Vera's final series air date 'confirmed' as Brenda Blethyn ITV drama comes to an end

Fans of the hit drama Vera have been given a major clue as to when the show will finally conclude, after 14 years of captivating millions. The good news for those eager viewers is that they won't have to wait long.

Vera, based on Ann Cleeves' DCI Stanhope novels, first graced our screens on in 2011, with BAFTA winner Brenda Blethyn taking on the lead role. This role would soon establish her as one of television's most beloved detectives.

After the pilot episode Hidden Depths, which featured a young Sam Fender as a corpse in a bathtub, attracted a large audience, more episodes were quickly commissioned. The much-loved show has now amassed 13 series, each proving to be a real ratings success.

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Over the past decade, Vera has gained international popularity, amassing dedicated fans as far away as and Japan. Therefore, it was a significant blow when ITV executives announced that the upcoming 14th series would be its last.

Brenda and her co-stars, including returning sidekick David Leon, returned to the set one final time over the summer to film the two new feature-length episodes, reports .

The cast and crew of Vera have been filming across the North East, in locations such as Blyth, Hartlepool, Gateshead and South Shields. Some fortunate fans were treated to a preview of what's to come in series 14 at a special event in London earlier this week.

The event, titled 'Vera - End of an Era', took place at the renowned British Film Institute and included a screening and Q&A session with Brenda Blethyn and Ann Cleeves.

One of the highlights was a sneak peek at the first episode of series 14, featuring Brenda alongside guest star Kevin Whately. While details about the final episode of Vera remain closely guarded, host Emma Kennedy gave a significant hint about its air date on ITV.

As Brenda and Ann exited the stage, Emma announced to the audience: "And you can watch the final ever episodes of Vera in the new year," This clue follows last month's confirmation that Vera would be part of ITV's holiday programming.