ITV confirms thirteenth series of Vera

Brenda Blethyn is to reprise her role as DCI Vera Stanhope in a thirteenth series of Vera, while actor and director David Leon makes a welcome return to the detective drama as Joe Ashworth.

Cast returning alongside the pair for three new feature length films include Jon Morrison, who plays DC Kenny Lockhart and Riley Jones, who plays DC Mark Edwards.

Last week, Kenny Doughty, who has played DS Aidan Healey since 2015, took to Instagram to announce that he had made the “difficult decision” to step away from the drama.

Ibinabo Jack, who has played DC Jacqueline ‘Jac’ Williams since 2018, is also leaving the show due to her theatre commitments.

The Rising Tide, a feature-length episode based on the eleventh Vera novel written by Ann Cleeves, will be Kenny and Ibinabo’s final appearance in the series. The episode will be scheduled later this year.

Brenda Blethyn commented:

“It’s been such a pleasure to work alongside Kenny and Ibinabo. They have both been terrific members of the Vera team, and I’ll miss them. I’m absolutely over the moon to welcome David back to the show and can’t wait to get started.”

One of ITV1’s most popular dramas, Vera is based on Ann Cleeves’ critically-acclaimed Vera Stanhope series of crime novels. ITV note that an average of 6 million viewers tuned in for the show’s most recent series on ITV1.

In 2021 Blethyn received the Rose d’Or Lifetime Achievement Award for her role as Vera, ITV’s longest-running female detective, and her many other defining roles throughout her career.

The first 12 series of Vera are available for viewing on ITVX.

Made by Silverprint Pictures, part of ITV Studios, the thirteenth series will be Executive produced by Will Nicholson and Kate Bartlett.