Kenny Doughty shut down talk before it had even started that he'd landed a job on hit BBC drama Shetland, following his exit from Vera.
After he dropped a hint that he might well be walking away from his role as DS Aiden Healy with an Instagram post thanking his co-stars 'for the memories,' Kenny announced two weeks ago he had filmed his final scenes as Vera's sidekick after eight years.
The news came as a big blow to fans who have loved his on-screen relationship with leading lady Brenda Blethyn since series five and Brenda has since come out to say how much she enjoyed working with Kenny and how much she'll miss him.
As Vera's original sidekick, David Leon has been confirmed to be making a shock comeback to the ITV drama as Joe Ashworth, thoughts have turned to what Kenny will do next. But one thing it looks like he won't be doing is appearing in Shetland, which just like Vera, is a TV series, inspired by the books of Tyneside based author Ann Cleeves.
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Kenny revealed he'd headed far north on his Instagram, Kenny wrote: "Perfect way to stretch legs after long ferry journey to Shetland. Here on holiday not work before you ask! My fur baby loved the beach. Absolute heaven."
Kenny's denial that he was up in SHetland to film did comes as a big disappointment to a numb er of his followers, with one replying: "And here I was hoping you were taking over for Douglas Henshall. You were brilliant on Vera mate. You will be missed. Good luck."
A second told the former Coronation Street star, or minute then @kennydoughty my brain came to the conclusion you had got the job to replace DI Perez up in #Shetland …. Should we start a campaign to get you the job ?!"
Kenny won't be the only Vera star not returning for the show's recently confirmed 13th series, as Ibino Jack is also leaving to focus on theatre commitments.
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