Brenda Blethyn reveals real reason why she quit ITV drama Vera after 14 years-Pierra Willix-Entertainment – Metro

Vera star Brenda Blethyn has explained why she decided to quit the show (Picture: ITV/ Shutterstock)

Vera star Brenda Blethyn has revealed why she decided to quit the hit British crime drama after nearly 15 years on air.

First airing in 2011, the ITV series is based on the Vera Stanhope series of novels by Ann Cleeves.

Brenda plays the nearing retirement Detective Chief Inspector Vera Stanhope who is obsessive about her work while investigating a series of baffling crimes in Northumberland.

Earlier this year it was announced the upcoming 14th season would be the series’ last, with Brenda saying at the time working on it had been a ‘joy from beginning to end’ and she was ‘sad to be saying Cheerio’.

The 78-year-old actress has now spoken about her decision to step down, explaining she wanted to spend more time with her family.

‘It was a hard decision and come March when I would normally be getting ready to go back up there, I’ll probably be crying,’ she said.

She’s starred as the detective since the first season was released in 2011 (Picture: ITV)

‘As much as I loved all that, I’ve got a family at home, and I realised I hadn’t had a summer for 14 years with my family.

‘So, I still did another series because I couldn’t drag myself away. But anyway, it was time, that’s all,’ she added, as reported by The Sun.

The actress also revealed she managed to keep a few props from the set of the show, saying she kept the ‘mac and the hat’ as well as the ‘tweedy coat’, although she joked it ‘looks like it’s been through the mill’.

The final season of Vera will include two, two-hour episodes to wrap up the crime drama, with ITV previously teasing what viewers could expect.

In the first episode, Vera is called back to the banks of the Tyne where the body of a young man has been discovered by some anglers.

Meanwhile, the second follows Vera investigating a second murder after a body is found at the foot of the legendary local stones The Dark Wives.

The 78-year-old is looking forward to spending more time with her family (Picture: Jeff Spicer/ Getty Images for the NTA’s)

When announcing the show was ending Brenda also said she was ‘so proud of our achievements over the last 14 years’.

‘I’ll be forever grateful to the wonderful Ann Cleeves who created Vera, and to Elaine Collins who saw fit to cast me in the role,’ she said.

‘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.’

She went on to share: ‘Thank you from the bottom of my heart.’

Vera airs on ITV1 and STV at 8 pm on January 1 and 2, followed by the companion documentary Vera farewell pet, on January 3 at 9 pm.

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