Brenda Blethyn has confirmed that the next new series of Vera will be the last.
The detective drama has been a solid ratings performer for ITV since it debuted in 2011, regularly drawing between 6 and 9 million viewers.
Earlier this year the broadcaster commissioned a 14th series, comprising two two-hour episodes, and now it has been announced that it will serve as a swansong for DCI Stanhope.
"Working on Vera has been a joy from beginning to end and I'm sad to be saying Cheerio," Blethyn said in a statement. "But I am so proud of our achievements over the last fourteen years.
"I'll be forever grateful to the wonderful Ann Cleeves, who created Vera, and to Elaine Collins who saw fit to cast me in the role. The Producers, dream cast and crew have been fabulous and I'm going to miss them, but I won't forget their huge talent, the camaraderie, laughter or kindness we shared nor the friendship of the people of the north east and our fans worldwide. Thank you from the bottom of my heart."
Exec producer Kate Bartlett added: "It is the end of an era and has been an extraordinary journey over fourteen amazing series of Vera.
"So many wonderful and talented people have been involved in the making of Vera across all the series, but none of us would be here without two incredible women: firstly, the absolutely extraordinary talent of the inimitable Brenda Blethyn. She is brilliant as DCI Vera Stanhope, a truly iconic character of our times. And - of course - the amazing Ann Cleeves, author of the original novels and creator of DCI Vera Stanhope.
"We will all be very sad to say goodbye to Brenda and everyone involved in making the show."
The final two episodes will be filmed this summer and air on ITV in 2025.
Neil Wilkes
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