Ann Cleeves has shared the surprising secret of how Vera became an ITV drama and it's all to do with an executive's chance encounter with one of her novels in a charity shop.
It's now been 11 years since Vera made its debut on the channel with millions of viewers tuning into each new feature length episode to follow the exploits of no nonsense sleuth DCI Vera Stanhope and the crimes she attempts to get to grips with. There is some confusion amongst fans of Vera at the minute as to when they'll get to see the rest of series 11, given that ITV took it off air earlier this year to make way for The Good Karma Hospital and Trigger Point, despite the fact there were still two episodes left.
The Vera cast and crew, including leading lady Brenda Blethyn, have been in the North East in recent months, filming at locations across the region for the next series. For many viewers, spotting familiar places in each of the episodes is one of the best things about Vera and 'adopted Geordie' Ann says the stunning landscape is one of the major catalysts to the success of her novels and the TV show they inspired.
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Ann waxed lyrical about the North East, which has been her home for close to four decades, when she appeared on BBC Breakfast earlier this week and, it was during her chat with hosts Sally Nugent and Jon Kay, that she divulged just how her DCI Stanhope books ended up as one of ITV's most popular crime dramas.
She explained: "Somebody picked up the first Vera book in an Oxfam shop and she was an executive for ITV studios, and that's how Vera became to be on the television.
"And the rest is history," Jon responded as Ann joked: "Yes, the rest is history."
Ann had some great news fr Vera fans in the interview, by confirming that further novels were very much in the pipeline.
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