Series synopsis
Cadfael is a British drama crime television series that premiered on ITV1 on May 29, 1994. It ended on December 28, 1998. It was created by Edith Pargeter. It stars Derek Jacobi, Sean Pertwee, Terrence Hardiman and Peter Copley.
Brother Cadfael is a twelfth-century Anglo-Welsh monk. A retired crusader disappointed in love, and now a herbalist in charge of the gardens of Shrewsbury Abbey, Brother Cadfael is often called on to solve murders and other crimes in and around Shrewsbury, Shropshire, in the border country where England meets Wales.
Premise
Brother Cadfael is a twelfth-century Anglo-Welsh monk. A retired crusader disappointed in love, and now a herbalist in charge of the gardens of Shrewsbury Abbey, Brother Cadfael is often called on to solve murders and other crimes in and around Shrewsbury, Shropshire, in the border country where England meets Wales.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Derek Jacobi as Brother Cadfael
- Sean Pertwee as Hugh Beringar
- Terrence Hardiman as Abbot Radulfus
- Peter Copley as Abbot Heribert
- Michael Culver as Prior Robert
- Julian Firth as Brother Jerome
- Mark Charnock as Brother Oswin
- Eoin McCarthy as Hugh Beringar
Supporting cast
- Albie Woodington as Sergeant Warden
- Anthony Green as Hugh Beringar
- Michael Grandage as King Stephen
- Rupert Holliday-Evans as Roger Dodd
- Chloë Annett as Rosanna
- Ronan Vibert as Le Gaucher
- Hermione Norris as Mary
- Roy Barraclough as Walter Aurifaber
- Stephen Moyer as Godwin
- Lee Ingleby as Walter
- Jonny Lee Miller as Edwin Gurney
- George Irving as Herluin
Guest cast
- Michael Grandage as King Stephen
- Rupert Holliday-Evans as Roger Dodd
- Chloë Annett as Rosanna
- Ronan Vibert as Le Gaucher
- Hermione Norris as Mary
- Roy Barraclough as Walter Aurifaber
- Stephen Moyer as Godwin
- Lee Ingleby as Walter
- Jonny Lee Miller as Edwin Gurney
- George Irving as Herluin
- Susan Fleetwood as Agnes Piccard
- Philip Herbert as Rabble Rouser
Episodes
This series spans 5 seasons with 14 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 0 | 1 | ||
| Season 1 | 4 | May 29, 1994 | June 19, 1994 |
| Season 2 | 3 | December 26, 1995 | August 25, 1996 |
| Season 3 | 3 | August 12, 1997 | August 26, 1997 |
| Season 4 | 3 | June 23, 1998 | December 28, 1998 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Episode 1 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
One Corpse Too Many Brother Cadfael has settled down to a quiet religious life at Shrewsbury Abbey after an adventurous, and far from monastic, youth. But when he uncovers a murder, he turns detective to solve the crime. |
May 29, 1994 |
| 2 |
The Sanctuary Sparrow When Shrewsbury's goldsmith is robbed and left for dead, the locals launch a witch-hunt. Pursued by the mob, the prime suspect, a young juggler who performed at the wedding of the goldsmith's son, seeks sanctuary at the Abbey. But as Cadfael investigates, a second body is found floating in the River Severn. |
June 5, 1994 |
| 3 |
The Leper of St. Giles A great wedding is to take place at the Abbey, between a beautiful young girl and a powerful baron. But this is no love match, and when the baron disappears before the wedding, Cadfael is on the case. |
June 12, 1994 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Virgin in the Ice Cadfael's novice, Brother Oswin, is found close to death, babbling about a woman. When a nun is found raped, murdered and encased in the ice of a frozen stream, Oswin is accused of murder. Cadfael tracks the nun's companion, Ermina Hugonin, and sets out to prove Oswin's innocence. |
December 26, 1995 |
| 2 |
The Devil's Novice A rich priest is found killed, and the finger of suspicion points to a new monk at Shrewsbury Abbey. Meanwhile, a civil war raging around England is piling political pressures on the Abbot. Cadfael investigates the murder and uncovers a tangled web of dishonesty and nepotism. |
August 18, 1996 |
| 3 |
A Morbid Taste for Bones The monks of Shrewsbury go to Wales to recover the bones of St. Winifred. But their attempted bribery of the Welsh puts them at odds with the local residents—and when the local landowner is found murdered, the monks are regarded as prime suspects. |
August 25, 1996 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Rose Rent The recently-widowed wife, Judith Perle, of a rich merchant becomes the object of interest for the men of Shrewsbury. But then a monk and one of her suitors are murdered. |
August 12, 1997 |
| 2 |
St. Peter's Fair Cadfael puts Hugh Beringar to the test, and Hugh has to choose between loyalty to the king and friendship with Cadfael. Meanwhile, at the annual St. Peter's Fair in Shrewsbury, townspeople come into conflict with the Abbey's officers and with visiting merchants. A curfew is ordered, but not fully observed—then Cadfael finds he has a murder to solve. |
August 19, 1997 |
| 3 |
The Raven in the Foregate Cadfael is on a double murder hunt following the deaths of a pregnant girl and the priest who refused to take her confession. |
August 26, 1997 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Holy Thief Dalny, a beautiful slave girl, is abducted from the Abbey—and the relics of St. Winifred are also spirited away, apparently by the same thief. Cadfael is commissioned to find them both. |
June 23, 1998 |
| 2 |
The Potter's Field A potter's wife dies suddenly, and he gives up his old life to enter the Abbey, but the other monks suspect him of having killed his wife. As Cadfael investigates the death he finds a curious web of jealousy, infidelity and suicide. |
December 23, 1998 |
| 3 |
The Pilgrim of Hate The dead body of an elderly man is found hidden in a sack at the Abbey, and Cadfael believes he was murdered. The principal suspects are a group of pilgrims, who include two known thieves. Cadfael locks them up, in a bid to draw out the killer. |
December 28, 1998 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | ITV1 |
|---|---|
| First aired | May 29, 1994 |
| Last aired | December 28, 1998 |
| Runtime | 50 minutes |
| Status | ended |
| Schedule | Sunday at 20:30:00 |