ITV Vera’s future revealed as star Brenda Blethyn breaks silence on her return

ITV Vera's future has been revealed after star Brenda Blethyn broke her silence on her return.

The 77-year-old actress has played the titular detective since 2011, and was most recently seen on screen in the drama's first ever Christmas Special.

Vera fans won't have to wait long for another outing, as three new episodes in a 13th series will air from this month on ITV.

However, beyond that, the future of the show and a 14th series is unknown at the moment.

Brenda admitted: "At the moment there is nothing planned. But that’s not to say they’re not talking about it.

"There might be a winding up. I don’t know. Ann Cleeves is also writing her 11th Vera book, so, there’s also that to consider. But a whole series? I think not. We’ll see.”

Brenda's comments come after her co-star Kenny Doughty revealed he was leaving the show and his role as DS Aiden Healy.

The pair have worked together for seven series, and Brenda admitted his departure had made her consider her own future on the show.

She said: "After we filmed The Rising Tide at the end of 2022 I didn’t want to do anymore without Kenny Doughty, who had decided to leave.

"But I said, ‘I’ll think about it if you can see if David Leon is available to return as Joe Ashworth.’ And so they did and here I am.

"I was broken-hearted when David left after Series Four and equally overjoyed when I heard he was coming back as the relationship between Vera and Joe worked so well.

"They have all of that early history together. I wouldn’t have continued if David had not agreed to come back.

"I just didn’t want to start another board game with somebody else when I know I’m not going to do many more. And who would want to do it anyway?”

Vera returns on January 7, 2024 on ITV1.