''Midwinter Of The Spirit'' is a British horror drama television series that was broadcast as three episodes from 23 September 2015 to 7 October 2015, and stars

Anna Maxwell Martin Anna Maxwell Martin (born Anna Charlotte Martin; 27 May 1977),Births, Marriages & Deaths Index of England & Wales, 1984–2006 listed birth name as ''Anna Charlotte Martin''; Registration year 1977; Registration District Beverley, Yorkshire som ...

David Threlfall David John Threlfall (born 12 October 1953) is an English stage, film and television actor and director. He is best known for playing Frank Gallagher in Channel 4's series '' Shameless''. He has also directed several episodes of the show. In Ap ...

, and Sally Messham.

Plot

The series is based on

Phil Rickman Phil Rickman (also known under the pen names of Thom Madley and Will Kingdom) is a British author of supernatural and mystery novels. Biography Rickman was born in Lancashire in northern England and worked as a journalist for BBC World Service ...

's "Merrily Watkins" series of books, of which "Midwinter of the Spirit" is the second in the series. This series follows country vicar Merrily Watkins, who is one of the few women priests working as an exorcist in the UK. She is being mentored in the art of exorcism by clergyman Huw Owen, despite warnings from Canon Dobbs. When a grisly murder takes place in her local area, the police come calling for her assistance.

Cast

as Vicar Merrily Watkins *

as Huw Owen * Sally Messham as Jane Watkins *

Nicholas Pinnock Nicholas Andre Pinnock (born 2 September 1973) is a British actor. He is known for his roles as lead character Aaron Wallace in the American legal drama '' For Life'' and Leon in award-winning Channel 4 drama ''Top Boy''. Early life and educa ...

as Bishop Mick Hunter *

Kate Dickie Kate Dickie (born 1971) is a Scottish actress who has appeared in television series, stage plays and films. She is known for her television roles as Lex in the BBC series '' Tinsel Town'' (2000–2001) and Lysa Arryn in the HBO series '' Game ...

as DCI Annie Howe *

Leila Mimmack Leila Mimmack (born 5 November 1993) is an English actress. Early life Mimmack was born on 5 November 1993 in Leamington Spa to parents Maddy Kerr and Peter Mimmack, who run the Heartbreak Productions theatre company in Spencer Yard, Leamington. ...

as Rowenna Napier *

Siobhan Finneran Siobhán Margaret Finneran (born 27 April 1966) is a British actress. She made her screen debut in the 1987 independent film ''Rita, Sue and Bob Too'', and subsequently worked consistently in television drama including roles in ''Coronation Stre ...

as Angela Purefoy *

Ania Marson Ania Marson (born 22 May 1949 in Gdynia, Poland) is an Anglo-Polish actress. Biography She was trained at the famed Corona Stage Academy and began her career in 1963 in the famous series ''Dixon of Dock Green'', then in 1960, in other series l ...

as Mrs. Joy * Ben Bailey Smith as Lol Robinson *

Will Attenborough Will Grant Oliver Attenborough (born 26 June 1991) is a British actor known for his roles in '' Photograph 51, Our Girl, Dunkirk,'' and '' The Outpost.'' Career He played the lead role in Jeremy Herrin's production of '' Another Country'' in ...

as James Lydon *

David Sterne David Sterne (born 1946) is an English actor. He has appeared in more than 90 films since 1973. After leaving the British Army, Sterne trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art. A former member of the Royal Shakespeare Company ...

as Canon Dobbs

Production

Development

The show was filmed in

Herefordshire Herefordshire () is a county in the West Midlands of England, governed by Herefordshire Council. It is bordered by Shropshire to the north, Worcestershire to the east, Gloucestershire to the south-east, and the Welsh counties of Monmouthshire ...

. Cathedral interiors were however filmed in

Chester Chester is a cathedral city and the county town of Cheshire, England. It is located on the River Dee, close to the English–Welsh border. With a population of 79,645 in 2011,"2011 Census results: People and Population Profile: Chester Loca ...

. David Threlfall consulted with an exorcist (who author Phil Rickman put him in contact with) for advice on his role.

Episodes

Series 1

Reception

Critical reception

The Daily Telegraph ''The Daily Telegraph'', known online and elsewhere as ''The Telegraph'', is a national British daily broadsheet newspaper published in London by Telegraph Media Group and distributed across the United Kingdom and internationally. It was fo ...

says that it's a "''surprisingly faithful adaptation''" while being "''exceptionally creepy without ever venturing beyond the bounds of the credible''".

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...

newspaper reviewed the show by saying it "''is not a slow build''", and that "''it dives straight in''", and it adds that "''it’s still a lot of fun, just the thing to both cheer and chill as the nights close in''."

References

External links

* * {{epguides, /MidwinteroftheSpirit, Midwinter of the Spirit 2015 British television series debuts 2015 British television series endings 2010s British drama television series 2010s British crime television series ITV television dramas 2010s British television miniseries Television series by ITV Studios English-language television shows Serial drama television series Television shows set in Hertfordshire