Vera (TV series)
Vera is a British crime drama series based on the Vera Stanhope series of novels written by crime writer Ann Cleeves. It was first broadcast on ITV on 1 May 2011, and to date, eleven series have aired, with the latest debuting on 29 August 2021. The series stars Brenda Blethyn as the principal character, Detective Chief Inspector Vera Stanhope. Vera is a nearly retired employee of the fictional 'Northumberland & City Police', who is obsessive about her work and driven by her own demons. She plods along in a constantly 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 (David Leon) and Aiden Healy (Kenny Doughty). In 2021, Ann Cleeves confirmed that the character of Vera was based on a neighbour of her maternal grandmother. The neighbour had been something of a busybody and her personality was the basis for Vera. On 27 August 2020, it was confirmed that the show had been renewed for an eleventh series. Its first  four episodes aired in December 2021 and January 2022, with a further two episodes expected in later 2022. In March 2022, it was confirmed that a twelfth series had been commissioned and had begun filming. Production. "Hidden Depths", "Telling Tales" and "The Crow Trap" from the first series, and "Silent Voices" from the second series, are based on the novels of the same names by Ann Cleeves. The episode "Sandancers" from the second series was due to be broadcast on Sunday, 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. 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. Filming on the third series finished in February 2013. The last three episodes of the series were broadcast in a later timeslot, from 9:00pm–11:00pm. On 22 April 2013, ITV renewed "Vera" for a fourth series, before the third series had even been broadcast. Filming on the fourth series completed in October 2013, and included an adaptation of the then-unpublished  novel "On Harbour Street", which was subsequently published in January 2014, ahead of the TV broadcast. This made the opening episode the first since the second series to be a direct adaptation from the "Vera" novels and leaves "The Glass Room" as the only novel yet to be filmed. 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. Latisha Knight was announced as executive producer for this series. 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. 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. Noof McEwan joined the cast following the departure of Cush Jumbo. On 14 January 2020, while attending the TCA Press Tour, Brenda Blethyn confirmed that "Vera" was renewed for an eleventh series. Production of four new episodes began in April 2020 and are  due to premiere in 2021. The producers of the show also discussed the possibility of a U.S. remake of the show. Cast. Riley Jones appeared in two episodes as PC Mark Edwards, once in Series 1 and once in series 2 before joining the main cast in series 3 now transferred to CID. Clare Calbraith appeared in one episode as RMP Captain Rebecca Shepherd in series 2, before joining the main cast in series 3 as a detective constable.