Vera (TV series)

British crime drama television series (2011–2025)

Vera

Genre| Crime drama
Mystery
Created by| Ann Cleeves
Starring|

* 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 of origin| United Kingdom
Original language| English
No. of series| 14
No. of episodes| 56 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers| Elaine Collins
Kate Bartlett
Kate Lewis
Myar Craig-Brown
Michael Dawson
Will Nicholson
Letitia Knight
Producers| Elaine Collins
Elwan Rowlands
Margaret Mitchell
Debbie Shewell
Running time| 89–91 minutes
Production companies| ITV Studios (2011–2017)
Silverprint Pictures (2018–2025)
Original release
Network| ITV
Release| 1 May 2011 (2011-05-01) –
2 January 2025 (2025-01-02)

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

[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, 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.[2] The farmhouse used for the exterior shots of Vera's home is located on the Snook, part of Holy Island at 55°41′10″N 001°50′29″W﻿ / ﻿55.68611°N 1.84139°W﻿ / 55.68611; -1.84139 or grid reference NU1006543635.[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 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.[8] Noof McEwan joined the cast following the departure of Cush Jumbo.[9] 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.[10] 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.[11]

The fourteenth and final series comprised the final two episodes and aired in January 2025.

## Cast

[edit]

* 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)[12]
* 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

[edit]

Main article: List of Vera episodes

Series| Episodes| Originally released| Average UK viewers
(millions)

|
|
|

First released| Last released
1| 4| 1 May 2011 (2011-05-01)| 22 May 2011 (2011-05-22)| 6.60
2| 4| 22 April 2012 (2012-04-22)| 3 June 2012 (2012-06-03)| 6.37
3| 4| 25 August 2013 (2013-08-25)| 15 September 2013 (2013-09-15)| 6.53
4| 4| 27 April 2014 (2014-04-27)| 18 May 2014 (2014-05-18)| 6.42
5| 4| 5 April 2015 (2015-04-05)| 26 April 2015 (2015-04-26)| 6.19
6| 4| 31 January 2016 (2016-01-31)| 21 February 2016 (2016-02-21)| 7.88
7| 4| 19 March 2017 (2017-03-19)| 9 April 2017 (2017-04-09)| 8.07
8| 4| 7 January 2018 (2018-01-07)| 28 January 2018 (2018-01-28)| 9.03
9| 4| 13 January 2019 (2019-01-13)| 3 February 2019 (2019-02-03)| 8.48
10| 4| 12 January 2020 (2020-01-12)| 2 February 2020 (2020-02-02)| 8.30
11| 6| 29 August 2021 (2021-08-29)| 22 January 2023 (2023-01-22)| 6.97
12| 5| 4| 29 January 2023 (2023-01-29)| 19 February 2023 (2023-02-19)| 6.02
1| 26 December 2023 (2023-12-26)| 5.71
13| 3| 7 January 2024 (2024-01-07)| 21 January 2024 (2024-01-21)| 6.66
14| 2| 1 January 2025 (2025-01-01)[13]| 2 January 2025 (2025-01-02)| 6.24
Special| 3 January 2025 (2025-01-03)[14]| 3.11

## Home releases

[edit]

Series  | Format  | Release date

|
|

Region 1 | Region 2
(UK)  | Region 2
(Germany)  | Region 4/B
1 | DVD
(individual
series sets)  | 30 August 2011[15] | 23 May 2011[16] | 4 April 2014[17] | 9 August 2012[18]
2 | 6 November 2012[19] | 21 May 2012[20] | 24 July 2015[21] | 3 December 2014[22]
3 | 28 January 2014[23] | 16 September 2013[24] | 4 September 2015[25] | 3 December 2014[26]
4 | 28 October 2014[27] | 19 May 2014[28] | 19 February 2016[29] | 3 December 2014[30]
5 | 22 September 2015[31] | 11 May 2015[32] | 3 February 2017[33] | 9 September 2015[34]
6 | 28 June 2016[35] | 7 March 2016[36] | 2 February 2018[37] | 13 April 2016[38]
7 | 24 October 2017[39] | 17 April 2017[40] | 7 May 2018[41] | 13 September 2017[42]
8 | 4 December 2018[43] | 26 February 2018[44] | 27 September 2019[45] | 8 May 2019[46]
9 | 7 January 2020[47] | 25 February 2019[48] | 14 February 2020[49] | 5 August 2020[50]
10 | 5 January 2021[51] | 2 March 2020[52] | TBA  | 4 November 2020[53]
11 | TBA  | 27 February 2023[nb 1][57] | TBA  | 31 August 2022[58]
12 | TBA  | 20 March 2023[59] | TBA  | 17 April 2024[60]
13 | TBA  | 26 February 2024[61] | TBA  | 11 September 2024[62]
14 | TBA  | 10 February 2025[63] | TBA  | TBA
1–2 | DVD
(multiple
series sets)  | No release  | 13 August 2012[64] | No release  | No release
1–3 | No release  | 16 September 2013[65] | 29 January 2021[66] | No release
1–4 | No release  | 25 August 2014[67] | No release  | No release
1–5 | No release  | 5 October 2015[68] | No release  | 9 September 2015[69]
1–6 | No release  | No release  | No release  | 14 September 2016[70][nb 2]
4–6 | No release  | No release  | 30 September 2022[72] | No release
1–7 | 23 October 2018[73] | No release  | No release  | 13 September 2017[74]
1–8 | No release  | 19 March 2018[75] | No release  | 8 May 2019[76]
1–9 | No release  | 25 February 2019[77] | No release  | 5 August 2020[78]
7–9 | No release  | No release  | No release  | 6 December 2023[79]
1–10 | No release  | 9 March 2020[80] | No release  | 4 November 2020[81]
1–11 | No release  | 27 February 2023[82] | No release  | 31 August 2022[83]
1–13 | No release  | 26 February 2024[84] | No release  | No release
1–14 | No release  | 10 February 2025[85] | No release  | TBA
1–6 | Blu-ray | No release  | No release  | No release  | 29 April 2025[86]

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ The eleventh series was split into three individual sets in the UK: Episodes 1 and 2 were released on 27 September 2021,[54] Episodes 3 and 4 were released on 31 January 2022,[55] while Episodes 5 and 6 were released on 27 February 2023,[56] on the same day the complete eleventh series was made available.
2. ^ A re-release set of Series 1–6 was released on 27 September 2023,[71] which was followed by a first-ever release of a Series 7–9 set in December 2023.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Vera". TV.com.
2. ^ "Northumberland: Full-Day Tour of Vera Filming Locations | GetYourGuide".
3. ^ Hodgson, Barbara (31 January 2020), "Where does Vera live? Here's the location of the detective's house in the ITV drama", ChronicleLive, retrieved 27 January 2023
4. ^ "Schedule for Sunday 13th May".
5. ^ "All Things Law And Order: ITV Renews Law & Order UK; Agyeman & Walter Not Returning". 24 August 2012.
6. ^ "Filming commences as Brenda Blethyn returns for a fifth series of ITV's popular crime drama Vera". itv.com.
7. ^ "ITV Where Drama Lives Promo Winter 2015". YouTube. 30 November 2015. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021.
8. ^ "Vera: Series 5 Debuting, Series 6 Commissioned". The British TV Place.
9. ^ "TV's Vera Stanhope - from the books by Ann Cleeves". AnnCleeves.com.
10. ^ "Vera Renewed For Series 11". Deadline Hollywood. 15 January 2020.
11. ^ "ITV Vera role for Hollyoaks villain Rhiannon Clements as cast 'shaken up' for new series". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
12. ^ "Vera Series 10 | Interview with Jon Morrison (DC Kenny Lockhart)". 1 January 2020. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
13. ^ "Vera final series plot details 'leaked' by ITV as show set for dramatic climax". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
14. ^ "Vera gets ITV spin-off as 'sooner than expected' final series confirmed". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
15. ^ "Vera DVD". blu-ray.com. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
16. ^ "Vera - Series 1 [DVD]". amazon.co.uk. 23 May 2011. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
17. ^ "Vera: Ein ganz spezieller Fall - Staffel 1 [4 DVDs]". amazon.de. 4 April 2014. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
18. ^ "Vera Series 1". booktopia.com.au. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
19. ^ "Vera: Set 2 DVD". blu-ray.com. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
20. ^ "Vera: Series 2 [DVD] [2012]". amazon.co.uk. 21 May 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
21. ^ "Vera: Ein ganz spezieller Fall - Staffel 2 [4 DVDs]". amazon.de. 24 July 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
22. ^ "Vera Series 2". booktopia.com.au. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
23. ^ "Vera: Set 3 DVD". blu-ray.com. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
24. ^ "Vera - Series 3 [DVD]". amazon.co.uk. 16 September 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
25. ^ "Vera: Ein ganz spezieller Fall - Staffel 3 [4 DVDs]". amazon.de. 4 September 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
26. ^ "Vera Series 3". booktopia.com.au. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
27. ^ "Vera: Set 4 DVD". blu-ray.com. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
28. ^ "Vera - Series 4 [DVD]". amazon.co.uk. 19 May 2014. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
29. ^ "Vera: Ein ganz spezieller Fall - Staffel 4 [4 DVDs]". amazon.de. 19 February 2016. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
30. ^ "Vera Series 4". booktopia.com.au. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
31. ^ "Vera: Set 5 DVD". blu-ray.com. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
32. ^ "Vera - Series 5 [DVD]". amazon.co.uk. 11 May 2015. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
33. ^ "Vera: Ein ganz spezieller Fall - Staffel 5 [4 DVDs]". amazon.de. 3 February 2017. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
34. ^ "Vera Series 5". booktopia.com.au. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
35. ^ "Vera: Set 6 DVD". blu-ray.com. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
36. ^ "Vera: Series 6 [DVD]". amazon.co.uk. 7 March 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
37. ^ "Vera: Ein ganz spezieller Fall/Staffel 6 [4 DVDs]". amazon.de. 2 February 2018. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
38. ^ "Vera Series 6". booktopia.com.au. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
39. ^ "Vera: Set 7 [DVD]". bestbuy.com. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
40. ^ "Vera - Series 7 [DVD] [2017]". amazon.co.uk. 17 April 2017. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
41. ^ "Vera: Ein ganz spezieller Fall/Staffel 7 [4 DVDs]". amazon.de. 7 May 2018. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
42. ^ "Vera Series 7". booktopia.com.au. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
43. ^ "Vera: Season Eight [DVD]". bestbuy.com. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
44. ^ "Vera - Series 8 [DVD] [2018]". amazon.co.uk. 26 February 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
45. ^ "Vera - Ein ganz spezieller Fall / Staffel 8 [4 DVDs]". amazon.de. 27 September 2019. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
46. ^ "Vera Series 8". booktopia.com.au. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
47. ^ "Vera: Set 9 [DVD]". bestbuy.com. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
48. ^ "Vera Series 9 [DVD] [2019]". amazon.co.uk. 25 February 2019. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
49. ^ "Vera - Ein ganz spezieller Fall - Staffel 9 [4 DVDs]". amazon.de. 14 February 2020. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
50. ^ "Vera Series 9". booktopia.com.au. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
51. ^ "Vera: Set 10 [DVD]". bestbuy.com. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
52. ^ "Vera Series 10 [DVD] [2020]". amazon.co.uk. 2 March 2020. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
53. ^ "Vera Series 10". booktopia.com.au. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
54. ^ "Vera: Series 11 (Eps 1 & 2) [DVD] [2021]". amazon.co.uk. 27 September 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
55. ^ "Vera: Series 11 (Eps 3 & 4) [DVD] [2022]". amazon.co.uk. 31 January 2022. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
56. ^ "Vera: Series 11 (Eps 5 & 6) [DVD]". amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
57. ^ "Vera: Series 11 (Eps 1-6)". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
58. ^ "Vera - Series 11". JB Hi-Fi. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
59. ^ "Vera: Series 12 (Eps 1-4)". amazon.co.uk. 20 March 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
60. ^ "Vera - Series 12 DVD". sanity.com.au. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
61. ^ "Vera: Series 13 (inc. Christmas Special) [DVD]". amazon.co.uk. 26 February 2024. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
62. ^ "Vera - Series 13 DVD". sanity.com.au. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
63. ^ "Vera: Series 14". amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 7 March 2025.
64. ^ "Vera Series 1-2 [DVD]". amazon.co.uk. 13 August 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
65. ^ "Vera: Complete Series 1-3 DVD". blu-ray.com. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
66. ^ "Vera: Ein ganz spezieller Fall - Sammelbox 1 [12 DVDs]". amazon.de. 29 January 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
67. ^ "Vera - Complete Series 1-4 [DVD]". amazon.co.uk. 25 August 2014. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
68. ^ "Vera Complete - Series 1-5 [DVD] [2015]". amazon.co.uk. 5 October 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
69. ^ "Vera Series 1 - 5". booktopia.com.au. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
70. ^ "Vera Series 1 - 6". booktopia.com.au. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
71. ^ "Vera - Series 1-6 Boxset DVD". sanity.com.au. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
72. ^ "Vera: ein ganz spezieller Fall - Sammelbox 2 (Staffel 4-6) [12 DVDs]". amazon.de. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
73. ^ "Vera DVD". blu-ray.com. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
74. ^ "Vera: Series 1 - 7 (DVD)". Ezy DVD. Archived from the original on 1 August 2017. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
75. ^ "Vera Series 1-8 [DVD]". amazon.co.uk. 19 March 2018. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
76. ^ "Vera Series 1 - 8". booktopia.com.au. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
77. ^ "Vera Series 1-9 [DVD] [2018]". amazon.co.uk. 25 February 2019. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
78. ^ "Vera: Series 1 - 9 (DVD)". Ezy DVD. Archived from the original on 11 July 2020. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
79. ^ "Vera - Series 7-9 Boxset DVD". sanity.com.au. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
80. ^ "Vera Series 1 - 10 [DVD] [2020]". amazon.co.uk. 9 March 2020. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
81. ^ "Vera Series 1 - 10". booktopia.com.au. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
82. ^ "Vera - Series 1-11 [DVD]". amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
83. ^ "Vera - Series 1-11". JB Hi-Fi. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
84. ^ "Vera: Series 1-13 [DVD]". amazon.co.uk. 26 February 2024. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
85. ^ "Vera: Series 1-14". amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 7 March 2025.
86. ^ "Vera: Series 1 – 6 – Limited Edition Blu-ray". viavision.com.au. Retrieved 7 March 2025.

## External links

[edit]

* Vera at IMDb
* Vera at epguides.com

* v
* t
* e

Ann Cleeves

TV series|

* Vera (2011–2025)
* episodes
* Shetland (2013–present)
* The Long Call (2021)

Novels|

* Raven Black (2006)

* Category

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