British TV Has Found Its Next Call the Midwife: Murder Before Evensong Shines with Heart, class and Humanity
5 has struck gold. The Lighthouse’s lavish adaptation of Murder Before Evensong – based on The Reverend Richard Coles’ beloved debut novel – has not only captured the hearts of critics but also audiences, delivering the channel’s biggest overnight figures of the year with an impressive 1.8 million viewers. That’s enough to just edge out All Creatures Great and Small, and cement Channel 5’s growing reputation as the home of thoughtful, beautifully made British drama.
It’s rare that a series feels as though it could easily sit alongside the giants of premium streaming, but Murder Before Evensong does just that. Every frame feels lovingly crafted, every performance effortlessly authentic. The production boasts the kind of polish and emotional weight that would feel perfectly at home on Netflix or BritBox.
Set in the quietly simmering world of 1980s rural England, the story follows Canon Daniel Clement (Matthew Lewis, Harry Potter), an empathetic and somewhat introverted Rector of Champton whose ordered life begins to unravel when his formidable mother Audrey (Amanda Redman, New Tricks) arrives unannounced. His modest plans to install a new lavatory in the church spark village outrage – but a far darker turn awaits when Daniel discovers the body of parishioner Anthony Bowness (Adam Smethurst), cousin to the local aristocrat Lord de Floures (Adam James).
As DS Neil Vanloo (Amit Shah, Happy Valley) begins to peel back the layers of village respectability, Daniel is drawn into a web of secrets, resentments and revelations that threaten both his safety and his faith. When threats are made against him, the Canon must confront the chilling question: was he, in fact, the intended target?
What makes Murder Before Evensong so special is its tone – a delicate balance of humour, humanity and suspense. The writing is laced with warmth and wit, much like the original novels, while maintaining a strong emotional core. Lewis’s portrayal of Daniel Clement is simply superb: quietly charismatic, self-effacing, and deeply believable. Redman brings a perfect mix of steel and tenderness to Audrey, while Shah delivers one of the most grounded and endearing detective performances in recent TV memory.
The supporting cast is equally stellar, with standout turns from Tamzin Outhwaite as the compassionate Stella Harper, Marion Bailey and Amanda Hadingue as the gossiping yet loyal Sharman sisters, and Meghan Treadway and Alexander Delamain adding emotional nuance as the next generation of the de Floures family.
Visually, the drama is stunning. The English countryside has rarely looked so alive on screen – a place of bucolic beauty and buried tension. The cinematography glows with autumnal warmth, while the period detail, from the costumes to the cars to the cut-glass accents, feels completely immersive. The pacing, too, is masterful: the mystery unfolds with the steady grace of a well-told sermon, never rushed, never dull, always engaging.
Above all, Murder Before Evensong feels like a story with soul. It explores not just murder, but morality; not just crime, but community. There’s something profoundly comforting about its world, even as darkness seeps into it – a reminder that faith, friendship, and decency still matter, even when the church pews are emptying.
It’s no exaggeration to say that Channel 5 may have found its next Call the Midwife or Grantchester – a Sunday-night staple in the making. Murder Before Evensong looks brilliant, flows brilliantly, and is acted superbly from top to bottom.
★★★★★ – A masterpiece of warmth, wit and whodunit. Let’s hope this is just the beginning of a long and heavenly series run.