There's no rest for the wicked it seems as the latest crime at the heart of the new Vera series continues to play out in the region.
But the same apparently applies to the crime-cracking sleuth herself who doesn't seem to be taking any time away from her latest murder mystery to allow for a bit of a breather over the Bank Holiday weekend. Cast and crew have been hard at work in Hexham this week during filming for series 13 of the long-running ITV crime drama starring Brenda Blethyn and there appears no let-up in pace.
The next location for filming - also in Northumberland - has been revealed, where the cast will move onto on Bank Holiday Monday. At a time most people will be enjoying an extra day off on their long weekend, Vera will be back on the case.
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Filming is switching from the market town, where the action - including Vera's familiar Land Rover - was spotted this week, to the village of Wylam where preparations for the team's arrival for a two-day shoot are already in place. Shoots for Vera, which is based on the award-winning series of novels by Whitley Bay author Ann Cleeves, always tend to attract crowds of local fans keen to see how the hugely popular series is made.
News of this 13th series bringing cast and crew back to the region has been especially welcome, following uncertainty during the previous series which, in a change to the planned format, saw it split into two halves then face a delay in the screening of its final two episodes, which finally hit the screen in January. Series 12 episodes were quick to follow and now the new series, proving a lucky 13, is seeing Vera - clearly recovered from a head injury sustained at the end of her last outing - teaming up once again with former sidekick Joe Ashworth, played by David Leon, after actor Kenny Doughty left his role, as did colleague Ibinabo Jack.
Following this week's filming around Market Place and St Mary's Chare in Hexham, Wylam Parish Council has revealed exactly where the next Vera shoot will take place. It says construction work has already been taking place at Points Bridge below Hagg Bank, which was due to be completed this Friday ahead of Monday's filming.
A section of the Wylam Waggonway between the bridge and Hagg Bank Cottages has also been resurfaced before the shoot which will get under way on Bank Holiday Monday and continue on Tuesday, May 30. Filming will also take place on Wylam Wood Road and a camera drone will be used for some shots.
In a Facebook post, the council said those using the waggonway and wanting to cross the bridge during that time will not find the route closed but they will be confined to one side of the bridge. The bridge will be closed to the public only for short periods of around five minutes if the crew actually need to feature it in a shot.
The council adds that it expects there will be some impact on the area's war memorial car park and playing fields too. But it seems that residents will be more likely to want to watch the action rather than complain about any inconvenience, with one response on Facebook to the news saying "that's exciting".
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