Back on the beat

Vera reunites with trusty sidekick Joe as she investigates a hit-and-run murder master

Vera Sunday, 8pm, ITV1

After solving a murder mystery on Holy Island during the festive season, DCI Vera Stanhope (Brenda Blethyn) is back on our screens this week in the first of three new cases.

We find the no-nonsense detective reeling from the loss of her trusted colleague DS Aiden Healy (Kenny Doughty), who's left for a fresh start in Australia.

But the Northumberland detective is forced to rally her remaining team when local fruit-and-veg stallholder Danny Meddon is found killed in a deliberate hit-and-run.

BIG SURPRISE

Danny was a bit of a Casanova, who made extra cash by selling knock-off goods, so there are plenty of suspects, all with varying motives. But Vera is momentarily thrown off course by the surprise arrival of her original right-hand man Joe Ashworth (David Leon) at Northumberland and City Police after almost a decade away. But what is the reason for his return?