When Will Vera Series 14 Air?

By Olivia Emily

4 weeks ago

Plus: what will happen?

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Brenda Blethyn as Vera Stanhope in Vera. (ITV)

Brenda Blethyn has carved out a space in our hearts thanks to her years-long performance as Vera Stanhope. First airing in 2011, a whopping 13 seasons of Vera have aired on ITV, and we can’t wait for the next one. Here’s everything you need to know about Vera series 14 – plus when it will air.

Vera Series 14: Plot, Cast, Release Date

What Is Vera About?

Vera is a crime drama centred on the work of Detective Chief Inspector Vera Stanhope (Blethyn), who works for the (fictional) Northumberland & City Police, and is constantly teetering on the edge of retirement. Obsessive about her work, however, she is sucked into the cases that happen across Northumberland, analysing crime scenes and suspects with a fine-tooth comb and often picking up small errors in her team members’ judgements. Despite her irascible personality and dedication to the work, she cares deeply about her cases and colleagues.

Is Vera Based On A Book?

Yes, Vera is a character created by prolific British crime author Ann Cleeves. She first appeared in Cleeves’ 1999 novel The Crow Trap, and Cleeves has published 11 full length novels about the character since then, as well as some novellas.

The first episode of ITV’s Vera, however, is actually based on Cleeves’ third Vera Stanhope novel, Hidden Depths (2007). Episodes based on Cleeves’ books include:

‘Hidden Depths’ (Series 1, Episode 1) – Based on Hidden Depths (2007).
‘Telling Tales’ (Series 1, Episode 2) – Based on Telling Tales (2005).
‘The Crow Trap’ (Series 1, Episode 3) – Based on The Crow Trap (1999).
‘Silent Voices’ (Series 2, Episode 1) – Based on Silent Voices (2011).
‘The Glass Room’ (Series 4, Episode 2) – Based on The Glass Room (2012).
‘Harbour Street’ (Series 4, Episode 4) – Based on Harbour Street (2014).
‘The Moth Catcher’ (Series 6, Episode 3) – Based on The Moth Catcher (2015).
‘The Seagull’ (Series 9, Episode 4) – Based on The Seagull (2017).
‘The Darkest Evening’ (Series 11, Episode 1) – Based on The Darkest Evening (2020).

This means every Vera Stanhope book by Cleeves has been adapted by ITV up to her 2020 novel, while other episodes are created by ITV and bulk out Vera’s story.

It’s not only Cleeves’ Vera novels that have been adapted for the small screen: her Jimmy Perez novels were transformed into Shetland for the BBC, while The Long Call (2019) was adapted into a series of the same name by ITV in 2021.

What Will Happen In Vera Series 14?

Vera series 14 will cover two separate cases across two episodes, running 120 minutes each. ITV has revealed the episodes will be titled ‘Inside’ and ‘The Dark Wives’, the latter borrowing its name from Cleeves’ most recent Vera Stanhope novel, published earlier this year.

‘Inside’ will see Vera ‘called to the banks of the Tyne where the body of a young man has been discovered by some anglers,’ according to ITV’s Christmas brochure. ‘A tangled web of a broken relationship, secret love, grudges, regret, and fraud begins to emerge – has our former inmate been served cold justice, or does his death run deeper?’

Next, ‘The Dark Wives’ will bring ‘Vera back to a familiar place when a body is found at the foot of legendary local stones The Dark Wives,’ ITV teases. ‘With memories of childhood in the background, Vera must work hard to uncover the mystery of why a bright young student would be violently attacked and left so far from home. This poignant episode weaves together past and present and makes for a compelling and emotional farewell.’

Will Vera Series 14 Be The Last?

Yes, ITV has confirmed series 14 will be the last new series of Vera, with filming already wrapped on Blethyn’s final performance. The news came earlier this year, shortly after series 14 was confirmed. Series 14 will only be two episodes long, as opposed to the typical four-episode seasons. That said, in 2021, series 11 was aired in three two-episode batches.

‘Working on Vera has been a joy from beginning to end and I’m sad to be saying cheerio,’ Blethyn said on the news. ‘But I am so proud of our achievements over the last 14 years. I’ll be forever grateful to the wonderful Ann Cleeves who created Vera, and to Elaine Collins who saw fit to cast me in the role. The producers, dream cast and crew have been fabulous and I’m going to miss them, but I won’t forget their huge talent, the camaraderie, laughter or kindness we shared nor the friendship of the people of the north east and our fans worldwide. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.’

Vera Series 14 Release Date

ITV has stated Vera series 14 will air in early 2025. Its inclusion in ITV’s 2024 Christmas brochure makes us think the duo of episodes will air around New Year’s Day.

ITV will also air a special celebratory documentary marking the end of the Vera era entitled Vera… Farewell Pet, probably after series 14 has aired.

Where Is Vera Filmed?

Vera is filmed in the northeast of England, including County Durham, North Yorkshire, Newcastle upon Tyne and in Northumberland where the action is set. Specific filming locations include Gateshead, South Shields, North Shields, Whitley Bay, Amble, Warkworth, Alnmouth, Bamburgh, and Holy Island (aka Lindisfarne). Vera’s farmhouse is located on The Snook on Holy Island.