Vera's Brenda Blethyn (Image: ITV)

Vera's Brenda Blethyn gets TV 'rival' as new detective drama with female lead announced

by · Birmingham Live

While the final series of Vera may not have aired yet, Brenda Blethyn's iconic character could already be facing a new 'competitor' following the announcement of a fresh female-led TV detective drama this week.

It's been 13 years since BAFTA winner and Oscar nominee Brenda first assumed the role of straight-talking detective DCI Stanhope when Vera premiered on ITV with its pilot episode Hidden Depths. The episode also featured a young Sam Fender, who still boasts the unlikely distinction of being the show's inaugural murder victim.

A consistent ratings hit for ITV, Vera's popularity has extended globally, captivating audiences in America, Canada, Australia, and Japan with each new episode.

Regrettably, there won't be many more episodes, as channel executives revealed earlier this year that Vera will conclude in 2025, reports Chronicle Live.

Brenda Blethyn as Vera Stanhope

Fans were devastated by the news, which broke just before Brenda and her fellow cast members began filming the final two feature-length episodes.

Production took place across the North East, with sightings of the cast and crew in locations such as Blyth, Gateshead, and the quaint Northumberland village of Glanton.

Ellis is made up of three feature-length episodes (Image: CHANNEL 5)

Series 14 of Vera wrapped up filming in mid-July, and while fans eagerly await ITV's announcement of the airing of new episodes, a fresh detective is making her mark on Channel 5.

Acclaimed actress Sharon D Clarke, known for her roles in Outlander and Lost Boys and Fairies, has been confirmed to play DCI Ellis, a copper renowned for cracking unsolved crimes, in the new series Ellis.

Sharon heads the cast in this three-part crime series, which, like Vera, will feature two-hour-long episodes. The premiere date for this new drama is yet to be announced.

The series will centre around DCI Ellis and her sidekick, DS Harper, as they arrive in a new town. Here, she makes every effort to 'win over' local detectives and assist them in solving mysteries.

Vera will return to ITV in 2025.