Actress Brenda Blethyn has expressed her longing to shoot more episodes of her critically acclaimed drama Vera as she bids goodbye to the beloved series.

At 78, the leading lady of the popular ITV detective show has concluded her fourteenth and final season. The upcoming powerful tales, Inside and The Dark Wives, will unfold over two monumental feature-length instalments. These episodes promise to weave thrilling murder mysteries with deep emotional storylines, including a glimpse into Vera's own personal odyssey.

The latest series, shot across the scenic North East, will see the return of the formidable ensemble cast working closely with Brenda. The lineup features David Leon as DI Joe Ashworth, Jon Morrison as DC Kenny Lockhart, Riley Jones as DC Mark Edwards, Sarah Kameela Impey as Pathologist Dr Paula Bennett, and Rhiannon Clements as DC Steph Duncan.

Yet, with this marking Brenda's final outing, the actress has opened up about the bittersweet emotions of parting ways with her colleagues, reports Chronicle Live. She remarked: "It's sad saying goodbye to people in the cast and crew because they are so good, professional, and talented, and I love working with them.
The star has bid farewell to the popular show (
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ITV)

"I wish there could have been an episode where I stayed at home in Kent: 'Vera Goes South'. But, of course, the series is dyed in the wool Northumberland and the North East and I understand that's where it has to be."

Reflecting on her emotions while filming her last scenes, she shared: "It was very appropriate that the last day of filming was scheduled to take place in the police incident room where so much of the drama has happened.

"I think our producer Will Nicholson contrived that. (Incidentally, that is not where the final scene of the episode takes place). You could hear a pin drop when we were filming. Then when I heard, 'That's a wrap.' I was emotional. As, indeed, Vera would have been.
The new series will be back on screens in the new year (
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ITV)

"There were a lot of people behind the cameras and at the end I thanked everybody. I said, 'We're all as important as one another.' I might be the one playing the title character but it's only an ingredient in a great big pot. And all of the ingredients are necessary."

"Everyone contributes to it. And it's the sum of all of those parts that made Vera a success. And Vera will, of course, continue to crack crime in Ann Cleeves' books - and there will be 56 episodes available to watch on TV repeats," she concluded.

Vera airs on ITV1/STV at 8 pm on January 1 and 2, followed by the companion documentary Vera farewell pet, on January 3 at 9 pm.