Kenny Doughty made an emotional farewell in ITV’s Vera (Image: ITV)
It’s been over two years since filmed his final scenes in , and he will soon return to the small screen in a brand new drama, trading Brenda Blethyn for another globally renowned co-star.
Kenny joined the cast of Vera in 2015, stepping into the role of DS Aiden Healy, DCI Stanhope’s new partner, following David Leon’s departure after four series as original sidekick Joe Ashworth. While ITV viewers and Brenda herself were initially taken aback and saddened by David’s exit, they quickly warmed to Kenny.
The former actor swiftly became a favourite among the hit drama’s dedicated fanbase.
In addition to his on-screen success, Kenny also formed a close bond with lead actress Brenda off-camera, making his decision to leave just as heartbreaking for her as when David left eight years prior.
After hinting at his departure from Vera via an post, Kenny officially confirmed his exit from the long-standing show in spring 2023, having filmed his last scenes as Aiden a few months earlier for the Christmas special, The Rising Tide.
As his former Vera colleagues were shooting the 14th and final series of the popular ITV drama last year, Kenny, who is wed to Nativity and Shetland actress Ashley Jensen, disclosed to his numerous followers that he’d been occupied with a new project in Ireland.
Vera came to an emotional ending earlier this year (Image: Helen Williams)
That project turned out to be The Au Pair, a fresh series for Channel 5, which has enjoyed considerable success with shows like The Holiday, The Cuckoo and The Teacher on both its own platform and , reports .
Kenny isn’t the only big name in The Au Pair’s cast, as he’ll be sharing the screen with another TV detective legend, David Suchet, globally recognised for his decades-long portrayal of the eponymous character in Poirot.
While an air date for The Au Pair is yet to be announced, plot details have surfaced online. The synopsis reads: “The Au Pair follows Zoe Dalton (Sally Bretton), who seems to have it all- a successful husband Chris (Kenny Doughty), two adorable stepchildren, Amber and Noah, a thriving tailoring business and a gorgeous countryside home in a picturesque English town.
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However, all is not as it seems as she experiences marital issues and pressure mounts when her diabetic father, George (David Suchet), moves in next door”.
The preview tantalisingly suggests: “Zoe reluctantly agrees to hire an Au Pair; in comes Sandrine (Ludmilla Makowski), a beguiling young French woman which triggers an unsettling shift in the household, as instincts and suspicions arise, hinting at hidden agendas and long-concealed truths.”
In late 2022, Kenny divulged that he and his partner Ashley are set to grace the screen together for the Scottish period drama Wax Fruit.