Brenda Blethyn has announced she will depart the long-running ITV detective show Vera after 14 series.
The English actress will film a final series as the unorthodox trench coat wearing Detective Chief Inspector Vera Stanhope this summer.
“Working on Vera has been a joy from beginning to end and I’m sad to be saying ‘cheerio’. But I am so proud of our achievements over the last 14 years,” Blethyn, 78, said.
“I’ll be forever grateful to the wonderful Ann Cleeves who created Vera, and to Elaine Collins who saw fit to cast me in the role.
“The producers, dream cast and crew have been fabulous and I’m going to miss them, but I won’t forget their huge talent, the camaraderie, laughter or kindness we shared nor the friendship of the people of the North East and our fans worldwide. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
Blethyn has starred in the series since 2011. The final series is set to bring more stories of murder mysteries from the North East of England in the form of two 120-minute episodes.
Vera is one ITV Studios’ bestselling dramas, with viewers across Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
The drama is based on the Vera Stanhope novels written by Ann Cleeves, whose works have also been adapted into the TV shows Shetland and The Long Call. The series has had a positive impact on North East tourism and won the 2019 RTS North East and Border Awards.
Blethyn won the Rose d’Or Lifetime Achievement Award in 2021 for Vera.
Silverprint Pictures creative director Kate Bartlett has been an executive producer on many of the series since the show’s inception.
She said: “It is the end of an era and has been an extraordinary journey over 14 amazing series of Vera.
“So many wonderful and talented people have been involved in the making of Vera across all the series, but none of us would be here without two incredible women: firstly, the absolutely extraordinary talent of the inimitable Brenda Blethyn.
“She is brilliant as DCI Vera Stanhope, a truly iconic character of our times. And – of course – the amazing Ann Cleeves, author of the original novels and creator of DCI Vera Stanhope.
“We will all be very sad to say goodbye to Brenda and everyone involved in making the show.”
Blethyn is also known for her critically acclaimed film work, earning an Oscar nomination for her role in Secrets & Lies and picking up a Bafta and Golden Globe for the 1996 comedy drama.
She was given best supporting actress nods by the Academy Awards and Bafta for the musical Little Voice.
Blethyn has also earned Bafta nominations for 2004 family drama Belonging and 2005 period drama Pride and Prejudice.