Vera's Brenda Blethyn pulls in fans as ITV filming moves to new location

Brenda Blethyn proved to be a huge draw for fans earlier this week, when the cast and crew of Vera moved to a new location to film the last ever series of the much loved drama.

Hearts across the world broke last month when ITV announced that Vera series 14 would be the final one, with it confirmed that the hit detective show will be wrapping up in 2025, 14 years after it made its debut. BAFTA winner and Academy Award winner Brenda has been in the drama since day one, playing title character DCI Vera Stanhope, since pilot episode Hidden Depths aired in 2011.

The acclaimed actress has admitted she is 'sad' to be saying goodbye to her legendary on screen alias and, for the last three weeks has been spotted all over the North East, as she and co-stars including sidekick David Leon and Riley Jones have filmed scenes for the two new feature length episodes which are set to air in early 2025.

READ MORE: Vera ITV filming sees famous South Shields business' name changed for hit drama

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The first location the Vera team were clocked by locals was Cambois in Northumberland, before they were also seen in the likes of Blyth, Gateshead and Ashington in the first week of production. Since then, production vehicles have parked up in South Shields, Seaham and Whitley Bay and, at the start of this week, the cast and crew set up camp in Hartlepool, having also filmed there for series 13 last year.

As soon as word got out that Brenda and her ITV co-stars were shooting in the Headland area, a large crowd gathered, with Brenda, as she always does, taking the time to chat to those who headed along.

Speaking about leaving her iconicrole, Brenda spoke of her appreciation for the welcome she'd had by the people of the North East for the last 13 years, saying: "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.”