Shipton Abbott continues to keep DI Humphrey Goodman (Kris Marshall) and his team busy, with a new baffling crime each episode.
From a death on a steam train to a missing teacher, they have their work cut out. Meanwhile, Humphrey and Martha’s (Sally Bretton) journey to find their own version of a family continues as they explore the possibility of fostering.
Martha’s mother Anne throws herself into the world of online dating. And a well-meant gesture from Esther’s (Zahra Ahmadi) daughter Zoe (Melina Sinadinou) threatens to uncover a long-held secret.
BritBox chatted with Barbara Flynn to find out more about Anne Lloyd:
Where do we find Anne at the start of series two?
In series two, Anne begins to get used to having Martha and Humphrey around. Anne and Humphrey do have a lovely relationship; however, he does still continue to baffle her.
After the death of her husband, she is looking to rediscover her life and look for companionship that isn’t her daughter and friends. She knows Shipton Abbott backwards, but there’s only so long you can talk to friends about losing a husband for. So, she decides to move on, trying to broaden her horizons, which she does through the delightful Zoe, Esther’s daughter, who works in the café. That’s where we find her, nervously on the edge of new discovery.
Anne is always bemused by Humphrey, what is their relationship like now?
It remains confused but she’s thrilled that Martha is happy and adores him and that’s exactly what every mother wants. There’s actually nothing to dislike about Humphrey, he just baffles her because he has this amazing mind that comes up with the unexpected and because Anne’s late husband was so organised and easy to read. Humphrey is not like Martha’s father but, again, she is very happy because Martha is very happy.
Anne is on a journey to rediscover herself this series, looking for love on dating apps, how is she finding it and what is she looking for?
She finds the abbreviations on dating apps quite intriguing. She finds it confusing and immediately is an addict, she becomes a teenager who isn’t concentrating on what’s going on in the room as we all do when we enter this rabbit hole that is the online world! She’s looking for companionship, a distraction, something new.
Humphrey and Martha initially appear to be against Anne joining dating apps. What do you think their concerns are?
Their concerns might be what if she introduces someone to them who she falls head over heels for and wants to marry? It could change their family dynamic completely.
Martha still has the memories of her father intact and she might have an unspoken anxiety about seeing her mother get hurt. I think Humphrey shares these anxieties too. It’s about not wanting a replacement and not wanting to see her get hurt.
Anne leads a petition against the closure of the Shipton Abbott police station. Do you and Anne share similar qualities?
Yes, to back a cause that is clearly common sense to keep it going in the interest of the safety of the community. Anne is very much community-minded and so was her husband. To be without the police station would mean that Shipton Abbott wouldn’t have that sense of security that the community has really grown to like, and Humphrey has ended up being such an incredible personality, he’s given it popularity and gets the job done. They’re a wonderful team. Humphrey would be without a job, which is also a concern to her, if it were to close. She cares a lot about the community.
How does Anne feel about Humphrey and Martha looking to become foster parents? How do you think Anne would be involved when if it worked out for them?
I think she would try to be as helpful as possible and knowing Anne, she might go just an inch too far! But she’s got a very loving heart and gets on well with young people.
After finding out they couldn’t have children naturally and then going through the journey they went through in series one, it’s a wonderfully open hearted, amazing decision which I think Anne is excited to be part of.
What qualities do you think Humphrey and Martha have that would make them good foster parents?
They’re very loving, honest and gentle people. Martha is a wonderful listener, she’s sort of had to be with Anne!
Series one had around 8 million viewers tuning in every week. What do you think makes the show so popular?
People can watch without anxiety because no gruesome murders take place. It has characters who are real and accessible, and it addresses very cleverly quite a few issues that may be difficult to talk about around the family. I think people love Shipton Abbott, it’s the loveliest place to be.
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