Vera's Brenda Blethyn to take ITV filming break to open Northumberland summer fete

Brenda Blethyn will take a break from Vera filming to be the gust of honour at a Northumberland fete this weekend, as fan travels from the other side of the world to meet her.

When it was announced back in April that the hit ITV drama would be ending, lead actress Brenda admitted she was 'sad' to be bidding farewell to her much loved character, having played her since 2011, back when Sam Fender became Vera's first ever murder victim in pilot episode Hidden Depths.

Cameras started rolling on Vera's 14th and final series just a week after it was announced that the show will be wrapping up in 2025 and, since filming commenced, Brenda and her co-stars have been seen all over the North East, from Cambois to Hartlepool and Gateshead to South Shields as they film what will be the last two episodes of the show that has been a ratings winner for ITV for nearly 14 years.

READ MORE: Vera fans 'switch off' ITV as schedule change sparks complaints

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In her Vera exit statement, Brenda spoke of her love for the North East and how much she'd be welcomed by locals since taking on the role of DCI Stanhope back in 2011 and now she's giving something back by opening the festivities at the Charlotte Straker Summer House fete this Saturday,. June 15.

Conforming their A-List VIP,, the charity's website reads: "SPECIAL VIP GUEST: Brenda Blethyn, star of the hit TV crime series Vera, will be gracing us with her presence to officially open the festivities! We’re thrilled to welcome the renowned actress to our fete – don’t miss this chance to meet the star of Vera and support a fantastic cause."

One person who will definitely be at the fete this weekend is Christine Bennett, who is venturing all the way from Australia to visit some of the places featured in her favourite TV programme, as well as hoping to meet some of its stars. Talking about how upset she was at the news Vera was ending, she said: "I was devastated - and shed a few tears actually - to hear that Vera is finishing but can understand that Brenda is 78 and it would be taxing on her to be on set nearly 10 hours a day."