stars Mark Williams (Harry Potter) as the titular clerical sleuth.

Here’s a plot recap for Season 8’s first episode, ‘The Celestial Choir’, which aired at 2.15pm on Monday 6th January 2020 on BBC One:

Canon Fox (Roger May) is amazed when the Kembleford Choristers, led by Mrs McCarthy (Sorcha Cusack), make it through to the final of the Three Counties Choir Competition at Worcester Cathedral.

On the day of the final one of the Choristers falls ill, and a reluctant Lady Felicia (Nancy Carroll) agrees to step in so the team can participate. On the way to the cathedral, their omnibus suddenly breaks down and Bunty (Emer Kenny) reveals that the fuel line has been cut.

Suspicion immediately falls on rival choir the Hambleston Harmonisers, led by Lawrence Ashton (Hugh Sachs).

The Choristers, also comprised of Sergeant Goodfellow (John Burton), Audrey Belchant (Daisy Maywood), Wesley Summerton (Ashley Campbell), and Nicholas and Barbara Curtley (Joseph Prowen and Sarah Ingram), must race against time to get to Worcester before they are disqualified, all while Father Brown (Mark Williams) works to discover who is out to get them.

Father Brown is available on DVD on Amazon.