Vera fans have identified an 'impossible' storyline in the latest episode of the ITV drama, involving a journey DCI Stanhope made from Holy Island to the centre of Newcastle.
A touch of Sunday night normality has been restored by the return of Vera, after nearly a year away, with fans of the show overjoyed at the fact its rightfully back in its 8pm slot. There have so far been four new episodes of Vera in the last month - the 'missing' two parts of series 11 and the first two if its 12th series.
There was a lot of interest in For The Grace of God, which went out on Sunday night, as the action focused on the centre of Newcastle and the death of a homeless former soldier, played, very fleetingly, by Our Girl star Mark Armstrong.
His lifeless body was found by a Geordie lass on her hen do, right near to Riverside and the Hard Rock Café, after he was seen begging on the Millennium Bridge. Vera's investigations led her to the stunning interior of the city's Lit and Phil library, while there was also mention of the detective making a trip from her home on Holy Island to Newcastle.
And it is the fact that the drive was mooted to take just half an hour that caused a bit of a stir on Twitter, with some viewers correctly pointing out that it would take a lot longer to get from A to B.. One person watching at home reacted: "Not sure the producers realise how big #Northumberland is... you cannot drive from #Lindisfarne to Newcastle in 30mins!!"
Also identifying the same flaw, another tweeted: "Holy Island to the centre of Newcastle is a bit of a trek pet! Good job the tide wasn't in"
The liberties taken with the distance between Holy Island and Newcastle came after last weekend's episode of Vera featured Peterlee's famous Pavilion, only for the East Durham town to become Bedlington for the purposes of the plot.
There are now just two episodes of Vera's current run left to go, with author Ann Cleeves telling fans to prepare for a 'stormy' final episode on February 19, having seen a preview of it.
The fourth episode of series 12 - The Darkest Evening - will be preceded by Blue on Sunday, February 12, with a teaser reading: "Joel Kingston is a copper's copper from a respected and notable police family, but when he is found dead, floating in a park lake, DCI Vera Stanhope investigates both sides of the thin blue line in order to find his killer.
It adds: "A complex family dynamic, tensions at work, and brushes with the underworld, paint a dark and complex picture. Joel was there to serve and protect but did his stubborn commitment to justice at any price lead to his death?"
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