AS Brenda Blethyn quits her role of 14 years, she teases hope for a Vera spin-off show ahead of the final ever episodes of the series.
Brenda revealed she is ‘semi-retired’ from her role as DCI Vera Stanhope who returns to our screens for the final time in January.
The 78 year old star decided to quit playing the iconic Detective so that she could spend more time with her husband and family.
Speaking about her decision to leave the show, Brenda told the PA News Agency: “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.
“But 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, 14 series of working on Vera is pretty good going.”
Brenda initially wasn’t going to do any more episodes after she filmed series 13 but ITV said they needed to wind the series up.
Brenda finally agreed with them and replied: “Oh go on then, I’ll do a couple more.”
The actress has since described herself as semi-retired, explaining: “I don’t want to be doing jobs which means going away for long periods of time.”
But she felt very emotional while filming the final series and 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. 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.
Contemplating that, she then jokingly discusses a potential spin off show and teases: “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.”
The first of the final episodes of Vera are located on the banks of the River Tyne, where the body of a young man has been discovered.
Since its launch back in 2011 Vera has gripped ITV viewers with its crime stories - and dozens of actors have appeared in the show, including:
Speaking about the North East, Brenda said: “Northumberland and the wider North East is so varied and beautiful.
“It’s not just one thing. It’s the seascapes, the landscapes, the moors, the cities. A lot of them steeped in history.
“And lively. It’s not for nothing that Newcastle is called the party town.
But Brenda hasn’t had much time to party or even to take in the tourist sights despite having travelled tens of thousands of miles over the years.
She explains: “If I’d been on holiday that would’ve been great, but as it was, I’d get in the car at some unearthly hour in the morning and my head is in the script.
“And as I’m in almost every scene, I’m going through what I’m doing that day and then I get out of the car at the other end.
“So I’m not taking in the joys of sightseeing but I always love everywhere we film. And the people are so nice.”
The two final episodes star David Leon as DI Joe Ashworth, Jon as DC Kenny Lockhart and Riley as DC Mark Edwards.
Also appearing are Sarah Kameela Impey as pathologist Dr Paula Bennett and Rhiannon Clements as DC Steph Duncan.
Brenda said filming one of the scenes, which involves Vera and DC Kenny Lockhart broke her heart and was emotional to film.
The final episode is an adaptation of the most recent of Ann Cleeves’ Vera novels, The Dark Wives, which was published in August 2024.
The best selling author attended the wrap party where the cast celebrated with a “great big cake shaped like Vera’s Landy” said Brenda.
However, it was Brenda that took home Vera’s mac, hat and a Montblanc pen, presented to her by the producers as fond mementos of her time as the much loved Detective.
The final episodes of Vera air on ITV1 at 8pm on January 1 and 2, followed by the documentary Vera Farewell Pet on January 3 at 9pm.
