Fans of the ITV drama Vera can breathe a sigh of relief: the beloved detective DCI Stanhope will not meet her end in the final novel of the series. Author Ann Cleeves has confirmed that she has not killed off the character, much to the delight of both readers and actress Brenda Blethyn, who portrayed Vera on screen.
Ann Cleeves reveals final Vera novel is complete
Ann Cleeves, the bestselling writer behind the Vera Stanhope books, has disclosed that she has finished writing the 12th and final novel in the series, which is set for publication next year. In an interview before appearing at the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, she revealed she has written the ending in what she hopes is "a fitting way to end it."
During the festival's closing event, Ann made a special guest appearance alongside Brenda Blethyn, who brought the detective to life on screen for 15 years. The pair delighted fans with their exchange about Vera's fate.
Brenda Blethyn and Ann Cleeves reassure fans
Brenda, 80, playfully asked: "She'll still be there floating about, she's not dead, is she?" to which Ann replied: "No, I haven't killed her. I can tell you I haven't killed her."
Ann also shared that she loved writing the final book, adding: "Brenda hasn't read it yet, so I'll be sending it to her as she's such a great reader."
Brenda Blethyn reflects on her time as Vera
Brenda recently expressed her enduring fondness for the ITV drama, telling Prima: "I don't mind still talking about Vera because I'm rather proud of her. I had to do the show for so long – it was 15 years if you count back to the pilot. She's like an old friend. I still take every opportunity to go back to Newcastle."
Despite her love for Vera, Brenda was thrilled to take on a glamorous new role in A Woman Of Substance, playing an older version of Emma Harte alongside Jessica Reynolds. She noted: "It was lovely to dress up in nice clothes for a change. The outfits were exquisite and very different to Vera's wardrobe, although a lot of her costumes were actually rather nice, it was just the way she wore them. I've kept quite a few of her blouses."
Brenda Blethyn's busy schedule and future plans
After wrapping up Vera and moving on to projects like Dragonfly and A Woman Of Substance, Brenda's plate remains full. As she approaches her 80th birthday in 2026, she shows no signs of slowing down.
Reflecting on her career, Brenda said: "I'm lucky to have been working all this time. In fact, when I was 65, I was thinking, 'Do I retire now? Maybe that's what I'm supposed to do?' And then Vera came along." She added: "Now I'm nearly 80 and I'm not thinking about retiring at all – though perhaps I will cut back a bit and spend more time at home."
Vera is available to stream on ITVX.
