Brenda Blethyn has explained why she and her Vera co-stars were forced to 'avoid' fans during production for the drama's latest episodes, as interest in the show an its filming locations builds ahead of the series finale this weekend.
BAFTA winner Brenda has been front and centre once again as her famous on screen alter-ego DCI Vera Stanhope has bee embroiled in a new clutch of murder mysteries over the last month, kicking off with the 'missing parts' from series 11, which began way back in August 2021, before being cut short on its return early last year.
Those two episodes were followed in quick succession by the first few from series 12 and now, just as Vera fans are getting used to having it back on Sunday nights at 8pm, it will soon disappear from schedules again, but not before this Sunday's series finale, which is being billed by author Ann Cleeves as 'unmissable.'
READ MORE: ITV's Vera set for unmissable series finale as 'sinister' plot leaks
The episode, based on Ann's book The Darkest Evening, will see Vera forced to confront her past after being caught in a violent storm. And, as well as being totally invested in all the inevitable twists and turns the story's plot will throw up, this Sunday's show will again offer ITV viewers an opportunity to do some location spotting.
The Darkest Evening was filmed in numerous places around the North East and, every time the Vera cast and crew are spotted somewhere, it doesn't take long for a crowd to gather.
And Brenda, a huge fan of the region and still massively for all the support from locals, has revealed why she and her fellow cast members have to keep their distance from fans who come out to see them, while always making sure to give them a wave when she can.
Speaking to ITV, Vera's leading lady said: "“It’s all changed since the pandemic because now you just have to be careful, sadly avoiding close contact with people who come along to watch filming. You are constantly using sanitiser. So as not to jeopardise filming."
“But it’s lovely to see them at things like the ‘Viva Vera’ event we had at the Whitley Bay Playhouse in September 2022 with Ann Cleeves and Jon Morrison (DC Kenny Lockhart) to mark the publication of The Rising Tide. The enthusiasm of Vera fans is gorgeous.
And then, recalling one of her favourite off-screen moments of being Vera at popukar Geordie event Sunday for Sammy, Brenda added: "When I walked on stage as Vera a few years back at one of the ‘Sunday For Sammy’ concerts in Newcastle, in aid of young performers and creatives in the North East, the stadium roof almost came off. That’s the enthusiasm for the character. It was like scoring a goal at the World Cup.”
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