Where Do I Know That Actor?

Based on the books by G. K. Chesterton, FATHER BROWN is a British mystery series that has been around since 2013. That’s ten seasons of Kembleford murders that only the village priest seems to be able to solve. Along the way, we’ve met criminals and victims, police detectives and parish regulars, all linked by the titular prying padre. And some of those faces are familiar to PBS NC viewers from other programs. But who’s who? Let’s find out…

To start off, Mark Williams stars as Father Brown. He may be best known to the world at large as Ron Weasley’s father in the Harry Potter film franchise but he’s been seen in a few shows we’ve aired over the years. Williams played Sir John Middleton in a 2008 adaptation of Sense And Sensibility. A year earlier, he portrayed Mr. Beebe in A Room With A View. About 20 years back, he was Professor Perch in the fantasy series Gormenghast. In the late 80s, he popped up as a semi-regular in the sketch comedy series Alexei Sayle’s Stuff and appeared as Lister’s crewmate Peterson in the Britcom Red Dwarf.

Where Do I Know That Actor?

When an art benefactor is found dead in a sculpture park, Barnaby and Nelson are called in to investigate a world of art lovers, art haters and art thieves. So was the story of “A Dying Art”- the latest episode of MIDSOMER MURDERS. Of course there were guest stars a-plenty. Let’s see who’s who.

First, David Bamber played art critic Daniel Fargo. He’s one of those character actors you recognize almost immediately but you’re never sure exactly from where. Well, recently he was D.I. Doug Lineham in the Masterpiece series Flesh And Blood. Bamber has also appeared in other Masterpiece offerings, playing the Duke of Sussex in Victoria, Sidney Norris in Collision, Reverend Ford in Pollyanna, Lush in Daniel Deronda, Antonio in The Merchant Of Venice, Doctor Forrest in The Railway Children and P. Frobisher Pilbeam in Heavy Weather. Of course there were guest roles all over the place (in fact, this is his third Midsomer appearance).

Jolyon Coy was Fabian Monkford, son of the late Brandon Monkford. He played Augustus Paynton on Mr. Selfridge and popped up as Blunt in The Hollow Crown.

Cherie Lunghi portrayed Alexandra Monkford, wife of the deceased. A few years back, she was Shirley Cross in series one of Unforgotten. Back in the 1980s, she played Margaret in Strangers And Brothers and about a decade later she was Laura Testvalley in The Buccaneers. EastEnders fans may recall a brief turn Lunghi had as Jan Sherwood, a cohort or villainous Steve Owens.

Sounds Familiar

“You’re asking me to be your accomplice?” “Yes.” “Excellent. Where do we start?” – Alice Morgan (Ruth Wilson) to DCI John Luther (Idris Elba), LUTHER

Where Do I Know That Actor?

This week’s DEATH IN PARADISE was a don’t-miss episode, the second half of a two-parter titled “Beyond the Shining Sea.” The episode in question found Jack and his team facing the toughest challenge of their lives after tragedy hit close to home. There was also a trio of guest stars worth mentioning. See if you caught them all.

Scottish actor Alastair Mackenzie played Ewan Boyd. Over the years, he’s had guest spots on everything from Chef to Inspector Lewis to Lovejoy. Most recently, Mackenzie was John Bentley on season three of Unforgotten and William Brereton on Wolf Hall. However, he may be best known for starring as Archie MacDonald on Monarch of the Glen.

Where Do I Know That Actor?

On Sunday night, MRS. WILSON debuted on MASTERPIECE. The 2018 BBC series, executive produced by Ruth Wilson, stars the actress as her real-life grandmother, a widow who uncovers a mysterious and secret life following the death of her husband. There are also some faces UNC-TV viewers might recognize from elsewhere. Let’s meet a few.

We’ll start with Ruth Wilson herself. The talented actress, who plays Alison Wilson on the series, may be best known to US audiences for her starring role on the Showtime series The Affair. However, she has a public broadcasting presence as well. Wilson has been seen as Alice Morgan on the crime drama Luther, where she played nemesis and unlikely companion to Idris Elba’s title DCI. Going back a bit, she played Georgina Barrow on Miss Marple: Nemesis and she also starred as Jane Eyre on a Masterpiece presentation.

Where Do I Know That Actor?

THE BLETCHLEY CIRCLE is a gripping drama series about former codebreakers who use skills honed during war to catch a killer. It also features some familiar faces from other fare UNC-TV has offered. Let’s get to know a few.

Anna Maxwell Martin stars as Susan Gray. The actress has appeared in guest spots on shows like Midsomer Murders and Doctor Who (a necessity for any British actor, I believe) but has had more substantial roles on several Masterpiece series. She was Esther Summerson on Bleak House, Gaoler’s Daughter on Wind In The Willows, Sarah Burton on South Riding and Elizabeth Darcy on Death Comes To Pemberley.

Where Do I Know That Actor?

This week’s Masterpiece featured a new TV movie titled The Child In Time. It starred Benedict Cumberbatch and Kelly Macdonald as parents forced to go on with their lives after their child goes missing. It was a heartrending tale that eschewed the usual police procedural aspect and ventured more into the psychological. There were also a few familiar faces that UNC-TV viewers may know from other shows we’ve broadcast.

Benedict Cumberbatch is the lead actor in the film (playing Stephen Lewis) and it should almost go without saying that while he is well known for his film roles (Doctor Strange, The Hobbit, The Imitation Game, The Fifth Estate, Star Trek: Into Darkness) the role that brought him recognition from most public television viewers is Sherlock Holmes on Masterpiece‘s Sherlock. Cumberbatch has also played Richard III on The Hollow Crown, Stephen Ezard on The Last Enemy and Edmund Talbot on To The Ends of the Earth.

Where Do I Know That Actor?

Just a quick two-fer this week regarding guest actors on Father Brown (Fridays on UNC-EX) and Luther (Saturdays on UNC-TV).

Last week’s Father Brown (“The Penitent Man”) saw the prying padre aiding his old adversary Flambeau when the latter is incarcerated for murder. It also featured Ian Reddington as Samuel Jacobs. Reddington is not a household name by any means but he had a memorable run in the 1990s on EastEnders as Richard Cole, one of the soap’s leading heels. Going back a bit, Reddington played one of Doctor Who‘s finest villains (at least, as voted by readers of Doctor Who Magazine) – the Chief Clown on the Sylvester McCoy 25th anniversary serial “The Greatest Show In The Galaxy.”

On the Idris Elba detective series Luther, Nicola Walker guest starred as Linda Shand. Walker, too, may not be a household name but I guarantee you’ve spotted her if you’ve been watching UNC-TV programs long enough. Most recently, she played Gillian, Derek Jacobi’s daughter on Last Tango in Halifax. However, I think many people first noticed her for her regular role as Ruth Evershed on MI-5. Along the way, she was DC Sue Upton on A Mother’s Son, Sally on Oliver Twist, DI Susan Taylor on Touching Evil and Lucy Diver on Moll Flanders.

Got a face you can’t place from one of the plethora of programs UNC-TV airs from the UK? Email me at sparkymac@unctv.org and I’ll try to help out.

Sounds Familiar

“Little girls grow up wanting ponies. I always wanted to be a widow.” – Alice Morgan (Ruth Wilson), Luther

Where Do I Know That Actor?

Two shows had recognizable actors this week so I’ll highlight each in turn.

First, let’s look at Rosemary & Thyme. This past Saturday’s episode was titled “Orpheus in the Undergrowth” and saw our gardening gumshoes doing work for one of Laura’s longtime friends.

In the episode, Phyllida Law played May Beauchamp and while she’s guest starred in everything from Doc Martin to Monarch of the Glen, she may be best known as Aunt Muriel on the delightful Stephen Fry series Kingdom. 

Also of note, Joanna David was Julia Moore. She’s been in a few series, playing guest roles in Downton Abbey, The Duchess Of Duke Street, Rumpole Of The Bailey and Bleak House, just to name a few. Moore also played Mrs. Stanbury on He Knew He Was Right and Elizabeth Kerslake on First Among Equals.

Next, let’s look at Luther. Steven Robertson played a unique role (I won’t give away too much in case you haven’t watched yet) as a man engaged in seemingly random violence. Robertson plays TDC Sandy Wilson on the police drama Shetland (returning this summer with new episodes). He also appeared as Crowley on The Bletchley Circle and Cuthbert Clare in a Masterpiece adaptation of Tess of the D’Urbervilles in 2009. Interestingly enough, Robertson was on a 2005 episode of NOVA playing Michael Faraday in Einstein’s Big Idea.

Got a face you can’t place from one of the plethora of programs UNC-TV airs from the UK? Email me at sparkymac@unctv.org and I’ll try to help out.