“Why did David Leon leave Vera?” might be the question that’s been on many fans’ minds since the actor left the hit ITV drama as DS Joe Ashworth almost a decade ago.
If there’s anyone who can crack a case with a fiercely no-nonsense approach to investigations and a whole lot of empathy it’s everyone’s favorite waterproof-wearing DCI Vera Stanhope. Played in ITV’s Ann Cleeves adaptation by Brenda Blethyn since 2011, the titular character has had two Detective Sergeants assisting her over the course of the show. The original was DS Joe Ashworth played by David Leon, who left at the end of season 4. His exit was never written into his final episode, leaving many of us a little confused about why both the actor and character left.
