Kenny Doughty left fans reeling with his surprise "quit" announcement on Wednesday, after he decided to purge his online presence by deleting his Twitter account, citing the pervasive negativity on the platform.
It has been over a year since the well-liked actor Kenny confirmed his departure from the hit series Vera, where he held the role of DS Aiden Healy for eight years, becoming an iconic figure beside DCI Stanhope (played by Brenda Blethyn).
Clues began to surface when Kenny posted a nostalgic collection of behind-the-scenes photos on his Instagram, accompanied by the poignant message 'Thanks for the memories."
This sparked theories and worry among the show's devout audience that Kenny was stepping down, fears later validated in April 2024 when he made his exit official.
In a heartfelt tribute, he expressed gratitude to his fellow actors, including his close confidante Brenda Blethyn, and to the multitude of global fans who adored his appearances," reports Chronicle Live.
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On Wednesday, Kenny hit Instagram again to disseminate more big personal updates to his followers; this time he posted a snapshot from his screen showcasing proof that his X (Twitter) profile had been deactivated.
Accompanying this bold move, he captioned: "Goodbye X formerly Twitter. And BIG HELLO Threads and of course Instagram. Let's make positivity and hope and fun our aim."
Vera fans were in for a treat earlier this week as episodes featuring Kenny were aired on four different nights, including a repeat of series 11's Tyger Tyger, which has been scheduled for the 9pm primetime slot on ITV1 on Tuesday.
One fan responded to his post about X, saying: "I got rid of X/Twitter last year and haven't missed it for a second. Instagram is my fave at the moment - glad you're staying on here Kenny ...... PS loving watching the Vera repeats on a Tuesday night with you in them. Hopefully, we'll see in something new soon." (sic)
Viewers won't have to wait too long to see Kenny back on their screens. Earlier this summer, he revealed that he had been filming a new Channel 5 drama in Ireland titled The Au Pair, alongside acting legend David Suchet, best known for his role as the iconic TV detective Poirot.
Sally Bretton from Beyond Paradise will also star in the new series.
