ITV drops first look at Brenda Blethyn’s epic Vera return as filming kicks off on long-awaited series 13
ITV HAS dropped a first look at Brenda Blethyn’s epic Vera return as filming on series 13 kicks off.
The hit drama will be back for another instalment as Brenda reprises her role as the iconic detective.
Filming has officially kicked off in the North East as David Leon character’s Joe Ashworth also coming back.
ITV has also teased how DCI Vera Stanhope and her investigative team will be called to a country lane in the first episode as a young man is found dead.
The victim, who is a popular market trader, appears to have been hit by a car as the investigation kicks off.
Joining Vera’s team for the 13th series is Jon Morrison as DC Kenny Lockhart, Riley Jones as DC Mark Edwards, Sarah Kameela Impey as Pathologist Dr. Paula Bennett.
Hollyoaks star Rhiannon Clements also joins the cast as new and ambitious DC Steph Duncan.
The new series will consist of just three episodes, but ITV has said they will be ‘feature-length’.
Speaking about getting back into her character as Vera, award-winning actress Brenda said: “Stepping back into Vera’s shoes for the thirteenth series feels like coming home again.”
The 77-year-old added: “The support from the locals in the North East is truly heart-warming and reuniting with the talented David Leon and the rest of our exceptional team is an absolute delight.
“Together, we embark on this new chapter with a terrific script crafted by the brilliant Paul Matthew Thompson.”
One star who won’t be returning for the new series is Kenny Doughty.
He previously said he would be leaving the role of DS Aiden Healy in the Sunday night favourite after eight years.
Vera’s new series is expected to return at the start of next year on ITV1 and ITVX.