<Ul> <Li> Father Brown -- Mark Williams ( 2013 -- present ) : a slightly crumpled , shambolic and mild - mannered Roman Catholic priest who , by appearance , is easily forgotten . His apparent innocence belies a playful wit and a razor - sharp intellect . His greatest strength , both as a priest and as a detective of crime , is his love and understanding of other people . He 's not there to judge , but to save souls . </Li> <Li> Mrs Bridgette McCarthy née Maguire -- Sorcha Cusack ( 2013 -- present ) : the Irish parish secretary at St Mary 's . She checks the facts for Father Brown , acts as his confidante on official Church business and everything else , defends him from the ire of the congregation , and makes sure he eats . She has a tendency to brag about her award - winning strawberry scones . Mrs McCarthy is a frequent gossip -- though claims she is not -- and often at odds with Lady Felicia , although she and Lady Felicia eventually admit to being close friends . She is married , but leaves her husband after he returns from having lived with another woman following the war . </Li> <Li> Lady Felicia Montague née Windermere -- Nancy Carroll ( 2013 -- 2018 ) : a bored socialite and Countess , apparently from an old recusant family , with a roving eye when her husband , Monty , is away . She is a staunch supporter of Father Brown and frequent nemesis of Mrs McCarthy , despite a grudging respect between the women . She left at the start of Series 5 when her husband is appointed Governor of Northern Rhodesia , but made a guest appearance in Series 6 , `` The Face of the Enemy '' . </Li> <Li> Sidney `` Sid '' Carter -- Alex Price ( 2013 -- 2018 ) : An artful dodger , Sid , is an occasional black marketeer , part - time crook and informant who becomes Lady Felicia 's chauffeur , and whom Father Brown makes the church 's handyman while trying to keep on the straight and narrow . However , his skills , and links to the criminal underworld of Kembleford , are often needed to solve a case . He made a guest appearance in Series 6 in the episode `` The Face of the Enemy '' . </Li> <Li> Zuzanna `` Susie '' Jasinski -- Kasia Koleczek ( 2013 ) : Father Brown 's part - time housekeeper , who lives in a nearby post-war Polish resettlement camp . Her true first name was revealed in the episode `` The Eye of Apollo . '' </Li> <Li> Lady Penelope `` Bunty '' Windermere -- Emer Kenny ( 2017 -- present ) : the wayward niece of Lady Felicia seeking refuge after being photographed leaving a sleazy nightclub with a married man and cited in divorce proceedings . </Li> <Li> Inspector Valentine -- Hugo Speer ( 2013 -- 2014 ) : head of the local police force , finds himself constantly torn between secret admiration for Father Brown and deep frustration with him . He would like to collaborate , but has been burnt once too often by Brown 's unorthodox moral code . Nevertheless , he comes to respect his methods and even admits , upon his departure , that he might miss Father Brown . </Li> <Li> Inspector Sullivan -- Tom Chambers ( 2014 -- 2015 ) : replaced Inspector Valentine , who was promoted to Detective Chief Inspector and went to London at the start of the second series . A somewhat arrogant man , Sullivan is even more exasperated by Father Brown 's meddling and contradicting his findings , but is eventually won over . </Li> <Li> Inspector Mallory -- Jack Deam ( 2016 -- present ) : the replacement for Inspector Sullivan . Like his predecessors , he is often exasperated by Father Brown , whom he sarcastically refers to as `` Padre . '' However , he is a far more zealous ( and occasionally resourceful ) detective , and chases after leads with great enthusiasm , even when they lead him to the wrong conclusion . </Li> <Li> Sergeant Albright -- Keith Osborn ( 2013 -- 2014 ) : played dogsbody to Inspectors Valentine and Sullivan . </Li> <Li> Sergeant Goodfellow -- John Burton ( 2014 -- present ) : continued playing the dogsbody for the Inspector with increasing involvement . Credited in the opening beginning in series 5 . </Li> <Li> M. Hercule Flambeau -- John Light ( 2013 -- present ) : nemesis of Father Brown ; jewel and art thief with seemingly no conscience .
what happened to inspector valentine in father brown
promoted to Detective Chief Inspector and went to London at the start of the second series