Vera star Brenda Blethyn lets slip how final series ends in heartbreaking twist

Vera star Brenda Blethyn has finally revealed how the last ever episodes of the ITV drama will end.

There has been much speculation as to whether DI Vera Stanhope might survive as the show comes to an end. Vera has recently reunited with her former colleague, DI Joe Ashworth (David Leon), after the surprise exit of DS Aiden Healy (Kenny Doughty).

However, it seems like Brenda has hinted at how the show might end for the much-loved character as it wraps after 14 series. Fans are devastated by the end of the show - but will Vera get her happy ending?

At a special event at BFI in London to mark the end of the show for good, Brenda was asked whether her character might survive. When she was quizzed on her fate, she said: "No comment. I'm not going to tell you."

However, the actress did warn there was trouble ahead for Vera and Joe's relationship.

She told the audience: "I will tell you there’s trouble with Detective Inspector Joe Ashworth. Joe has something going on that he doesn’t want to talk about and Vera is anxious to get to the bottom of that.

"We know he came back to the area because his father was ill. He passed away – we’ve already seen that. Joe doesn’t seem to have come out of that dungeon and Vera’s concerned about that."

However, Vera does receive a huge offer from her boss - but will she take it? Brenda warned of her character: "Vera’s superior, the Chief Inspector, wants to promote her, and so it’s a big decision for Vera to make."

Brenda also confessed that she wasn't planning on carrying on with acting until she was offered the part of Vera.

"I was thinking about retiring at the time. I wasn’t familiar with Ann’s work at the time, so I bought The Crow Trap, which introduces the character. I was halfway through it and this character’s not mentioned. I thought it must be a little cameo part," she said.

“But then it came to a bit where the door of the church opened and in lumbered this great lummox of a woman, looking like a bag lady, and that was Vera Stanhope. I thought, 'Why have they thought of me?' Then I read on and I absolutely loved the character."

*Vera will air its final ever episodes in the New Year.