End of an ERA

As she prepares to bid farewell to her legendary detective, BRENDA BLETHYN shares with us her highlights from working on hit drama Vera

- TESS LAMACRAFT

VERA
COMING SOON, ITV1 DRAMA

There is a buzz of excitement in the air on the November evening that TV Times arrives at the British Film Institute Southbank in London to attend a special celebration for ITV1’s Vera as the hit detective drama approaches its finale.

Earlier this year, leading lady Brenda Blethyn announced that, after 13 years with the fictional Northumberland and City Police department, she would be hanging up DCI Vera Stanhope’s famous trench coat and bucket hat after the upcoming 14th series. The new run will comprise two featurelength stories, Inside and The Dark Wives, and is set to air over the festive season.

‘It was a big decision to leave, because I love the job and I love the people I work with,’ smiles the BAFTA-winning star, 78. ‘I also felt an emotional responsibility. On a typical day, there are over 70 cast and crew working on the show, and I knew if I stop, then Vera stops, and that made me sad.’

But with a busy filming schedule and six months of every year spent on location in the north-east of England, Brenda says she knew the time was right to say farewell, pet, to the character who was created by crime novelist Ann Cleeves in her bestselling book series.

‘As much as I love my Newcastle family, I have a family at home and I hadn’t had a summer for 13 years, so I thought, “Go and have a summer!”’ she reveals.

Here, Brenda, who lives in Kent with her husband Michael and their beloved cockapoo Jack, shares her six favourite memories from portraying the straight-talking sleuth…