Huge clue when ITV's final series of Vera will air on TV as Brenda Blethyn's drama comes to an end

Fans of the hit drama Vera have been given a significant clue as to when the show will conclude, after captivating millions for 14 years.

The good news for eager viewers is that they won't have to wait long. Based on North East crime writer Ann Cleeves' DCI Stanhope novels, Vera first aired on ITV in 2011, with BAFTA winner Brenda Blethyn taking on the lead role; a part that would soon establish her as one of TV's most beloved detectives.

After the pilot Hidden Depths, which featured a young Sam Fender as a corpse in a bathtub, attracted a large audience, more episodes were quickly commissioned and the much-loved show has now amassed 13 series, each proving to be a real ratings success.

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Over the past decade, Vera has gained popularity worldwide, earning dedicated fans as far away as Australia and Japan. Therefore, there was considerable disappointment when ITV executives announced that the upcoming 14th series would be its last.

Brenda and her co-stars, including returning sidekick David Leon, returned to the set one final time to film the two new feature-length episodes over the summer. The cast and crew of Vera have been filming across the North East, in locations such as Blyth, Hartlepool, Gateshead and South Shields.

Some fortunate fans were treated to a preview of series 14 at a special event held at the renowned British Film Institute in London earlier this week, reports Chronicle Live. The event, fittingly titled 'Vera - End of an Era', saw Brenda Blethyn and Ann Cleeves on stage, sharing clips from the show with the audience. One of these included a snippet from the first episode of series 14, featuring guest star Kevin Whately.

While details about the final episode remain closely guarded, host Emma Kennedy hinted at its air date. As Brenda and Ann exited the stage, she told the audience: "And you can watch the final ever episodes of Vera in the new year," This clue follows last month's confirmation that Vera would be part of ITV's festive programming.

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