Cadfael is a British mystery television series, broadcast on ITV between 29 May 1994 and 28 December 1998, based on The Cadfael Chronicles novels written by Ellis Peters. Produced by Central, it starred Derek Jacobi as the medieval detective and title character, Brother Cadfael. The complete series was released on DVD on 24 August 2009. The series aired in the United States as part of the Mystery! series.
Plots and setting
This detective series is set in the 12th century in England, mainly at the Benedictine Abbey in Shrewsbury where Brother Cadfael lives. The titles are from books by Ellis Peters, who wrote The Cadfael Chronicles. The television programmes were filmed in Hungary, as the original abbey in Shrewsbury no longer stands, just the church. The episodes aired in the UK from 1994 to 1998. The novels were written in sequence, marking specific years beginning in 1137 and ending in 1145. Not all the 21 novels were filmed, and there are differences between the plots and characters in the novels and those portrayed on the screen in some episodes, as well as the sequence.
Cast
Derek Jacobi as Brother Cadfael
Sean Pertwee as Sheriff Hugh Beringar (Series 1) Eoin McCarthy as Sheriff Hugh Beringar (Series 2–3) Anthony Green as Sheriff Hugh Beringar (Series 4) Michael Culver as Prior Robert Julian Firth as Brother Jerome Peter Copley as Abbot Heribert (Series 1) Terrence Hardiman as Abbot Radulfus (Guest in Series 1, Main for Series 2–4) Mark Charnock as Brother Oswin (Series 1–3) Albie Woodington as Sergeant Warden (Series 1–3)
Episodes
Series overview
Series 1 (1994) Guest stars in this series include Christian Burgess, Michael Grandage, Steven Mackintosh, Sara Stephens, Hugh Bonneville, Toby Jones, Natasha McElhone, Jonathan Firth, Tara Fitzgerald, Sarah Badel, Jonny Lee Miller, Jamie Glover, Jonathan Hyde and John Bennett.
Series 2 (1995–1996) Guest stars in this series include John Hallam, Julian Glover, Ian McNeice, Ronan Vibert, Christien Anholt, Louisa Millwood-Haigh, Ian Reddington, John Dallimore, Daniel Betts and Anna Friel.
Series 3 (1997) Guest stars in this series include Kitty Aldridge, Tom Mannion, Crispin Bonham-Carter, Peter Guinness, Hermione Norris, and Catherine Cusack.
Series 4 (1998) Guest stars in this series include George Irving, Benedict Sandiford, Louise Delamere, Natasha Pyne, Jonathan Tafler, Richard Lintern, Gregor Truter, Terence Beesley, Sioned Jones, Natasha Little and Lee Ingleby.
Reception
Reviewing the episode "The Rose Rent", Matthew Bond stated "The series does have a curiously theatrical style to it, where the rather contrived medieval bustle stops while the principal actors deliver their lines and then starts again when they have finished. Still, it’s different, ambitious and Jacobi is in it — which makes three big pluses." In an article discussing depictions of religious characters on British television, Ben Dowell praised Cadfael. Dowell stated "thanks to some gripping stories, good production values and a brilliant performance from Derek Jacobi as the herbalist and former crusading knight, this adaptation of the Ellis Peters books became a regular viewing habit for millions".