Vera’s penultimate episode sees character plunge off cliff in horrifying scenes

VERA fans were left reeling after the gripping episode featured a dramatic cliffside showdown, culminating in a character’s shocking fall.

DCI Vera Stanhope (Brenda Blethyn) was called to the banks of the Tyne where the body of a young man has been washed up as the ITV crime drama aired its penultimate episode on New Year’s Day.

A blow to the head indicated that it wasn’t an accidental drowning and what was more intriguing is that this person, Zac Martin, had recently been released from prison after serving time for GBH.

Having already presented Vera with an important career opportunity, Chief Superintendent Khalon (Shobna Gulati) added to her load by tasking her with investigating a cold case too.

A former union man had his twenty-year conviction for killing his wife overturned, which means her killer is still out there.

So, with two high-profile cases to investigate, Vera looked to her diligent, dynamic and dedicated team to get to the guarded truth.

Near the end of the episode, an epic showdown took place on the edge of a cliff as Vera confronted who she believed to be Zac’s murderer.

Vera confronted Mr Lucas Corbridge and his daughter Amelia saying she knows he killed Zac after he reported his wife to the police.

Lucas charged towards Vera with a rock in his hand ready to blow to her head.

But a quick thinking Joe Ashworth (David Leon) intervened and tackled Lucas to the ground.

As the pair fought, Amelia tried to stop her dad from fighting and restrain him.

However, things took a disastrous turn when she ended up falling over the head of the cliff and dying, leaving her dad in tears.

The intense scene has set the series for an unforgettable finale.

The second episode of the 14th series, The Dark Wives, will be the final ever episode of Vera.

The detective is faced with the violent death of a young student and a girl’s disappearance.

Vera continues Thursday 2nd January at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.