Vera star Brenda Blethyn has finally lifted the lid on the fate of her character as it draws to a close after 14 gripping series.
Amidst rampant speculation about the future for DI Vera Stanhope, especially following her reunion with ex-colleague DI Joe Ashworth (David Leon) and the unexpected departure of DS Aiden Healy (Kenny Doughty), Brenda has dropped hints about what's in store for the iconic detective.
As the curtain falls on the much-adored series, fans are left wondering if Vera will find her happy ending. At a BFI London event celebrating the show's conclusion, Brenda was probed about Vera's survival but remained tight-lipped, stating: "No comment. I'm not going to tell you."
Yet, she did tease that there's stormy weather ahead for Vera and Joe, reports Chronicle Live.
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Addressing the audience, Brenda said: "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."
In a twist, Vera is presented with a life-changing proposition from her superior - a promotion that could alter everything. Brenda hinted at the weight of this decision for her character, saying: "Vera's superior, the Chief Inspector, wants to promote her, and so it's a big decision for Vera to make.
Brenda revealed that she had considered hanging up her acting boots before being cast as Vera, saying: "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.
"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."
*The new and final series of Vera will air in early 2025.
