Cozy Mystery · Channel 5 / Acorn TV · Season 5 Guide
The Madame Blanc Mysteries
The Madame Blanc Mysteries follows Jean White (Sally Lindsay), a Cheshire antiques dealer who is widowed when her husband Rory dies in what looks like an accident at the couple's cottage in the fictional French village of Sainte Victoire — only for Jean to discover it was murder. Four seasons on, she's turned amateur sleuth alongside local taxi driver Dom Hayes (Steve Edge), solving a new crime roughly every episode. Season 5 premiered on Channel 5 in the UK on October 29, 2026, and arrives on Acorn TV in the US on November 9, 2026; compare BritBox and Acorn TV to see which fits your watchlist. This season is built around Jean and Dom's wedding plans, with a fresh run of murders determined to get in the way.
About the show
The Madame Blanc Mysteries is an original story created by Sally Lindsay, who stars as Jean White and co-writes the series with Sue Vincent (who also plays local mechanic Gloria Beaushaw). It's a co-production between Clapperboard and Saffron Cherry Productions for Channel 5 in the UK, with AMC Networks' Acorn TV holding the international distribution rights, including in the US. The show is set in the fictional village of Sainte Victoire but is actually filmed on location in Malta and on the island of Gozo. Since its 2021 debut it has built a recurring-guest-star tradition, bringing in well-known British sitcom, soap and panel-show faces for small roles most seasons — Season 5 continues that with its biggest guest list yet.
New Viewer's Guide
Mostly Case-of-the-Week — Start Almost Anywhere
Each episode is largely a self-contained mystery, so The Madame Blanc Mysteries is friendlier to jump into mid-run than most crime dramas. That said, Jean and Dom's relationship and the recurring John Marsden storyline build across seasons, so Season 1 gives the fullest picture of how Jean ended up in Sainte Victoire and why she and Dom work as a pair.
Best Seasons, Ranked
British TV Hub's editorial opinion, not an official ranking — in order of how well each completed season showcases the show. Season 5 is too new to rank and is kept spoiler-light. Kept spoiler-light throughout.
The Essential Starting Point
Jean investigates her husband's death and the identity of his mistress, alongside a string of local cases including a stolen painting and a theft at the village church. It's the cleanest introduction to Jean, Dom, and the village of Sainte Victoire, and sets up the emotional hook that keeps a cozy, case-of-the-week show grounded.
A Confident, Ensemble-Heavy Season
Six episodes — including "Beach Club," "Inheritance," and "Where Eagles Dare" — followed by a feature-length Christmas special. By this point the supporting cast and guest-star tradition are fully in gear, making it one of the show's more polished runs.
More Elaborate Set-Pieces
Jean takes on a death during a dive, a killing with a fencing foil, and a kidnapping at a birthday dinner, among other cases. The mysteries lean into bigger, more theatrical setups without losing the show's gentle sense of humor.
A Solid Sophomore Run
Cases include a body found on a boat, a death tied to the local theatre's past, and a locked-room murder inside a recording studio. A steady continuation of the format rather than a standout, but it keeps the village and its cast developing.
Main Characters and Cast
Sally Lindsay
Jean White, the antiques dealer turned amateur sleuth known locally as "Madame Blanc." Lindsay created the series and co-writes it with Sue Vincent.
Steve Edge
Dom Hayes, Jean's local taxi driver and investigating partner. Season 5 centers on Jean and Dom's wedding.
Sue Vincent
Gloria Beaushaw, the village mechanic — and, off screen, Vincent co-writes the series alongside Sally Lindsay.
Robin Askwith & Sue Holderness
Jeremy and Judith Lloyd James, wealthy chateau owners and pillars of village social life. Askwith is best known for the 1970s "Confessions" film series; Holderness is widely known as Marlene in Only Fools and Horses.
Tony Robinson
Dom's Uncle Patrick. Robinson is widely known for Blackadder and for presenting Time Team.
Alex Gaumond & Paul Chuckle
André Caron, Sainte Victoire's Chief of Police, and Trevor, Gloria's dad — two more regulars from the village ensemble.
Stephen Bailey
Gangster John Marsden, the show's recurring antagonist, who returns in Season 5 to put Jean and Dom's wedding plans in jeopardy.
Guest Stars This Season
Season 5 brings its biggest guest list yet to Sainte Victoire:
Zoe Lyons
Comedian, Mock the Week
Bonnie Langford
Known for EastEnders
Louisa Lytton & Michael Fenton Stevens
Known for EastEnders, and Benidorm & Nighty Night
Also joining the cast this season: comedians Justin Moorhouse and Jason Manford, plus familiar soap and sitcom faces Brian Capron (Coronation Street), Lesley Joseph (Birds of a Feather), Su Pollard (Hi-de-Hi!) and Frazer Hines (Emmerdale). Acorn TV and Channel 5 have not yet disclosed which roles each guest star plays.
What Makes the Series Special
Created and Co-Written by Its Star
Sally Lindsay created The Madame Blanc Mysteries and co-writes it with castmate Sue Vincent — an unusual level of creative control for a lead actor on a British cozy mystery, and part of why the show's tone feels so consistent season to season.
A Revolving Cast of Familiar British Faces
Nearly every season brings in well-known British sitcom, soap and panel-show names for small roles — part of the show's appeal for viewers who grew up on British TV, and a tradition Season 5 leans into with its largest guest roster yet.
Cozy, Not Grim
Despite a steady body count, the show stays light — closer to a sunny escapist comedy-drama than a dark procedural, built around Jean and Dom's partnership and the village of Sainte Victoire's gentle eccentricities.
Setting and Filming Locations
Sainte Victoire, France (Filmed in Malta & Gozo)
The show is set in the fictional French village of Sainte Victoire, but it's actually filmed on location in Malta and on the island of Gozo, which stand in for the sun-soaked South of France setting throughout the series, including Season 5.
Where to watch in the US
Acorn TV
Season 5 premieres on Acorn TV in the US November 9, 2026 · Seven episodes · UK premiere October 29, 2026 on Channel 5
Watch via Acorn TV on Prime Video →Streaming availability can change — check the linked service for the current schedule. Checked November 2026.
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BritBox, Acorn TV and PBS Masterpiece can all be added as Prime Video channels, so every series sits on one watchlist.
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Buy the DVDs
Individual/complete-series DVDs available · Check current sellers and formats
Shop Madame Blanc Mysteries DVDs →Frequently Asked Questions
How many seasons and episodes does The Madame Blanc Mysteries have?
Five seasons as of Season 5. Most seasons run seven episodes, usually with a Christmas special that serves as a season capper; how specials get counted can vary by platform, so episode numbering sometimes differs between the UK and the US.
When does The Madame Blanc Mysteries Season 5 premiere in the US?
Season 5 premiered in the UK on Channel 5 on October 29, 2026, and arrives on Acorn TV in the US on November 9, 2026.
Do I need to watch The Madame Blanc Mysteries in order?
Not strictly. Each episode is largely a self-contained mystery, so it's easier to dip in and out than most crime dramas — though Jean and Dom's relationship and the John Marsden storyline do build across seasons.
Is The Madame Blanc Mysteries based on a book?
No. It's an original story created by Sally Lindsay, who also stars as Jean White and co-writes the series with Sue Vincent.
Is The Madame Blanc Mysteries filmed in France?
No. The story is set in the fictional French village of Sainte Victoire, but the series is actually filmed on location in Malta and Gozo.
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