Vera (TV series)

Last updated

Vera
Vera tv series titlecard.JPG
GenreCrime drama
Mystery
Created by Ann Cleeves
Starring
Composer Ben Bartlett
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series13
No. of episodes54 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers Elaine Collins
Kate Bartlett
Kate Lewis
Myar Craig-Brown
Michael Dawson
Will Nicholson
Letitia Knight
ProducersElaine Collins
Elwan Rowlands
Margaret Mitchell
Debbie Shewell
Running time89-91 minutes
Production companies ITV Studios (2011–2017)
Silverprint Pictures (2018–2025)
Original release
Network ITV
Release1 May 2011 (2011-05-01) 
present

Vera is a British crime drama television series based on the Vera Stanhope series of novels by Ann Cleeves. First broadcast on ITV on 1 May 2011, it stars Brenda Blethyn as the principal character, Detective Chief Inspector Vera Stanhope. In January 2024, it was confirmed that the show has been renewed for a fourteenth series. [1] It was then announced that the series, to air in early 2025, would be the show's last. [2]

Contents

Premise

Vera is a nearly retired detective chief inspector of the fictional Northumberland & City Police, who is obsessive about her work. She plods along in a dishevelled state but has a calculating mind and despite her irascible personality, she cares deeply about her work and colleagues. She often proves her superior skills by picking up small errors in her team members' thought processes. Vera forms a close relationship with sergeants Joe Ashworth and Aiden Healy. [3]

Production

The series is filmed in Newcastle upon Tyne and throughout Northumberland, County Durham and North Yorkshire in North East England. Locations include Gateshead, South Shields, North Shields, Whitley Bay, Amble, Warkworth, Alnmouth, Bamburgh, and Holy Island. [4] The farmhouse used for the exterior shots of Vera's home is located on the Snook, part of Holy Island at 55°41′10″N001°50′29″W / 55.68611°N 1.84139°W / 55.68611; -1.84139 or grid reference NU1006543635 . [5]

"Hidden Depths", "Telling Tales" and "The Crow Trap" from the first series, as well as "Silent Voices" from the second series, are based on novels of the same names by Ann Cleeves. The episode "Sand Dancers" from the second series was due to be broadcast on 13 May 2012. However, the episode was pulled from the schedule as its storyline was about a soldier's death in Afghanistan and it coincided with news of two servicemen dying there. [6]

In August 2012, Vera was renewed for a third series of four episodes, with both Brenda Blethyn and David Leon confirmed as returning for the new series. [7] On 5 June 2014, ITV announced that a fifth series had been commissioned but that David Leon would not be returning. Kenny Doughty was unveiled as his successor. Letitia Knight was announced as executive producer for this series. [8] Cush Jumbo returned to the main cast following her two-episode guest stint in series two, while Lisa Hammond joined the cast as newcomer Helen Milton. [9]

In March 2015, ITV announced that the show had been renewed for a sixth series, with filming commencing in June. The third episode was announced to be an adaptation of the novel The Moth Catcher, which was set to be published in September 2015. [10] Noof McEwan joined the cast following the departure of Cush Jumbo. [11] On 14 January 2020, while attending the TCA Press Tour, Blethyn confirmed that Vera was renewed for an eleventh series. Production for series 11 began in April 2020 and new episodes began airing in 2021. [12] In March 2023, ITV had announced that the thirteenth series was renewed with filming commenced in mid-May. It will feature former Hollyoaks actress Rhiannon Clements as DC Stephanie Duncan. [13]

Cast

Episodes

SeriesEpisodesOriginally airedAverage UK viewers
(millions)
First airedLast aired
1 41 May 2011 (2011-05-01)22 May 2011 (2011-05-22)6.60
2 422 April 2012 (2012-04-22)3 June 2012 (2012-06-03)6.37
3 425 August 2013 (2013-08-25)15 September 2013 (2013-09-15)6.53
4 427 April 2014 (2014-04-27)18 May 2014 (2014-05-18)6.42
5 45 April 2015 (2015-04-05)26 April 2015 (2015-04-26)6.19
6 431 January 2016 (2016-01-31)21 February 2016 (2016-02-21)7.88
7 419 March 2017 (2017-03-19)9 April 2017 (2017-04-09)8.07
8 47 January 2018 (2018-01-07)28 January 2018 (2018-01-28)9.03
9 413 January 2019 (2019-01-13)3 February 2019 (2019-02-03)8.48
10 412 January 2020 (2020-01-12)2 February 2020 (2020-02-02)8.30
11 629 August 2021 (2021-08-29)22 January 2023 (2023-01-22)6.97
12 5429 January 2023 (2023-01-29)19 February 2023 (2023-02-19)6.02
126 December 2023 (2023-12-26)5.71
13 37 January 2024 (2024-01-07)21 January 2024 (2024-01-21)6.66
14 2 [15] 2025 (2025)2025 (2025)TBA

Home releases

SeriesRelease date
Region 1 Region 2
(UK)
Region 2
(Germany)
Region 4
130 August 2011 [16] 23 May 2011 [17] 4 April 2014 [18] 9 August 2012 [19]
26 November 2012 [20] 21 May 2012 [21] 24 July 2015 [22] 3 December 2014 [23]
328 January 2014 [24] 16 September 2013 [25] 4 September 2015 [26] 3 December 2014 [27]
428 October 2014 [28] 19 May 2014 [29] 19 February 2016 [30] 3 December 2014 [31]
522 September 2015 [32] 11 May 2015 [33] 3 February 2017 [34] 9 September 2015 [35]
628 June 2016 [36] 7 March 2016 [37] 2 February 2018 [38] 13 April 2016 [39]
724 October 2017 [40] 17 April 2017 [41] 7 May 2018 [42] 13 September 2017 [43]
84 December 2018 [44] 26 February 2018 [45] 27 September 2019 [46] 8 May 2019 [47]
97 January 2020 [48] 25 February 2019 [49] 14 February 2020 [50] 5 August 2020 [51]
105 January 2021 [52] 2 March 2020 [53] TBA4 November 2020 [54]
11TBA27 February 2023 [nb 1] [58] TBA31 August 2022 [59]
12TBA20 March 2023 [60] TBATBA
Multiple sets
1–2No release13 August 2012 [61] No releaseNo release
1–3No release16 September 2013 [62] 29 January 2021 [63] No release
1–4No release25 August 2014 [64] No releaseNo release
1–5No release5 October 2015 [65] No release9 September 2015 [66]
1–6No releaseNo releaseNo release14 September 2016 [67]
1–723 October 2018 [68] No releaseNo release13 September 2017 [69]
1–8No release19 March 2018 [70] No release8 May 2019 [71]
1–9No release25 February 2019 [72] No release5 August 2020 [73]
1–10No release9 March 2020 [74] No release4 November 2020 [75]
1–11No release27 February 2023 [76] No release31 August 2022 [77]

Notes

  1. The eleventh series was split into three individual sets in the UK: Episodes 1 and 2 were released on 27 September 2021, [55] Episodes 3 and 4 were released on 31 January 2022, [56] while Episodes 5 and 6 were released on 27 February 2023, [57] on the same day the complete eleven series was made available.

Related Research Articles

<i>Birds of a Feather</i> (TV series) British television sitcom

Birds of a Feather is a British sitcom originally broadcast on BBC One from 16 October 1989 to 24 December 1998, then revived on ITV from 2 January 2014 to 24 December 2020. The series stars Pauline Quirke and Linda Robson, with Lesley Joseph. It was created by Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran, who also wrote many of the episodes.

<i>Foyles War</i> British television detective series (2002–2015)

Foyle's War is a British detective drama television series set during and shortly after the Second World War, created by Midsomer Murders screenwriter and author Anthony Horowitz and commissioned by ITV after the long-running series Inspector Morse ended in 2000. It began broadcasting on ITV in October 2002. ITV director of programmes Simon Shaps cancelled Foyle's War in 2007, but Peter Fincham revived the programme after good ratings for 2008's fifth series. The final episode was broadcast on 18 January 2015, after eight series.

<i>Bless This House</i> (British TV series) British TV sitcom (1971–1976)

Bless This House is a British sitcom that aired on ITV from 2 February 1971 to 22 April 1976, with a total of 65 episodes. Starring Sid James and Diana Coupland, it was created by Vince Powell and Harry Driver, but mainly written by other hands including Dave Freeman and Carla Lane. It was made for the ITV network by Thames Television. In 2004, Bless This House was ranked by a BBC poll as the 67th Best British Sitcom.

<i>Ballykissangel</i> British television drama series (1996–2001)

Ballykissangel is a BBC television drama created by Kieran Prendiville and set in Ireland, produced in-house by BBC Northern Ireland. The original story revolved around a young English Roman Catholic priest as he became part of a rural community. It ran for six series, which were first broadcast on BBC One in the United Kingdom from 1996 to 2001. It aired in Ireland on RTÉ One and in Australia on ABC TV from 1996 to 2001. Repeats have been shown on Drama in the United Kingdom and in the United States on some PBS affiliates.

<i>Bad Girls</i> (TV series) TV series set in a womens prison

Bad Girls is a British television drama series that was broadcast on ITV from 1 June 1999 until 20 December 2006. It was created by Maureen Chadwick and Ann McManus of Shed Productions, who initiated the idea of developing a series primarily focusing on the inmates and staff of the fictional women's prison, Larkhall, located in the South London region. Following the success of previous series Within These Walls and the Australian-imported Prisoner: Cell Block H, both of which screened on ITV, Bad Girls was commissioned by the network and was viewed as a realistic, modern portrayal of life in a women's prison. The series featured a large ensemble cast, including Linda Henry, Claire King, Simone Lahbib, Mandana Jones, Debra Stephenson, Jack Ellis, Alicya Eyo, Helen Fraser, Kika Mirylees, Victoria Alcock, James Gaddas, Victoria Bush, Dannielle Brent and Liz May Brice.

<i>At Home with the Braithwaites</i> British TV series or programme

At Home with the Braithwaites is a British comedy-drama television series, created and written by Sally Wainwright. The storyline follows a suburban family in Leeds, whose life is turned upside down when the mother of the family wins £38 million on the lottery. It was broadcast on ITV and produced by Yorkshire Television for 26 episodes, from 20 January 2000 to 9 April 2003.

<i>The Land Before Time</i> (TV series) American TV series or program

The Land Before Time is an American animated musical television series, based on The Land Before Time film series created by Judy Freudberg and Tony Geiss. It was developed for television by Ford Riley for Cartoon Network and was produced by Universal Animation Studios and Amblin Entertainment, and animated by Wang Film Productions in Taiwan and Toon City in the Philippines. It premiered on YTV in Canada for a test on January 5, 2007 and premiered on Cartoon Network in the United States on March 5.

<i>Murdoch Mysteries</i> Canadian television series

Murdoch Mysteries is a Canadian television drama series that premiered on Citytv on January 20, 2008, and currently airs on CBC. The series is based on characters from the Detective Murdoch novels by Maureen Jennings and stars Yannick Bisson as William Murdoch, a police detective working in Toronto, Ontario in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The series was titled The Artful Detective on the Ovation cable TV network in the United States, until season twelve.

<i>McLeods Daughters</i> season 8 Season of television series

The eighth and final season of the long-running Australian outback drama McLeod's Daughters began airing on 23 July 2008 and concluded on 31 January 2009 with a total of 22 episodes.

<i>Wentworth</i> (TV series) Australian television series

Wentworth is an Australian television drama series. It was first broadcast on SoHo on 1 May 2013, and it concluded on Fox Showcase with its 100th episode on 26 October 2021. The series serves as a contemporary reimagining of Prisoner, which ran on Network Ten from 1979 to 1986. Lara Radulovich and David Hannam developed Wentworth from Reg Watson's original concept. The series is set in the modern day and initially focuses on Bea Smith's early days in prison and her subsequent rise to the top of the prison's hierarchy. From the fifth season onward, the series shifted to emphasize more of an ensemble format.

<i>Wentworth</i> season 1 Season of television series

The first season of the crime drama television series Wentworth originally aired on SoHo in Australia. The season consisted of 10 episodes and aired between 1 May and 3 July 2013. It was executively produced by FremantleMedia's director of drama Jo Porter. The series is a remake of Prisoner, which aired on Network Ten from 1979 to 1986. Lara Radulovich and David Hannam developed Wentworth from Reg Watson's original concept. The season was shot over four months from 10 October 2012.

<i>Prisoner</i> season 1 Season of television series

The first season of Australian drama television series Prisoner premiered on the then-known 0-10 Network on 26 February 1979 in Sydney and 27 February 1979 in Melbourne. The season contains 79 episodes and concluded on 28 November 1979.

The History of Warfare is a 3660-minute documentary series about the most famous wars and battles in world history focusing primarily on the military annals of Great Britain.

<i>The Durrells</i> British comedy-drama series

The Durrells is a British comedy-drama television series loosely based on Gerald Durrell's three autobiographical books about his family's four years (1935–1939) on the Greek island of Corfu. It aired on ITV from 3 April 2016 to 12 May 2019. The series is written by Simon Nye, directed by Steve Barron and Roger Goldby, and produced by Christopher Hall. Lee Durrell, Gerald Durrell's widow and director of the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, acted as consultant. The series was partly filmed on location in Corfu, as well as at Ealing Studios and Twickenham Studios in London.

<i>Prisoner</i> season 2 Season of television series

The second season of Australian drama television series Prisoner premiered on Network Ten on 22 January 1980. It consists of 86 episodes and concluded on 12 November 1980.

<i>Prisoner</i> season 3 Australian drama television series

The third season of Australian drama television series Prisoner premiered on Network Ten on 4 February 1981. It consists of 81 episodes and concluded on 11 November 1981.

References

  1. "Vera to return for 2 more episodes, ITV confirms". Radio Times. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  2. "TV legend, 78, quits acclaimed ITV drama after 13 years". Metro. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  3. "Vera". TV.com.
  4. "Northumberland: Full-Day Tour of Vera Filming Locations | GetYourGuide".
  5. Hodgson, Barbara (31 January 2020), "Where does Vera live? Here's the location of the detective's house in the ITV drama", ChronicleLive, retrieved 27 January 2023
  6. "Schedule for Sunday 13th May".
  7. "All Things Law And Order: ITV Renews Law & Order UK; Agyeman & Walter Not Returning". 24 August 2012.
  8. "Filming commences as Brenda Blethyn returns for a fifth series of ITV's popular crime drama Vera". itv.com.
  9. "ITV Where Drama Lives Promo Winter 2015". YouTube . Archived from the original on 18 November 2021.
  10. "Vera: Series 5 Debuting, Series 6 Commissioned". The British TV Place.
  11. "TV's Vera Stanhope - from the books by Ann Cleeves". AnnCleeves.com.
  12. "Vera Renewed For Series 11". Deadline.com. 15 January 2020.
  13. "ITV Vera role for Hollyoaks villain Rhiannon Clements as cast 'shaken up' for new series". Chronicle Live . Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  14. "Vera Series 10 | Interview with Jon Morrison (DC Kenny Lockhart)". 1 January 2020. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  15. "Vera season 14: Release date speculation and latest news". RadioTimes. 22 January 2024. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  16. "Vera DVD". blu-ray.com. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  17. "Vera - Series 1 [DVD]". amazon.co.uk. 23 May 2011. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  18. "Vera: Ein ganz spezieller Fall - Staffel 1 [4 DVDs]". amazon.de. 4 April 2014. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  19. Vera Series 1 . Retrieved 21 August 2022.{{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  20. "Vera: Set 2 DVD". blu-ray.com. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  21. "Vera: Series 2 [DVD][2012]". amazon.co.uk. 21 May 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  22. "Vera: Ein ganz spezieller Fall - Staffel 2 [4 DVDs]". amazon.de. 24 July 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  23. Vera Series 2 . Retrieved 21 August 2022.{{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  24. "Vera: Set 3 DVD". blu-ray.com. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  25. "Vera - Series 3 [DVD]". amazon.co.uk. 16 September 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  26. "Vera: Ein ganz spezieller Fall - Staffel 3 [4 DVDs]". amazon.de. 4 September 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  27. "Vera Series 3". booktopia.com.au. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  28. "Vera: Set 4 DVD". blu-ray.com. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  29. "Vera - Series 4 [DVD]". amazon.co.uk. 19 May 2014. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  30. "Vera: Ein ganz spezieller Fall - Staffel 4 [4 DVDs]". amazon.de. 19 February 2016. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  31. "Vera Series 4". booktopia.com.au. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  32. "Vera: Set 5 DVD". blu-ray.com. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  33. "Vera - Series 5 [DVD]". amazon.co.uk. 11 May 2015. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  34. "Vera: Ein ganz spezieller Fall - Staffel 5 [4 DVDs]". amazon.de. 3 February 2017. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  35. "Vera Series 5". booktopia.com.au. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  36. "Vera: Set 6 DVD". blu-ray.com. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  37. "Vera: Series 6 [DVD]". amazon.co.uk. 7 March 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  38. "Vera: Ein ganz spezieller Fall/Staffel 6 [4 DVDs]". amazon.de. 2 February 2018. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  39. "Vera Series 6". booktopia.com.au. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  40. "Vera: Set 7 [DVD]". bestbuy.com . Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  41. "Vera - Series 7 [DVD][2017]". amazon.co.uk. 17 April 2017. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  42. "Vera: Ein ganz spezieller Fall/Staffel 7 [4 DVDs]". amazon.de. 7 May 2018. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  43. "Vera Series 7". booktopia.com.au. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  44. "Vera: Season Eight [DVD]". bestbuy.com . Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  45. "Vera - Series 8 [DVD][2018]". amazon.co.uk. 26 February 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  46. "Vera - Ein ganz spezieller Fall / Staffel 8 [4 DVDs]". amazon.de. 27 September 2019. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  47. "Vera Series 8". booktopia.com.au. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  48. "Vera: Set 9 [DVD]". bestbuy.com . Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  49. "Vera Series 9 [DVD][2019]". amazon.co.uk. 25 February 2019. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  50. "Vera - Ein ganz spezieller Fall - Staffel 9 [4 DVDs]". amazon.de. 14 February 2020. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  51. "Vera Series 9". booktopia.com.au. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  52. "Vera: Set 10 [DVD]". bestbuy.com . Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  53. "Vera Series 10 [DVD][2020]". amazon.co.uk. 2 March 2020. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  54. "Vera Series 10". booktopia.com.au. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  55. "Vera: Series 11 (Eps 1 & 2) [DVD][2021]". amazon.co.uk. 27 September 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  56. "Vera: Series 11 (Eps 3 & 4) [DVD][2022]". amazon.co.uk. 31 January 2022. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  57. "Vera: Series 11 (Eps 5 & 6) [DVD]". amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  58. "Vera: Series 11 (Eps 1-6)". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  59. "Vera - Series 11". JB Hi-Fi . Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  60. "Vera: Series 12 (Eps 1-4)". amazon.co.uk. 20 March 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  61. "Vera Series 1-2 [DVD]". amazon.co.uk. 13 August 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  62. "Vera: Complete Series 1-3 DVD". blu-ray.com. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  63. "Vera: Ein ganz spezieller Fall - Sammelbox 1 [12 DVDs]". amazon.de. 29 January 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  64. "Vera - Complete Series 1-4 [DVD]". amazon.co.uk. 25 August 2014. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  65. "Vera Complete - Series 1-5 [DVD][2015]". amazon.co.uk. 5 October 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  66. "Vera Series 1 - 5". booktopia.com.au. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  67. "Vera Series 1 - 6". booktopia.com.au. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  68. "Vera DVD". blu-ray.com. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  69. "Vera: Series 1 - 7 (DVD)". Ezy DVD . Archived from the original on 1 August 2017. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  70. "Vera Series 1-8 [DVD]". amazon.co.uk. 19 March 2018. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  71. "Vera Series 1 - 8". booktopia.com.au. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  72. "Vera Series 1-9 [DVD][2018]". amazon.co.uk. 25 February 2019. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  73. "Vera: Series 1 - 9 (DVD)". Ezy DVD . Archived from the original on 11 July 2020. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  74. "Vera Series 1 - 10 [DVD][2020]". amazon.co.uk. 9 March 2020. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  75. "Vera Series 1 - 10". booktopia.com.au. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  76. "Vera - Series 1-11 [DVD]". amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  77. "Vera - Series 1-11". JB Hi-Fi . Retrieved 22 August 2022.