British crime drama television series
Vera is a British crime drama series based on the Vera Stanhope series of novels by 🗝 Ann Cleeves. First broadcast on ITV on 1 May 2011, it stars Brenda Blethyn as the principal character, Detective Chief 🗝 Inspector Vera Stanhope.
The thirteenth series is set to start broadcast on 7 January 2024.
Premise [ edit ]
Vera is a nearly 🗝 retired detective chief inspector of the fictional Northumberland & City Police, who is obsessive about her work. She plods along 🗝 in a dishevelled state but has a calculating mind and despite her irascible personality, she cares deeply about her work 🗝 and colleagues. She often proves her superior skills by picking up small errors in her team members' thought processes. Vera 🗝 forms a close relationship with sergeants Joe Ashworth and Aiden Healy.[1]
Production [ edit ]
The series is filmed in Newcastle upon 🗝 Tyne and throughout Northumberland in North East England. Locations include Gateshead, North Shields, Whitley Bay, Amble, Warkworth, Alnmouth, Bamburgh, and 🗝 Holy Island.[2] The farmhouse used for the exterior shots of Vera's home is located on the Snook, part of Holy 🗝 Island at or grid reference .[3]
"Hidden Depths", "Telling Tales" and "The Crow Trap" from the first series, as well as 🗝 "Silent Voices" from the second series, are based on novels of the same names by Ann Cleeves. The episode "Sand 🗝 Dancers" from the second series was due to be broadcast on 13 May 2012. However, the episode was pulled from 🗝 the schedule as its storyline was about a soldier's death in Afghanistan and it coincided with news of two servicemen 🗝 dying there.[4]
In August 2012, Vera was renewed for a third series of four episodes, with both Brenda Blethyn and David 🗝 Leon confirmed as returning for the new series.[5] On 5 June 2014, ITV announced that a fifth series had been 🗝 commissioned but that David Leon would not be returning. Kenny Doughty was unveiled as his successor. Letitia Knight was announced 🗝 as executive producer for this series.[6] Cush Jumbo returned to the main cast following her two-episode guest stint in series 🗝 two, while Lisa Hammond joined the cast as newcomer Helen Milton.[7]
In March 2024, ITV announced that the show had been 🗝 renewed for a sixth series, with filming commencing in June. The third episode was announced to be an adaptation of 🗝 the novel The Moth Catcher, which was set to be published in September 2024.[8] Noof McEwan joined the cast following 🗝 the departure of Cush Jumbo.[9] On 14 January 2024, while attending the TCA Press Tour, Blethyn confirmed that Vera was 🗝 renewed for an eleventh series. Production for series 11 began in April 2024 and new episodes began airing in 2024.[10] 🗝 In March 2024, ITV had announced that the thirteenth series was renewed with filming commenced in mid-May. It will feature 🗝 former Hollyoaks actress Rhiannon Clements as DC Stephanie Duncan.[11]
Cast [ edit ]
Episodes [ edit ]
Series Episodes Originally aired Average UK 🗝 viewers
(millions) First aired Last aired 1 4 1 May 2011 ( ) 22 May 2011 ( 2011-05-22 ) 6.60 2 🗝 4 22 April 2012 ( ) 3 June 2012 ( 2012-06-03 ) 6.37 3 4 25 August 2013 ( ) 🗝 15 September 2013 ( 2013-09-15 ) 6.53 4 4 27 April 2014 ( ) 18 May 2014 ( 2014-05-18 ) 🗝 6.42 5 4 5 April 2024 ( ) 26 April 2024 ( 2024-04-26 ) 6.19 6 4 31 January 2024 🗝 ( ) 21 February 2024 ( 2024-02-21 ) 7.88 7 4 19 March 2024 ( ) 9 April 2024 ( 🗝 2024-04-09 ) 8.07 8 4 7 January 2024 ( ) 28 January 2024 ( 2024-01-28 ) 9.03 9 4 13 🗝 January 2024 ( ) 3 February 2024 ( 2024-02-03 ) 8.48 10 4 12 January 2024 ( ) 2 February 🗝 2024 ( 2024-02-02 ) 8.30 11 6 29 August 2024 ( ) 22 January 2024 ( 2024-01-22 ) 6.97 12 🗝 4 29 January 2024 ( ) 19 February 2024 ( 2024-02-19 ) 6.02 Special 26 December 2024 ( ) TBA 🗝 13 3 7 January 2024 ( ) 21 January 2024 ( 2024-01-21 ) TBA
Home releases [ edit ]
Notes [ edit 🗝 ]
^ [52] Episodes 3 and 4 were released on 31 January 2024,[53] while Episodes 5 and 6 were released on 🗝 27 February 2024,[54] on the same day the complete eleven series was made available. The eleventh series was split into 🗝 three individual sets in the UK: Episodes 1 and 2 were released on 27 September 2024,Episodes 3 and 4 were 🗝 released on 31 January 2024,while Episodes 5 and 6 were released on 27 February 2024,on the same day the complete 🗝 eleven series was made available.
