Channel 5's hit mystery drama, The Madame Blanc Mysteries, returned to our screens this week with its anticipated fifth season – and if you've not yet seen it, you're in for a treat.
A favourite among cosy crime fans, the much-loved series has been hailed as "truly brilliant" by viewers, many of whom have rewatched the show multiple times.
© Mark Cassar / ClappCreated by and starring Sally Lindsay, the series follows amateur sleuth and antiques dealer Jean White as she solves puzzling crimes in a picturesque village in southern France.
Since its premiere in 2021, the show has amassed a legion of dedicated fans, who have hailed protagonist Jean as a "modern-day Miss Marple". With classic whodunnit style mysteries, stunning scenery and a charming cast, The Madame Blanc Mysteries is a must-watch for cosy crime fans.
Keep reading to find out more about the new series
What happens in The Madame Blanc Mysteries season 5?
Fans can look forward to more "mind‑boggling mysteries, murders and eye‑popping antiquities than ever before" in season five, which follows Jean White and her fiancé Dom Hayes as they plan their wedding. But nothing can prepare them for the obstacles that crop up along the way.
© 5 Broadcasting Limited / Clapperboard StudiosThe synopsis continues: "Over the course of the series, a dead body in one of the shows iconic locations, Uncle Patrick hosts the pub quiz of the century at La Couronne, Judith and Jeremy face a heart‑wrenching dilemma, and the bodies continue to stack up when someone is found foaming at the mouth in St Victoire Theatre.
"We witness the full, fabulous wrath of John Marsden, and hold our breath to see whether Jean and Dom will finally make it down the aisle."
© Mark Cassar / Clapperboard / Channel 5Who stars in season 5?
Sally Lindsay and Steve Edge reprise their roles as Jean and Dom.
They're joined by Sue Vincent as Gloria Beaushaw, Robin Askwith and Sue Holderness as Jeremy and Judith Lloyd James, and Alex Gaumond as Chief of Police André Caron. Also returning are Tony Robinson as Dom's Uncle Patrick, Paul Chuckle (Elliott) as Gloria's dad Trevor, and Stephen Bailey, as gangster John Marsden.
© 5 Broadcasting Limited / Clapperboard Studios / Darrin Zammit LupiViewers can also expect a stellar line-up of guest stars, including Justin Moorhouse (Phoenix Nights), Brian Capron (Coronation Street), Lesley Joseph (Birds of a Feather), Jason Manford (Waterloo Road), Michael Fenton Stevens (Slow Horses), Su Pollard (Hi-de-Hi!), Louisa Lytton (EastEnders), Frazer Hines (Emmerdale), Bonnie Langford (EastEnders) and Zoe Lyons (Mock the Week).
What have viewers said about the show?
It's safe to say The Madame Blanc Mysteries is popular among cosy crime fans, with one viewer claiming to have watched each series "at least five times".
© 5 Broadcasting Limited / Clapperboard StudiosTaking to social media, one viewer hailed the show as "absolutely hands down one of my favourite programmes," while another described it as "entertaining, uplifting and worth watching".
The Madame Blanc Mysteries
The new seven-episode series premiered on Thursday 29 October.
