Fans of Vera, get ready: it has been officially confirmed that the venerable detective program will be returning to ITV for a 13th season. Exciting news also broke today: David Leon, who hasn’t been on Vera in almost ten years, is expected to return.
The actor, who starred with Brenda Blethyn in the first four seasons of the crime drama from 2011 to 2014 as DS Joe Ashworth, will return to the role. Brenda Blethyn is playing the title character. “I’m ecstatic to have David back on the show,” Blethyn declared, adding that she “can’t wait to get started.”
After the events of the season 12 finale, The Darkest Evening, in which Blethyn’s character DCI Vera Stanhope discovered an abandoned car with a baby inside, there’s a lot to discover in this new installment. In the suspenseful, concluding episode, a powerful storm was the focal point. Without a cell signal and roadblocks everywhere she looked, Vera was forced to take shelter at Brockburn House, the Stanhope family’s ancestral home.
Since a function is in progress and Vera is arriving with a baby, her estranged family doesn’t exactly welcome her with open arms. But when a body is discovered on the track leading to Brockburn House, things start to appear even worse and take a far more sinister turn.
Vera Season 13 Release Date
As of October 2023, the release date for the next season is still unknown. However, this does not mean that the show has been canceled. Vera has not yet received a formal 13th-season renewal from ITV. The show may be on hiatus as the next season has not yet been announced or confirmed. We will update this post with any new information that becomes available.
Vera cast: Who could be back for season 13?
Blethyn will return as our beloved titular character. Prior to the season 13 renewal, Blethyn stated she would not be putting her trench coat away just yet in an interview with Radiotimes She stated: “I haven’t got any plans to leave – at the moment, all the time I’m fit and able, I’ll be visiting Vera.”
“I love it, I just love it – I love the people up there, too,” she said, referring to the residents of the northeast region where they shoot. Regardless of what anyone says, there is a distinction between the friendliness of the North and the South. The fact that people in the northeast like Vera is really the biggest compliment.”
After nearly ten years away from his last appearance on the show, David Leon is returning to the role of DS Joe Ashworth, as previously mentioned.
As for the rest of the cast, some of the regular faces that we’d expect to see return are as follows:
- Brenda Blethyn as DCI Vera Stanhope
- Kenny Doughty as DS Aiden Healy
- Jon Morrison as DC Kenny Lockhart
- Paul Kaye as Dr Malcolm Donahue
- Ibinabo Jack as DC Jacqueline ‘Jac’ Williams
- Riley Jones as DC Mark Edwards
What Could Happen in Vera Season 13?
Although the official plot details for season 13 are still unknown, we anticipate that it will continue in the same manner as previous seasons, with Vera solving new cases in each episode of the crime procedural.
Since the show is based on Ann Cleeves’ novels, we can anticipate that a possible season 13 will center on cases from those narratives.
Prior to the 12th season premiere, Blethyn gave an exclusive interview to ITV, revealing to the network’s audience what to anticipate from the run of “The Darkest Evening,” Ann’s previous book, which will feature 50 episodes of Vera.
“Having filmed 51 episodes in total, I feel a sense of pride in having achieved the milestone of 50 episodes. I think it’s fantastic. A fantastic accomplishment for all those concerned.
Of those 51 movies, 10 are based on Ann Cleeves’ novels. Because of how well-developed her characters are, the other storywriters are able to bring them to life on screen as well.
There is no doubt that Cleeves has a ton of source material for the ITV drama; she is currently writing the eleventh book in the Vera Stanhope series. All we can do is wait and see.
Is There a Trailer for Vera Season 13?
She's back and better than ever! #Vera season 12 has officially begun. https://t.co/YibZsjlfIn pic.twitter.com/n4UpwYln9Q
— BritBoxUS (@BritBox_US) January 30, 2023
Summary
“Exciting news for ‘Vera’ fans as ITV confirms the return of the detective series for a 13th season. Brenda Blethyn and David Leon are set to reprise their roles. The latest season follows DCI Vera Stanhope after a shocking finale in season 12. While the release date is still unknown, anticipation is high for the return of this beloved crime drama.”