Brenda Blethyn Talks About Her Return as DCI Vera Stanhope in VERA Series 13

Hugely popular detective series, VERA, is back on ITV1 from Sunday 7 January with three new compelling feature-length episodes. The thirteenth series sees the return of the internationally acclaimed and award-winning actress Brenda Blethyn as DCI Vera Stanhope, alongside actor and director David Leon reprising his role as Joe Ashworth. Acclaimed crime writer Ann Cleeves’s best-selling novels and characters serve as inspiration for the series.

Brenda Blethyn recently sat down to discuss her role as Vera in the first film of series 13, titled “Fast Love.” When asked about Vera’s journey in this new series, Brenda shared, “Vera is on her own at the start of the new series. DS Aiden Healy is no longer around and so Vera has to explain what has happened to him.”

We also delved into Brenda’s reunion with David Leon, who returns as Joe Ashworth after a hiatus from the series. Brenda expressed, “I was broken-hearted when David left after Series Four and equally overjoyed when I heard he was coming back as the relationship between Vera and Joe worked so well. They have all of that early history together.” She added, “I wouldn’t have continued if David had not agreed to come back. I just didn’t want to start another board game with somebody else when I know I’m not going to do many more. And who would want to do it anyway?”

Filming together again was a delightful experience for Brenda as she shared, “Working together was certainly as good as I remembered, if not better. It’s a shock for Vera when Joe appears. She’s pleased to see him. But then her nose is really put out of joint when she finds out why he’s there.” David’s return to the series has been well-received by fans, with Brenda remarking, “David’s return helps refresh the series. People were very upset when he left after having played Joe in the first four series of Vera. And people were delighted when it was announced that he was returning for these new films.”

The new series also introduces a new face to Vera’s team, DC Steph Duncan, played by Rhiannon Clements. “DC Steph Duncan brings a new vitality to the team, another dynamic. She’s ambitious and wants to progress to prove herself as a valued member of Vera’s team. But, as ever, Vera doesn’t cut her any slack. Joe tells Steph that Vera can be ‘infuriating’. Which I agree with!”

I was curious to know where they filmed the first series 13 story, titled “Fast Love.” Brenda revealed, “It involves a number of market stall holders so we filmed scenes in Hexham in Northumberland, which we call Bentham. It was a lovely setting with the real market there and Hexham Abbey across the road.” She added, “We filmed a scene where Vera is sat opposite a market stall holder, played by Andrew Dunn, in a local cafe as he is eating a fry-up. We couldn’t do too many takes of that as he would have eaten three plates full. As it was, he did rather well.”

Brenda also shared some heartwarming moments with fans while filming. She mentioned meeting a group of young VERA fans from Corbridge Middle School during filming and expressed her joy, saying, “I love it when kids are enthusiastic to come and find out how it all goes on behind the scenes. I tried to explain to them about all of the different jobs that each member of the crew was doing.”

The new series was also the first to be shot at the new Vera studio base in Killingworth, North Tyneside. Brenda explained, “The Vera sets were transported there from Wallsend so they look identical. But we also now have a long corridor to film in and a proper reception going into the car park with a new frontage to the police station with a ‘Northumberland and City Police’ sign outside.”

As we discussed the various films in the series, Brenda offered insights into Vera’s character development and the challenges she faces, explaining, “Vera is always in a rush. That is her life. Work is her life. It’s always an emergency when she is called out to work. But Vera is silenced for once in this story. Having suffered with toothache throughout. She’s the type of person who avoids going to the dentist at all costs.” Brenda shared an interesting anecdote about her own fearlessness when it comes to visiting the dentist, recalling a story about a dying cancer patient who taught her to live in the moment and not worry about the future.

In the film titled “Salt and Vinegar,” Brenda mentioned filming on the seafront at Redcar, which features two fish and chip shops. She humorously shared, “Vera is very partial to fish and chips. Lovely. I also like fish and chips. I don’t have them very often but I do like them.” Brenda also recounted a heartwarming incident involving an elderly fan who fainted during filming, adding, “Well blow me down, when I got home it was on the TV news that night! They had gone to the lady’s house and interviewed her. She was so sweet and excited!”

As the conversation came to a close, Brenda reflected on the future of Vera and the possibility of more series: “At the moment, there is nothing planned. But that’s not to say they’re not talking about it. There might be a winding up. I don’t know. Ann Cleeves is also writing her 11th Vera book. So, there’s also that to consider. But a whole series? I think not. We’ll see.”

Fans of VERA are in for a treat with the thirteenth series and Brenda Blethyn’s portrayal of DCI Vera Stanhope. With a compelling storyline, familiar faces, and new characters, this series promises to deliver the kind of gripping crime drama that viewers have come to expect from VERA. Tune in to ITV1 from Sunday 7 January 2024 to catch all three feature-length episodes of VERA’s thirteenth series.