Hollyoaks and Happy Valley stars join Vera season 13 in ITV cast shake-up

THE well-loved ITV series Vera is returning with Happy Valley actor and Hollyoaks star joining for series 13.

The crime drama has teased a first look confirming actress Brenda Blethyn will be reprising her role as Detective Chief Inspector Vera Stanhope.

But there will also be some new faces this season.

It has since been announced that Hollyoaks actress, Rhiannon Clements, would be replacing Jac as the new and ambitious DC Steph Duncan.

Rhiannon portrayed Summer Ranger on the Channel 4 soap.

Her character was arrested after her revenge plan against Brody (Adam Woodward) was ruined when he was fatally run over and she was accused of murdering him, when it was in fact Warren Fox (Jamie Lomas) who ran over Brody.

Happy Valley villain Amit Shah will also be making his Vera debut in the opening episode of series 13.

Amit portrayed murderous pharmacist Faisal Bhatti in the third and final series of the Sarah Lancashire drama.

He ended up killing his client Joanna Hepworth (Mollie Winnard) in harrowing scenes which led to his downfall.

ITV has teased how DCI Vera Stanhope and her investigative team will be called to a country lane in the first episode as a young man is found dead.

The victim, who is a popular market trader, appears to have been hit by a car as the investigation kicks off.

Meanwhile, Kenny Doughty shocked Vera fans earlier this year by announcing he was leaving the ITV series after eight years.

Fans suffered a further blow when it was revealed Ibinabo Jack, who played DC Jacqueline Williams, also decided to step down from the series to focus on theatre commitments.

The new series will consist of just three episodes, but ITV has said they will be ‘feature-length’.

When speaking about her return as the iconic detective, Brenda shared: “Stepping back into Vera’s shoes for the thirteenth series feels like coming home again.

“The support from the locals in the North East is truly heart-warming and reuniting with the talented David Leon and the rest of our exceptional team is an absolute delight.

“Together, we embark on this new chapter with a terrific script crafted by the brilliant Paul Matthew Thompson.”

Vera’s new series will return at the start of next year on ITV1 and ITVX.