Vera (TV series)#Series 8 (2018)
{{short description|British crime drama television series (2011–2025)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox television
| image = Vera tv series titlecard.JPG
| alt = Series title and an image of the lead character
| genre = Crime drama
Mystery
| creator = Ann Cleeves
| based_on =
| developer =
| starring = {{Plainlist|
- Brenda Blethyn
- David Leon
- Jon Morrison
- Riley Jones
- Wunmi Mosaku
- Paul Ritter
- Cush Jumbo
- Sonya Cassidy
- Clare Calbraith
- Kingsley Ben-Adir
- Kenny Doughty
- Lisa Hammond
- Noof McEwan
- Christopher Colquhoun
- Steve Evets
- Ibinabo Jack
- Paul Kaye
- Sarah Kameela Impey
- Rhiannon Clements
- Shobna Gulati
- Marley Emma Sage
- Stevie Raine
}}
| composer = Ben Bartlett
| country = United Kingdom
| language = English
| num_series = 14
| num_episodes = 56
| list_episodes = List of Vera episodes
| executive_producer = Elaine Collins
Kate Bartlett
Kate Lewis
Myar Craig-Brown
Michael Dawson
Will Nicholson
Letitia Knight
| producer = Elaine Collins
Elwan Rowlands
Margaret Mitchell
Debbie Shewell
| location =
| runtime = 89–91 minutes
| company = ITV Studios (2011–2017)
Silverprint Pictures (2018–2025)
| network = ITV
| first_aired = {{Start date|2011|05|01|df=y}}
| last_aired = {{End date|2025|01|02|df=y}}
}}
Vera is a British crime drama television series based on the Vera Stanhope novels by Ann Cleeves. It ran on ITV for 14 years from 1 May 2011 to 2 January 2025 and starred Brenda Blethyn as the principal character, Detective Chief Inspector Vera Stanhope.
Premise
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.{{cite web |url=http://www.tv.com/shows/vera/|title=Vera|website=TV.com}}
Production
The series is filmed in Newcastle upon Tyne and throughout Northumberland, County Durham and North Yorkshire in North East England. Locations include Gateshead, South Shields, North Shields, Whitley Bay, Amble, Warkworth, Alnmouth, Bamburgh, and Holy Island.{{Cite web|url=https://www.getyourguide.com/en-au/newcastle-l444/northumberland-full-day-tour-of-vera-filming-locations-t395741/?visitor-id=36NQRSII88PIBVG95BLD8CHW2GFGR159&locale_autoredirect_optout=true|title=Northumberland: Full-Day Tour of Vera Filming Locations | GetYourGuide}} The farmhouse used for the exterior shots of Vera's home is located on the Snook, part of Holy Island at {{coord|55|41|10|N|001|50|29|W|type_landmark_region:GB}} or {{gbmapping|NU1006543635}}.{{citation|last=Hodgson|first=Barbara|title=Where does Vera live? Here's the location of the detective's house in the ITV drama|website=ChronicleLive|date=31 Jan 2020|access-date=27 Jan 2023|url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/tv/vera-live-heres-location-detectives-17665260}}
"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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.tvhelp.org.uk/audes/schedulebytime.php?date=120513|title=Schedule for Sunday 13th May}}
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.{{cite web|url=http://allthingslawandorder.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/itv-renews-law-order-uk.html|title=All Things Law And Order: ITV Renews Law & Order UK; Agyeman & Walter Not Returning|date=24 August 2012 }} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.itv.com/presscentre/press-releases/filming-commences-brenda-blethyn-returns-fifth-series-itv’s-popular-crime-drama-vera|title=Filming commences as Brenda Blethyn returns for a fifth series of ITV's popular crime drama Vera|publisher=itv.com}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R305JQbT4TA%7CTitle=ITV| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211118/R305JQbT4TA| archive-date=2021-11-18 | url-status=live|title=ITV Where Drama Lives Promo Winter 2015| website=YouTube| date=30 November 2015}}{{cbignore}}
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.{{cite web|url=http://thebritishtvplace.com/2015/03/vera-series-5-debuting-series-6-commissioned/|title=Vera: Series 5 Debuting, Series 6 Commissioned|publisher=The British TV Place}} Noof McEwan joined the cast following the departure of Cush Jumbo.{{cite web|url=http://www.anncleeves.com/vera/|title=TV's Vera Stanhope - from the books by Ann Cleeves|publisher=AnnCleeves.com}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/01/vera-itv-britbox-renewed-season-11-1202831059/|title=Vera Renewed For Series 11|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=15 January 2020 }} In March 2023, ITV announced that the show had been renewed for a thirteenth series, with filming commencing in mid-May. It aired in January 2024 and featured the return of Joe Ashworth, as well as former Hollyoaks actress Rhiannon Clements as DC Stephanie Duncan.{{cite news|url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/tv/rhiannon-clements-vera-cast-hollyoaks-26923687.amp|title=ITV Vera role for Hollyoaks villain Rhiannon Clements as cast 'shaken up' for new series|work=Chronicle Live|access-date=31 August 2023}}
The fourteenth and final series comprised the final two episodes and aired in January 2025.
Cast
- Brenda Blethyn as DCI Vera Stanhope (series 1–14)
- David Leon as DS (later DI) Joe Ashworth (series 1–4, 13–14)
- Jon Morrison as DC Kenny Lockhart (series 1–14){{Cite web|url=https://tvarchive2020.bradfordzone.co.uk/2020/01/01/vera-series-10-interview-with-jon-morrison-dc-kenny-lockhart/|title=Vera Series 10 | Interview with Jon Morrison (DC Kenny Lockhart)|date=1 January 2020|access-date=25 August 2020}}
- 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)
- Riley Jones as PC (later DC) Mark Edwards (series 3–14; guest series 1–2)
- Clare Calbraith as DC Rebecca Shepherd (series 3–4; guest series 2)
- 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 Impey as Dr. Paula Bennett (series 12–14)
- Rhiannon Clements as DC Stephanie Duncan (series 13–14)
- Shobna Gulati as Chief Superintendent Khalon (series 14)
- Marley Emma Sage as Young Vera Stanhope (series 14)
- Stevie Raine as Hector Stanhope (series 14)
Episodes
{{Main|List of Vera episodes}}
{{:List of Vera episodes}}
Home releases
Notes
{{Reflist|group="nb"}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|id=1693592|title=Vera}}
- {{epguides|Vera|Vera}}
{{Ann Cleeves}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vera (Tv Series)}}
Category:2011 British television series debuts
Category:2025 British television series endings
Category:2010s British crime drama television series
Category:2010s British mystery television series
Category:2020s British crime drama television series
Category:2020s British mystery television series
Category:British detective television series
Category:British English-language television shows
Category:ITV television dramas
Category:Television series by ITV Studios
Category:Television shows set in County Durham
Category:Television shows set in Newcastle upon Tyne