Brenda Blethyn has revealed that drastic action was taken to avoid Vera's hat from being lost, as filming for the final episode of the show's current run was blighted by appalling weather.
Ever since Vera, the creation of North East author Ann Cleeves, first hit screens over a decade ago, the no nonsense sleuth has been synonymous with her fishing hat and mack; with many fans recreating the look for events like World Book Day. Brenda and co-stars like Kenny Doughty, Riley Jones and Jon Morrison returned to screens last month, after a long wait for fans who were left wondering when they'd get to see the last two parts of series 11, let alone the brand new episodes in the show's twelfth series.
There are now just two episodes left of Vera's return to air on ITV, with Blue airing on Sunday, February 12, before the curtain comes down with The Darkest Evening, one of Ann's most celebrated DCI Stanhope novels, a week later.
Lead actress Brenda has already spoken about getting completely drenched during filming for the series finale and now she's opened up on co9ncerns for Vera's hat, as the weather went a bit wild.
READ MORE: Vera's Jon Morrison shocks co-stars with 'hidden' talent on set of ITV drama
Taking to ITV, the BAFTA winner said: "Some of the rain was artificial and then we had real rain when we didn’t want it. We also had wind machines and all the rest of it. We had to use pins to keep Vera’s hat on.
"Every ploy was used. I think a tube of glue would have come out if all else failed. The whole series would come to an end if I lost that hat!”
Elaborating on challenges the weather gave the Vera cast during filming this time round, Brenda explained: "We encountered extremes of weather. We shot one episode during that intense summer heatwave. It was 37C when we were filming on a golf course and I had all of Vera’s clobber on. I thought I was done for."
It was so hot I had to unbutton Vera’s mac. I kept asking, ‘Could I take the mac off?’ I could if I really wanted to. But I tell myself I’m not going to be any cooler if I take it off. "
She continued: "Then we go to the other extreme doing The Darkest Evening when I’m frozen through to the marrow. The heated waistcoat came out for that one. But then I can’t button up Vera’s mac. So I had to take the waistcoat off.
"Vera’s costume is designed to make me look broader. So everything underneath finishes at the hip. While people might think there is some insulation inside Vera’s hat during winter filming to keep me warm. But, unfortunately, there isn’t."
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