Renewed: Father Brown

UK drama Father Brown has been renewed for a fifth season, following the successful fourth season which aired in the UK in January.

The series, which airs in Australia on ABC, has been sold to 162 territories.

Dan McGolpin, Controller BBC Daytime, said, “Period drama, Father Brown, goes from strength to strength and continues to be the most popular drama series on daytime television following its fourth series this January, I look forward to series five early next year.”

Meanwhile crime drama DCI Banks, starring Stephen Tompkinson, has gone into production in Yorkshire.

The six-part drama features new cast members Samuel Anderson (Trollied, Doctor Who) who will play Vince, the latest member of Banks’ team, Shaun Dingwall (Leg-ends, Silent Witness) as Chief Superintendent Colin Anderson, Shaun Dooley (Broadchurch, Ordinary Lies) as hardened career criminal Steve Richards and Maimie McCoy (Musketeers) as Richards’ wife, Tamsin.

The series will also see the return of Jack Deam (New Tricks, Casualty) as DC Ken Livingstone and Keith Barron (Holby City, Doctors) as Banks’ father, Arthur Banks.