Vera(Image: ITV)

Brenda Blethyn's Vera 'return' confirmed just weeks after final ITV episode

by · DevonLive

After bidding a heartfelt farewell to her iconic role in the much-loved drama, Brenda Blethyn is set to delight her fans by "returning" to Vera for a special event in Newcastle.

BAFTA winner Brenda, who won critical acclaim for her role in Mike Leigh's Secrets and Lies, first stepped into the shoes of the formidable DCI Stanhope in early 2011.

Her initial appearance in the pilot episode drew millions of viewers, sparking a full series of Vera, which has been one of British TV's top dramas for the past 14 years.

Even the coronavirus couldn't halt the annual broadcasting of Vera, with its concluding episodes recently airing on ITV.

Brenda Blethyn is set to delight her fans by "returning" to Vera for a special event in Newcastle(Image: ITV)

The premiere of season 14 on New Year’s Day saw the beloved series wrap up with its finale titled 'The Dark Wives,' capturing a substantial audience.

Despite remaining tight-lipped about the fate of her much-adored character, the final moments of Vera showed Brenda happily wandering along a beach after a scene where she was observed packing up her things and leaving police HQ.

In an interview towards the end of the last year, reported by Chronicle Live, Brenda revealed that after portraying Vera for 14 years, she decided it was time to bid the show adieu to focus on family time in the south, having spent each summer filming far from them since 2011. While it seems that Brenda's tenure in front of the camera for Vera has come to an end, she isn't completely stepping away from the celebrated series.

The two final episodes of the detective drama aired this month(Image: ITV)

Fans relishing the reruns on ITV have an opportunity to join the actress at Newcastle City Hall on Thursday, March 13, for 'Vera - End of an Era'. This unique event will see Brenda and Vera's author Ann Cleeves reflecting on the final series and sharing their favourite scenes, reports Wales Online.

TV host Steph McGovern will conduct the stage interview, with a few special guests also expected to make an appearance. The night is being touted as 'an unmissable chance' for fans to bid a fond farewell to a cherished show and honour one of crime fiction's most legendary detectives.

Vera is available to watch on ITVX