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'Brilliant' BBC crime drama is 'great' alternative to Midsomer Murders and returns this month
The programme unfolds in 1960s rural Warwickshire and stars comic Lorna Watson
Charming detective series Sister Boniface Mysteries is making its return to BBC One later this month.
The Father Brown spin-off centres on the title character, who made her debut in the initial series of the period drama, featuring Mark Williams.
The programme unfolds in 1960s rural Warwickshire, where Sister Boniface, a wine-producing nun holding a PHD in forensic science, assists police with their criminal investigations.
The crime series, which premiered in 2022, proves ideal for enthusiasts seeking to bridge the interval between instalments of programmes such as Grantchester and Midsomer Murders.
Featuring an intriguing cast of eccentric and endearing personalities, a collection of baffling mysteries and a scenic setting, the comedy-drama offers viewers welcomed nostalgic escapism.
What is Sister Boniface Mysteries about?
The programme takes place in rural Warwickshire during the 1960s, an era when DNA remains undiscovered and the concept of trace evidence is still emerging.
The synopsis adds: "Fortunately, the Great Slaughter Constabulary has a secret weapon in its fight against crime. Hidden deep in the countryside is St Vincent's Convent, a small community of wine-making nuns where ensconced in a laboratory is Sister Boniface [played by Lorna Watson].
"An IQ of 156 and a PHD in forensic science, plus an addiction to popular detective fiction and a fully equipped crime laboratory, make Boniface an invaluable aid to Police investigations. Mud, blood, stains, hairs and fibres. If there is evidence to be found, Boniface will find it. Poisons, trace evidence, blood stains, etymology. She's more up to speed on the latest forensic techniques than the Police.
"In her role as official Police Scientific Advisor, Boniface works alongside the dashing Detective Inspector Sam Gillespie and Felix Livingstone, a high-flying Bermudian Detective Sergeant. Felix was supposed to be on secondment to the Metropolitan Police, but an administrative error landed him in Great Slaughter.
"A cast of eccentric local characters combined with his boss's reliance on a nun leaves him reeling. Although, as Sam points out, that 'Nun' ensures they have the highest clean-up rate in the county."
What have fans said about the programme?
Fans have heaped praise on the series across social media platforms, with countless viewers drawing comparisons to beloved cosy crime dramas including Midsomer Murders and The Brokenwood Mysteries.
One enthusiastic fan gushed on social media, as they took to Twitter: "I can not tell you how much I love Sister Boniface Mysteries , it's one of the most brilliant TV shows I've ever watched."
Someone else added: "I love watching Sister Boniface Mysteries. What a great TV show. " A third viewer wrote: "Watching Sister Boniface Mysteries, good fun. A spinoff of Father Brown, but with more quirkiness and whimsy."
How to watch Sister Boniface Mysteries
The second series of Sister Boniface Mysteries is set to debut on BBC One at 2 pm on Friday, August 22, with new episodes anticipated to be broadcast weekly. The entire box set will also be accessible on iPlayer.
