Fans of the forthright detective Vera Stanhope can breathe a sigh of relief: her creator has no plans to kill her off in the final chapter of the beloved franchise. Best-selling novelist Ann Cleeves revealed that Vera will survive her twelfth and final book, which remains unnamed and is scheduled for release next year.
Ann Cleeves and Brenda Blethyn Share the Stage
Cleeves made a special appearance at the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, alongside actress Brenda Blethyn, who immortalised the cherished sleuth on television. During their exclusive conversation before the festival's finale last Sunday, Cleeves, aged 71, disclosed she has completed the manuscript for the ultimate Vera novel, which she hopes represents "a fitting way to end it."
She added: "I loved writing it. Brenda hasn't read it yet, so I'll be sending it to her as she's such a great reader."
Brenda Blethyn's Farewell and Vera's Survival
Brenda, 80, responded: "She'll still be there floating about, she's not dead, is she?" Ann confirmed: "No, I haven't killed her. I can tell you I haven't killed her." After 14 series, Brenda decided to step away from the role she proudly calls her most enjoyable on TV, to pursue other opportunities like Channel 4 drama A Woman of Substance and to spend more time at home with her husband Michael Mayhew, an art director.
Reflecting on her decision, she said: "It was a hard decision but even a few seasons before that I thought, 'I've really got to spend more time at home.' And I thought, 'Oh, I can't give it up. I can't! I'll just do another season'. But then it became obvious my home life needed me. So no regrets. I'm just so proud of it."
The Legacy of Vera
Ann, who also created the Shetland series adapted into a long-running BBC drama, says Brenda quickly became Vera, and when writing the novels, she hears her voice. The cast and crew, who spent six months at a time filming in the North East, became like a family. "I really miss it, that last couple of days on set was really moving and then the wrap party in St James' Park as well," says Ann.
She added: "The great thing about Vera is that it's changed the perception of the North East for some people, because before that, there was The Likely Lads, and When the Boat Comes In, and Catherine Cookson, and the North East seemed just sad and poor and miserable. And I can remember after the first series someone coming up to me and saying, 'It's so good that Vera shows we have nice houses up here in the North East!'"
Vera is available to stream on ITVX.
