Vera ITV final series start date 'officially' confirmed in new TV advert

After a big hint as to when the hit drama will return, Vera viewers now know when they'll be back to watch the final series, thanks to a very revealing new TV advert. And they don't have long to wait.

It's hard to believe that it was way back in 2011 that the much loved ITV show made its debut, with BAFTA winner Brenda Blethyn putting on her now iconic combo of a trench coat and fishing hat for the first time, as she appeared alongside sidekick David Leon and a young Sam Fender, who still has the unlikely claim to fame of being Vera's first murder victim.

Fast forward 13 years and Vera fans across the world were dealt a huge blow when ITV bosses announced that its 14th series, filmed all over the North East, in the likes of Blyth, South Shields, Gateshead and the Northumberland village of Glanton, will be its last. There was further bad news for lovers of all things DCI Stanhope, when it was also revealed that, rather than being a full series, the drama's final run will consist of just two episodes, although there will be the added bonus of behind the scenes documentary Vera, Farewell Pet.

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Months after filming her final scenes as Vera, Brenda Blethyn appeared on stage at London's British Film Institute for celebration event, Vera - End of an Era, as she and author Ann Cleeves took questions from fans in the audience and the evening's host, Emma Kennedy. Right at the end of the screening, Emma told everyone in the auditorium, that they could see the final episodes of Vera 'in the next year.'

And now that has been officially confirmed by ITV, in an advert that was clocked by many fans who saw it on Thursday night. The ad urged viewers to catch up on all of Vera so far on ITVX, before the new series 'starts in January.'

it didn't take long for news of the advert to spread to Vera fan groups online, with one viewer alerting others, as they posted: "Just seen an ad for Vera. Coming to the screens in January 2025 uk. I can't wait" and another reacted: "Just seen an advert on ITV in the UK which said “Stream the boxset of Vera before the next series starts in January"