Jack Deam's departure from Father Brown was part of a routine cast refresh, according to co-star John Burton. The actor, who played Inspector Mallory for six years, left the BBC drama to pursue new opportunities, as confirmed by Burton in a social media post.
Burton, who portrays Sergeant Goodfellow, addressed viewer concerns about the cast changes ahead of the 13th season. He wrote: 'Occasionally long running shows need to be refreshed due to artists' availability. So it means we do have some absentees this year, with a few long-term artists moving onto other projects for their own career progression. This is part of an actor's life, and we must go where the work takes us.'
Deam's character, Inspector Mallory, was known for his open-minded approach and frequent clashes with Father Brown, whom he addressed as 'Padre'. Unlike his predecessors, Mallory pursued leads with optimism, even when they proved fruitless.
Since leaving Father Brown, Deam has continued to play authoritative roles in other series. In 2023, he starred as DI Les Hanley in The Long Shadow, and in 2025, he took on the role of Inspector Foulon in Maigret. He has also appeared in guest roles in Ridley and Vera.
The 13th season of Father Brown also saw the return of Sorcha Cusack as Mrs McCarthy after a four-year absence, adding to the series' ongoing cast changes.
