Father Brown, Series 1
by G.K. Chesterton; dramatised by John Scotney (BBC Radio 4, 1984-1985)
Straightforward radio adaptations of seven Father Brown short stories. Andrew Sachs is soft-spoken and preoccupied in the lead role—which works as characterisation, but then ill-considered fluctuations in the recording volume see him drowned out by louder voices, crosstalk and sound effects.
Father Brown, Series 4
(BBC, 2016)
Series Four focusses less on social issues and more on striking humorous sidenotes to Kembleford’s ongoing binge of cosy murders. (Bravo the pineapple byplay in ‘The Sins of the Father’!) A new inspector, even more one-note than his predecessors, detracts a little.
Father Brown, Series 3
(BBC, 2015)
A 15-episode series exploring all manner of murderous avenues and festering social issues in 1950s rural England. The mysteries are nicely scripted and prove easily digestible, though Inspector Sullivan does rather grate in his wilfully officious, one-note resistance to Father Brown’s meddling.
Father Brown, Series 2
(BBC, 2014)
Another season of rustic murder mystery escapism. Mark Williams continues to develop and inhabit a version of Father Brown rather at odds with G. K. Chesterton’s original—and never 100% removed from the Olaf Petersen he played in early Red Dwarf episodes!
Father Brown, Series 1
(BBC, 2013)
A gentle mystery series, enjoyable in its own right. Also a creative case study—observe the nature and degree of adaptation necessary to bring G. K. Chesterton’s stories into line with a visual medium, a later (ie. 1950s) setting, and 21st-century values.
The Innocence of Father Brown
by G. K. Chesterton (Cassell, 1911); audiobook read by Frederick Davidson (Blackstone, 2012)
Engaging short stories, particularly as read by Frederick Davidson. Father Brown’s deductions are more believable (and in their way no less impressive or trenchant) than those of, for example, Sherlock Holmes. The scenarios themselves, however, are often rather improbable in their construction.