‘Nearly took the whole crew out!’ Brenda Blethyn opens up on filming mishap ahead of final Vera episode
After 13 years, 14 series and 56 episodes, beloved detective DCI Vera Stanhope is preparing to bid farewell to television screens.
Award-winning actor Brenda Blethyn, who brought Ann Cleeves’ character to life, will solve her final cases in two 90-minute episodes airing on ITV1 and STV this New Year.
The final investigations see Vera tackling the murder of a young man found on the banks of the Tyne, linked to a 20-year-old cold case.
Her last case involves a student’s violent death and a missing girl – a story that stirs memories from Vera’s own troubled childhood.
Among the most memorable moments from Blethyn’s time on set was a hair-raising incident with her character’s iconic Land Rover on the Northumberland moors.
“One time I had to drive across the moor on bumpy terrain and stop six feet in front of the camera,” Blethyn told Metro.
The vehicle had been specially adapted for the automatic driver, but during one take, things nearly went terribly wrong.
“On the third take, I jumped out and the Landy started rolling down towards the camera crew. I’d left the hand brake off. I nearly took the whole crew out!” she recalled.
The final days of filming proved emotional for the veteran actress and her long-standing crew.
“We filmed it in the incident room because most people would be there for it,” Blethyn shared. “I felt a bit emotional. There were bottles popped and a few speeches.”
The star made an impromptu speech thanking everyone for their kindness and camaraderie over the years.
She particularly praised the loyalty of the supporting artists and crew members, noting how unusual it was to maintain the same team throughout a show’s run.
“Everybody including the supporting artists and the crew have been so loyal to our show,” she reflected.
As a final memento of her time on the show, Blethyn revealed she had kept Vera’s signature wardrobe pieces.
“I’ve kept the mac and the hat,” she said, preserving the iconic look that defined her character for over a decade.
Fans can look forward to a special documentary, “Vera: Farewell Pet”, airing on ITV1 and STV on January 3rd at 9pm, following the final episodes.
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The show’s ending has deeply affected its devoted audience, with Blethyn sharing: “People are sad that it’s ending.
“I opened a fete in Northumberland for a retirement care home and one lady was crying.”