DI Joe Ashworth is back for a final series (Image: ITV)
Vera is set to conclude at the beginning of next year with two final episodes.
After captivating audiences for over a decade, the show will draw to a close, leaving fans with just two more instalments to bid farewell to the astute detective. Details about the concluding episodes are scarce, but anticipation is high. Brenda Blethyn will return as the iconic DI Vera Stanhope for just two more episodes.
The official synopsis teases: “In the first episode, DCI Vera Stanhope is called to the banks of the Tyne where the body of a young man has been discovered by some anglers. A tangled web of a broken relationship, secret love, grudges, regret, and fraud begins to emerge has our former inmate been served cold justice, or does his death run deeper?
“The final episode brings Vera back to a familiar place when a body is found at the foot of legendary local stones The Dark Wives with memories of childhood in the background, Vera must work hard to uncover the mystery of why a bright young student would be violently attacked and left so far from home.”
Speculation is rife that Vera herself could face a dire fate as the series approaches its confirmed air date. Here’s all the clues she could die:
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Vera is to end after 14 series (Image: Craig Connor/ChronicleLive)
Vera’s health has been a recurring concern throughout the series. Her medical issues have often intersected with her investigative work, leading to scenes where she attends doctor’s appointments and relies on her colleagues, Joe or Aidan, for support.
Speculation over Vera’s health has bubbled for years, with revelations that the character suffers from angina. While manageable with treatment and lifestyle alterations, angina remains a warning sign of underlying coronary artery disease, prompting whispers of a possible shocking on-screen demise for Vera.
Meanwhile, Brenda advised viewers to brace themselves for rocky times involving her co-star DI Joe Ashworth.
It’ll be an end of an era for fans of the show. (Image: ITV)
Delving into the storyline, Brenda revealed: “I will tell you there’s trouble with Detective Inspector Joe Ashworth. Joe has something going on that he doesn’t want to talk about and Vera is anxious to get to the bottom of that.
“We know he came back to the area because his father was ill. He passed away which we’ve already seen. Joe doesn’t seem to have come out of that dungeon and Vera’s concerned about that.”
The turbulence surrounding Joe threatens to escalate, potentially sealing a tragic fate for Vera herself.
Brenda Blethyn will star in her final series of Vera (Image: ITV)
On the subject of whether Vera might meet her end in the show, Brenda has been tight-lipped despite fan theories abounding. In response to queries on whether Vera could die, Brenda kept fans on tenterhooks with a cryptic: “No comment,” soon following up with a non-reveal: “I’m not going to tell you.”
Bidding farewell to her beloved character earlier this year, Brenda reflected on her tenure with warmth. She said: “Working on Vera has been a joy from beginning to end and I’m sad to be saying Cheerio. But I am so proud of our achievements over the last fourteen years. I’ll be forever grateful to the wonderful Ann Cleeves and to Elaine Collins. 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.”
The most significant hint that Vera might meet her end comes from a Christmas TV guide. A fan page shared a snapshot of the listings, which concluded with “the show goes out with a bang when Vera’s life is in danger while investigating the violent death of a student”.