The Madame Blanc Mysteries

The Madame Blanc Mysteries is a cosy crime comedy drama television series, produced by Saffron Cherry Productions, that is broadcast on Channel 5 and Acorn TV. The series, written by and starring Sally Lindsay and Sue Vincent,[1][2] concerns a Cheshire antiques dealer, Jean White, who helps solve an array of mysteries and deaths in the fictional village of Sainte Victoire in the South of France. The series premiered on 16 October 2021, and boasts Robin Askwith, Steve Edge and Sue Holderness amongst the supporting cast.

    The Madame Blanc Mysteries
    GenreCosy mystery
    Crime
    Mystery
    Dramedy
    Created bySally Lindsay
    Sue Vincent
    Directed byDermot Boyd
    StarringSally Lindsay
    Steve Edge
    Robin Askwith
    Sue Holderness
    Sue Vincent
    Alex Gaumond
    ComposerSteve White
    Country of originUnited Kingdom
    Original languageEnglish
    No. of series2
    No. of episodes13 (list of episodes)
    Production
    Executive producersMike Benson
    Sally Lindsay
    ProducerAndy Morgan
    Running time60 minutes
    Production companySaffron Cherry Productions
    Release
    Original networkChannel 5
    Acorn TV
    Original release16 October 2021 (2021-10-16) –
    present

    Following broadcast, the series became one of the most popular new shows on Channel 5, with episodes averaging around 2.5 million viewers.[3][4][5] The first series was also released on DVD on 13 December 2021.[6] The series' signature theme, “Passing Through”, was written specifically for the show by Lindsay's husband Steve White.[7]

    Plot

    Successful antiques dealer husband and wife Jean and Rory White (Sally Lindsay and Peter Gaynor) live in a sleepy village in Cheshire, England, but own a cottage in the village of Sainte Victoire in the South of France. When Rory is killed in a car crash in Saint Victoire, Jean realises all her assets have been pawned off, leaving her penniless. She then travels to France to unravel the mystery of her husband's death, his missing valuable ring, and the identity of the woman with whom her husband was having an affair; solving other mysteries along the way with the help of local taxi driver Dom (Steve Edge), local chateau owners Judith and Jeremy (Sue Holderness and Robin Askwith) and the local Chief of Police, Caron (Alex Gaumond).[8]

    Each episode features its own individual mystery; and several guest stars to boot, with the likes of Paul O'Grady, Tony Robinson and Les Dennis all appearing in one-off roles.[9]

    Production

    The series was officially announced in January 2021 under the title The Reluctant Madame Blanc[10][11] with casting released later in the year.[12] Although set in the South of France, the series was actually filmed in Gozo.[13][14]

    Cast
    • Sally Lindsay as Jean White; an antiques dealer and amateur sleuth.
    • Steve Edge as Dom Hayes; a local taxi driver.
    • Sue Holderness as Judith Lloyd James; lady of the manor.
    • Robin Askwith as Jeremy Lloyd James; Judith's husband.
    • Alex Gaumond as Inspecteur André Caron; chief of local police.
    • Sue Vincent as Gloria Beauchamp; a local garage owner.[15]
    • Aonghus Weber as Niall Connor; owner of the local bar.
    • Margeaux Lampley as Celine Connor; Niall's wife.
    • Olivia Caffrey as Barbara Kingsley; a mysterious figure who is out to get Jean.
    • Jacqueline Berces as Gendarme Richárd; Inspectuer Caron's subordinate.
    • Sanchia McCormack as Charlie Brodeur; co-owner of a local antiques business.
    • Djinda Kane as Simone Brodeur; Charlie's wife.
    • Narayan David Hecter as Xavier Beauchamp (Series 1); Gloria's son.
    • Alaïs Lawson as Claudette Hayes (Series 1); Dom's daughter.
    • Avant Strangel as Cooper McGraw (Series 2); A love interest for Gloria.
    • Paul Chuckle as Trevor Beauchamp; Gloria's father.[16]

    Episodes

    Series 1 (2021)
    No.
    overall    		No. in
    series    		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date [17]UK viewers (millions)
    7 day    		UK viewers (millions)
    28 day
    11"Episode 1"Dermot BoydSally Lindsay & Sue Vincent16 October 2021 (2021-10-16)N/ATBA
    When her husband is killed in a mysterious car crash, antiques dealer Jean White travels to Saint Victoire to find out the truth of what happened.
    22"Episode 2"Dermot BoydSally Lindsay & Sue Vincent23 October 2021 (2021-10-23)N/ATBA
    An elderly woman believes that a precious treasure holds the key to finding her missing brother, who was kidnapped by the Nazis during the Second World War, and Jean seeks Dom's help to reunite the siblings.
    33"Episode 3"Dermot BoydSally Lindsay & Sue Vincent30 October 2021 (2021-10-30)N/ATBA
    Tragedy strikes when Judith and Jeremy throw a 1980s themed 35th wedding anniversary party. Jeremy's brother and sister-in-law, Harry and Cressida, and Judith's sister, Mary are all suspects - and it's up to Jean and Dom to work out which of them could be responsible.
    44"Episode 4"Dermot BoydSally Lindsay & Sue Vincent6 November 2021 (2021-11-06)N/ATBA
    Jean finds herself investigating a painting scam when a local man arrives at Charlie and Simone's pawn shop demanding his money back on a fake painting. Meanwhile, Albert Gilbert is left unconscious by robbers when a rare painting is stolen from his home, and Caron calls upon Jean for her expertise in the investigation of the theft.
    55"Episode 5"Dermot BoydSally Lindsay & Sue Vincent13 November 2021 (2021-11-13)N/ATBA
    Caron enlists Jean and Dom's help when a valuable relic from the local church is stolen, and a priest is discovered murdered. Meanwhile, the Connors have an eventful week when Niall's mother Niamh pays a visit, and it quickly becomes apparent that she and Celine are not on amicable terms.
    66"Episode 6"Dermot BoydSally Lindsay & Sue Vincent20 November 2021 (2021-11-20)N/ATBA
    Dom receives a surprise visitor the night of his date with Jean, but as she prepares to leave for Manchester, she receives a nasty shock.

    Series 2 (2022–23)
    No.
    overall    		No. in
    series    		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date [18]UK viewers (millions)
    7 day    		UK viewers (millions)
    28 day
    71"Christmas in Sainte Victoire"Dermot BoydSally Lindsay & Sue Vincent22 December 2022 (2022-12-22)N/ATBA
    Jingle bells are ringing as the spirit of Christmas fills the town, but it turns out not to be a happy one for Caron, when his wife is found murdered, with a knife in her back. Jean and Dom are forced to help police standards Insp. Gaultier prove that Caron was not the man responsible. Meanwhile, Dom's uncle Patrick (Tony Robinson) comes to stay.
    82"Episode 2"Dermot BoydSally Lindsay & Sue Vincent5 January 2023 (2023-01-05)N/ATBA
    Jeremy awakens from a night on the tiles to find himself in the cabin of his boat - and a dead woman on the deck. The deceased turns out to be an employee of celebrity chef Vernon Bradley (Lee Boardman). Although it appears her death was caused by a fall from a great height, Jean suspects some culinary involvement.
    93"Episode 3"Dermot BoydSally Lindsay & Sue Vincent12 January 2023 (2023-01-12)N/ATBA
    Jean is approached to become patron of the local theatre after the sad death of one of the committee's founding members. When discussion of an unsolved death at the theatre back in the 1970s begins, a deadly pattern of events starts to unravel, culminating in the search for a priceless antique flower.
    104"Episode 4"Dermot BoydSally Lindsay & Sue Vincent19 January 2023 (2023-01-19)N/ATBA
    Jeremy and Judith's renovation of a remote country mansion is halted when former owner, Robert Coste, is found shot at the dining table. He recently changed his will to remove all reference of his estranged son Eric, who immediately makes a bad impression on Jean & Dom; however, Eric's behaviour isn't the only test of their friendship.
    115"Episode 5"Dermot BoydSally Lindsay & Sue Vincent26 January 2023 (2023-01-26)N/ATBA
    Newlyweds David (Les Dennis) and George (David Ames) find themselves requesting Jean's help after a mysterious wedding gift leaves them suffering from a run of bad luck. Meanwhile, the mysterious Barbara composes a letter to Charlie in an attempt to get her to visit Simone in prison.
    126"Episode 6"Dermot BoydSally Lindsay & Sue Vincent2 February 2023 (2023-02-02)N/ATBA
    When reclusive rockstar Dura announces he is making a comeback, Jeremy offers up the Chateau as a recording studio - the perfect location for recording a comeback record. But, whilst locked in the studio on his own, Dura is murdered. Caron calls upon Jean and Dom to solve what appears to be an impossible puzzle.
    137"Episode 7"Dermot BoydSally Lindsay & Sue Vincent9 February 2023 (2023-02-09)N/ATBA
    A perfume shop is robbed at knifepoint, the third in a series of robberies across southern France - and the gang appear elusive, until Gloria's new love interest, Cooper, is caught red-handed in possession of an antique mask used in the heist. Meanwhile, Barbara prepares to exact her final revenge on Jean.

    References
    1. "Channel 5".
    2. "Acorn TV". Acorn TV.
    3. "7-Day Ratings Breakdown: 11-17 October 2021". 28 October 2021.
    4. Francine Brokaw (1 December 2021). "'The Madame Blanc Mysteries' is a delight". The Daily Herald.
    5. Michael Hogan (16 October 2021). "The Madame Blanc Mysteries, review: sacré bleu! It's Midsomer-en-Ville". The Telegraph.
    6. Doug Lambert (5 December 2021). "The Madame Blanc Mysteries December DVD release". ATV Today.
    7. Doherty, Réiltín (2 November 2022). "The Madame Blanc Mysteries: What is the theme song and who wrote it?". Entertainment Daily. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
    8. Vicky Leigh (20 October 2021). "The Madame Blanc Mysteries: former Coronation Street star swaps Manchester for France". Complete France.
    9. Lauren Morris (19 November 2021). "Madame Blanc finale to feature Paul O'Grady in "eccentric" role". Radio Times.
    10. Patrick Munn (20 January 2021). "Channel 5 & Acorn TV Order 'The Reluctant Madame Blanc', Sally Lindsay To Star". TV Wise.
    11. "The Madame Blanc Mysteries". Saffron Cherry Productions.
    12. Nicola Methven (3 September 2021). "EXCLUSIVE: Sally Lindsay and Sue Holderness team up for new series The Madame Blanc Mysteries". The Daily Mirror.
    13. Filming of Madame Blanc Mysteries in Gozo, retrieved 13 October 2022
    14. Sam Warner (15 October 2021). "Coronation Street's Sally Lindsay explains what inspired new murder mystery show". Digital Spy.
    15. "The Madame Blanc Mysteries on Acorn TV: Who is the cast of the Sally Lindsay show?". 18 October 2022.
    16. Paul Hirons (30 October 2021). "The Madame Blanc Mysteries: Paul Chuckle reveals surprising new career move at 74". Entertainment Daily.
    17. "The Madame Blanc Mysteries". channel5.com. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
    18. "The Madame Blanc Mysteries". channel5.com. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
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