EAGLE-EYED fans of BBC One's popular Father Brown stories may spot a local mediaeval landmark in an upcoming episode of the new series, to be broadcast on January 8 2014.

Historic Berkeley Castle in Gloucestershire was chosen as the setting for one of the stories from the hit daytime show, with filming taking place last June.

Scenes included one actor "falling" from the battlements and another finding themselves in the picturesque Lily Pond in the Castle grounds, originally built as a swimming pool for the 8th Earl of Berkeley and his American Countess.

Filming also took place on the Lower Lawn, which will be seen bedecked with mediaeval tents, whilst ladies in period costume, accompanied by their hunting dogs, added further colour and realism to the twelfth century setting. However, the most gruesome visitor to the Castle during filming was a horribly realistic ‘corpse’, driven in as a passenger in the film crew’s van! Viewers will have to wait to see if and how Father Brown assisted by his own intuition, as well as a 1950s constabulary, solved the crimes.

Created by author GK Chesterton, the Father Brown series features a Catholic priest with an uncanny insight into human evil, shaped by his experience as a priest and confessor, who gets involved in criminal investigations.

It stars British actor Mark Williams, who is also well-known for his appearances as Arthur Weasley in the Harry Potter movies and a starring role in comedy sketch series The Fast Show. The Father Brown series has previously filmed in the Cotswolds, but this episode marks its first filming at Berkeley Castle. cont ....

However the Castle's stunning backdrop has previously been used for other TV dramas such as The Other Boleyn Girl, Nostradamus and Robin of Sherwood and it has featured in documentaries including Princes in Waiting, Great Country Houses, Dead Famous and Horse & Country TV’s Berkeley – An English Country Estate.

David Bowd-Exmouth, House Manager, says the Berkeley Castle team was delighted to welcome the cast and crew for an exciting two days of filming. "Berkeley Castle provides a unique filming location and it is always a pleasure for us to share this beautiful family home and its stunning gardens with TV viewers, as well as our visitors." he said.

"We hope that seeing the Castle and gardens will inspire viewers to come and pay a visit and walk in the footsteps of the Father Brown cast, when the Castle re-opens to the public in April."

Berkeley Castle is open every Sunday to Wednesday inclusive from April 1 to October 29 2014. The Butterfly House is open Sunday to Wednesday inclusive from May to September. More information can be found on the website: www.berkeley-castle.com or by calling 01453 810 303.