Vera viewers were delighted to spot a family link to lead actress Brenda Blethyn during the latest episode of the ITV drama, when they clocked a photo of the BAFTA winner's beloved dog Jack in one scene.
After the 11th series of the much loved detective show was pulled from schedules with no explanation at the start of last year, fans of all things DCI Stanhope were left wondering when they'd get their next fix of the no nonsense sleuth and what had happened to the two remaining episodes.
Well, after a longer than expected hiatus from screens, Vera was back on the case for the first of six new episodes on January 15, with the fifth instalment of series 11 - Vital Signs - first up, as Vera and her colleagues had to get to the bottom of a grisly murder, after a GP's body was found in the back of a burnt out car.
READ MORE: Vera's Paul Kaye to bow out of ITV drama as replacement confirmed
The murder mysteries continued at the weekend with as The Way the Wind Blows bringing the curtain down on series 11. And, as well as being thoroughly engrossed by the investigation into a mum whose body was washed up by the River Tyne, the more eagle-eyed fans amongst the millions who tuned into Sunday night's episode also homed in on a photo on the desk of character DC Mark Edwards, played by Riley Jones.
As actor Riley asked his Twitter followers who they thought was responsible for the murder, one replied: "No idea but love ya dog photo on ya desk. Is it ya real one?" to which another fan swiftly replied: "It's @BrendaBlethyn dog Jack!
Confirming that was true, Riley then responded: "Jack always steals the limelight when it’s a shot of my desk! We always try to get him in."
Jack became an unlikely TV star when he joined Brenda for an appearance on This Morning in 2020; getting rather friendly with the actress and refusing to let go of her as she walked off set.
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