Rhiannon Clements has gone on the record about how 'grateful' she is to have landed a role in Vera, as the Hollyoaks star joins the cast of the popular drama for its new series. And among the many people to congratulate her on the big career move is her former co-star Anna Passey, the actress she went head to head with in the Channel 4 soap.
It's now been a few months since ITV viewers got their last slice of Vera action, with gripping series 12 finale The Darkest Evening having millions of fans on the edges of their seat, especially when things took a turn for the worse for Brenda Blethyn's famous on screen alias, with Vera falling to the ground as a gun shot was heard. After being kept worrying during an ad break, viewers breathed a big sigh of relief to learn that DCI Stanhope was back on her feet and ready to do some more sleuthing.
Vera series 13 was confirmed in the spring, with fans delighted at another run being confirmed so quickly. The even bigger surprise was the news that David Leon would be making a shock return to the show, almost a decade on from leaving his role as Vera's first sidekick, Joe Ashworth. His comeback was announced, just as Kenny Doughty revealed he had quit Vera after eight years as DS Aiden Healy, with Ibanabo Jack also leaving.
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The casting shake-up for Vera series 13 has seen soap star Rhiannon join the ranks as DC Steph Duncan, an ambitious new addition to DCI Stanhope's team. Rhiannon is well known to Hollyoaks fans for playing Chester villain Summer Ranger, who made life hell for Sienna Blake and Brody Hudson, eventually ending up behind bars for trying to kill Anna's character Sienna.
Rhiannon has been in the North East to film with her new co-stars over the last month and, taking to Instagram in character to share a photo of herself as DC Duncan, she wrote: "DC Duncan, the toons newest recruit. Off me chops grateful!!" Anna was quick to reply to Rhiannon's post, writing: "Yes Rhi," with another Hollyoaks star, David Tag, commenting: "Amazing! Congratulations!"
Filming for Vera series 13 has taken the cast all over the region so far, with scenes being filmed in the likes of Hexham, Wylam and North Shields.
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