Vera is a British crime drama series based on the Vera Stanhope series of novels written by crime writer Ann Cleeves. It was first broadcast on ITV on 1 May 2011, and to date, twelve series have aired, with the latest concluding on 19 February 2023. The series stars Brenda Blethyn as the principal character, Detective Chief Inspector Vera Stanhope. In March 2023, it was confirmed that the show had been renewed for a thirteenth series.
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.
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 the Holy Island of Lindisfarne. The farmhouse used for the exterior shots of Vera's home is located on the Snook, part of the Holy Island of Lindisfarne at 55°41′10″N 001°50′29″W or grid reference NU1006543635.
"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.
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. 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. 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.
In March 2015, 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 2015. Noof McEwan joined the cast following the departure of Cush Jumbo. On 14 January 2020, while attending the TCA Press Tour, Blethyn confirmed that Vera was renewed for an eleventh series. Production for series 11 began in April 2020 and new episodes began airing in 2021. In March 2023, 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.
Cast
- Brenda Blethyn as DCI Vera Stanhope (Series 1-present)
- David Leon as DS Joe Ashworth (Series 1–4, 13–present)
- Jon Morrison as DC Kenny Lockhart (series 1–present)
- Riley Jones as DC Mark Edwards (Series 1–present)
- Wunmi Mosaku as DC Holly Lawson (Series 1–2)
- Paul Ritter as Dr. Billy Cartwright (Series 1–3)
- Cush Jumbo as DC Bethany Whelan (Series 2, 5–6)
- Sonya Cassidy as Celine Ashworth (Series 2–4)
- Clare Calbraith as DC Rebecca Shepherd (Series 2–4)
- Kingsley Ben-Adir as Dr. Marcus Sumner (Series 4–6, 8)
- Kenny Doughty as DS Aiden Healy (Series 5–12)
- Lisa Hammond as IO Helen Milton (Series 5–7)
- Noof McEwan as DC Hicham Cherradi (Series 6–7)
- Christopher Colquhoun as Dr. Anthony Carmichael (Series 7)
- Steve Evets as PC George Wooten (Series 7–9)
- Ibinabo Jack as DC Jacqueline Williams (Series 8–12)
- Paul Kaye as Dr. Malcolm Donahue (Series 9–12)
- Sarah Kameela as Dr. Paula Bennett (Series 12–present)
- Rhiannon Clements as DC Stephanie Duncan (Series 13–present)
