Vera star addresses Brenda Blethyn ‘taking break’ from show as series 11 finale finally airs

A VERA star has addressed Brenda Blethyn ‘taking break’ from the show as the new series airs.

The actress, 77, plays the lead role in the hit ITV crime drama.

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And, after waiting a year, fans have been tuning into the 12th series which recently began.

With attention now turning to whether there will be another instalment of Vera, actor Riley Jones has spoken about Brenda and if she’ll take a break from the show.

The DC Mark Edwards star said: “Well, I think it’s like any job, especially a job where it’s so intense.

“Especially for Brenda obviously, she’s in pretty much every scene and she has so much dialogue, it’s a lot of work and it’s very intense for Brenda.

“So, like any job when you do a big stint where you finish it and you just think, ‘I just need a break’.”

He continued to reveal to Express.co.uk that he doesn’t know if there will be a 13th series.

“I obviously hope there is and I’ll be waiting to see if we get that call,” he said.

“And when we do it’s all go, but I am in the know as much as you.”

Vera viewers were previously left horrified when a new character joined the show – only to be immediately killed off.

Fans were thrilled to see a surprise appearance from a well-known actor in the latest episode of the drama series.

Mark Armstrong, known for playing Spanner in 12 episodes of Our Girl, joined the cast on Sunday night.

But viewers’ happiness was short-lived when his character died.

Mark played the role of Conn Burns – a former soldier who became homeless after things took a wrong turn in his life.

In the episode Conn was seen holding a card with “Ex Army. Please Help” written on it as he stood on the Millennium bridge.

However that was the last viewers saw of Mark – as Conn’s body was found dead – dumped in a rubbish pule by a woman who was on her hen do, next to Riverside and the Hard Rock Cafe on the Quayside.

Vera continues on ITV1 and ITVX.

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