ITV star admits she’ll ‘probably regret’ quitting role after 14 years-Emily Bashforth-Entertainment – Metro

Brenda Blethyn is leaving Vera after 14 years (Picture: ITV)

Brenda Blethyn senses she will ‘regret’ stepping down from her iconic role in ITV series Vera, having played detective for 14 years.

Earlier this year, Brenda, 78, announced that she was ‘semi-retiring’ after leaving the drama to spend more time with her family.

This includes her husband of 14 years, Michael Mayhew, as filming in the North East kept them apart.

Speaking about bowing out as DCI Vera Stanhope, she admitted that despite her reservations, she knew it was the right thing to do.

Brenda told Saga Magazine: ‘I shall probably regret the decision soon, but Vera takes up quite a lot of my time.

‘Filming a series means six months of the year away from home.

She’s played the detective since 2011 (Picture: ITV)

Brenda is now hoping to spend more time with her family (Picture: John Phillips/Getty Images for the NTAs)

She’s been in a relationship with Michael Mayhew since 1975 (Picture: Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic)

‘The people I work with do feel like family, but I’ve also got my own family down south.’

Brenda explained that she had not spent a summer at home for the last decade, meaning it was music to Michael’s ears when she confirmed her departure.

‘Michael’s face lit up when I told him [I was going to quit],’ she recalled.

‘I could tell he was kind of pleased I might be around a bit more, though he wouldn’t have imposed that on me.’

Fans of Vera can begin saying their final goodbyes on January 1 when Brenda’s last series airs, while a special documentary, Vera: Farewell Pet, will be shown on January 3.

They can also rest assured that it won’t be an easy watch for Brenda herself either, who added that she was ‘struggling to drag [herself] away’ after being part of the programme for so long.

The actress admits that filming for six months of the year has taken a toll (Picture: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for the NTAs)

Brenda took some special souvenirs with her from set (Picture: ITV/Shutterstock)

She shared: ‘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.’

However, ‘as much as [she] loved’ playing Vera, she acknowledges that it was ‘time’ to hang up the raincoat.

Oh, but she took that with her – how could she not?

Quizzed on any trinkets she stole from set to remember the character by, Brenda confessed that she’s got Vera’s mac, as well as her hat and a tweed coat.

While they tied the knot in 2010, Brenda and art director Michael have been together for almost 50 years, as he’s been her partner since 1975.

Asked what the secret to their long relationship is, Brenda had a rather comical answer.

‘Two bathrooms. Two different rooms with a television too, so you can watch whatever you want. No arguments. You don’t want someone rabbiting on while you’re engrossed in an episode of Vera, do you?’

The final series of Vera airs on January 1 and January 2 at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX. Vera: Farewell Pet will air on January 3 at 9pm.

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