Brenda Blethyn will return to our screens as Geordie detective Vera in the final two episodes of the long-running ITV crime drama. The show will be followed by a documentary called Vera: Farewell Pet, which will look at the show’s legacy and influence as Brenda retires her character’s bucket hat, trench coat and trusty Land Rover Defender for good.
Now aged 78 – and not far from her next birthday on February 20 – the actress has played DCI Vera Stanhope since 2011 and has explained her reasons for stepping down from the role. The 14th and final series of Vera comes to our screens on January 1 and 2.
ITV promises the feature-length stories “intertwine gripping murder mysteries with the heartfelt narrative of Vera’s personal journey.” Blethyn tells us why these will be her swansong as the shabby sleuth of the North East who’s much sharper than her trademark attire might suggest.
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She explained: “It was a lovely summer back in 2023. And I came to realise I hadn’t had a summer with my husband for 14 years. Naturally, I missed my family. And my dog Jack, although he was with me in the North East, I didn’t see him much because I was working all day.
“I love my Vera family but I love my other family too. And when you consider I was already thinking about packing work in when I was offered the job back in 2010, fourteen series of working on Vera is pretty good going. I wasn’t actually going to do any more after series thirteen but, of course, ITV said they needed to wind the series up. So I said, ‘Oh go on then, I’ll do a couple more episodes.”
Brenda admits it turned out to be a great experience coming back one more time to properly conclude the drama in this way. She said: “It felt extra special filming these final two films. We are all pretty close. Jon Morrison (DC Kenny Lockhart) has been there since the second episode of the first series and Riley Jones (DC Mark Edwards) came in on the fourth episode. It’s been a big part of their lives too.”
And the much-loved character actress, who lives in Ramsgate, Kent, admits the 300-mile separation between home and work became a stubborn challenge that just couldn’t be overcome, saying: “It’s sad saying goodbye to people in the cast and crew because they are so good, professional, and talented, and I love working with them. I wish there could have been an episode where I stayed at home in Kent: ‘Vera Goes South.’.
“But, of course, the series is dyed-in-the-wool Northumberland and the North East and I understand that’s where it has to be.”
She added: “There are also some nice moments in this final series involving Vera’s current team. Because the audience is saying goodbye to them, too. Every single one has contributed so much to the series.
“The fact that Vera provided employment for so many people was something I had to factor in when making a decision each year on whether to continue or not. Nobody imposed that on me. I was simply aware of it. And I knew everyone wanted to continue. I really enjoyed working on Vera and I’m not sure I’ve made the right decision even now.
“But I do want to spend time with my family. That’s the overriding factor in my decision-making. I’m comforted by the fact that many of the crew live locally in the North East and hopefully, there are lots of other jobs for them up there. Including the proposed Crown Works Studios in Sunderland which aims to create some 8000 jobs.”
Reflecting back on her many years in the role, Brenda added: “I feel rather proud of myself. I’m glad that Vera was the success it was. And that other people must have been pleased with it too. ITV, for example, for it to go on for so long. And they would have carried on with it, too, had I wanted to. We’re all proud that Vera is a worldwide success.”
Vera Series 14 airs on ITV1 and STV at 8pm on January 1 and 2, followed by the companion documentary Vera: Farewell Pet, on January 3 at 9pm. Vera Series 1 to 13 are available on the channel’s streaming app ITVX.