‘Vera’ Renewed For Season 13 By ITV With David Leon Returning As Joe Ashworth
ITV has announced award-winning actress Brenda Blethyn will return for a 13th Season of ‘Vera‘, alongside a new/old sidekick, actor and director David Leon, who returns as Joe Ashworth.
Inspired by the award-winning author Ann Cleeves, ‘Vera’ stars Blethyn as Chief Inspector Vera Stanhope who investigates murders in North East England. Actor Kenny Doughty, who played DS Aidan Healey since 2015, recently announced his departure from the drama. This has left a slot open for a new sidekick to help out Vera in her detective work, and ITV has confirmed that will be DS Joe Ashworth, played by David Leon, who was last seen in season four. Whilst Leon left the drama as an actor in 2014, he returned behind the camera as a director during the 8th Season in 2018.
Actress Ibinabo Jack, who has played DC Jacqueline ‘Jac’ Williams since 2018, will also not be returning for the thirteenth series due to her theatre commitments. The Rising Tide, a feature-length episode based on the eleventh Vera novel written by Ann Cleeves, will be Kenny and Ibinabo’s final appearance in the series. The episode is scheduled for later this year.
“It’s been such a pleasure to work alongside Kenny and Ibinabo,” commented Blethyn. “They’ve both been terrific members of the Vera team, and I’ll miss them. I’m absolutely over the moon to welcome David back to the show and can’t wait to get started.”
Cast who are returning alongside Brenda and David for three new feature-length films include Jon Morrison, who plays DC Kenny Lockhart and Riley Jones, who plays DC Mark Edwards. Further castings and information about the new series will be announced when filming commences in the summer.
The much-loved and acclaimed series has consistently pulled in impressive viewing figures, with an average 6.0 million viewers tuning in for the last series, including viewing across all devices.
In 2021 Brenda Blethyn received the Rose d’Or Lifetime Achievement Award for her starring role as Vera, ITV’s longest-running female detective, and her many other defining roles throughout her career. Brenda is also the recipient of several accolades including two Oscar nominations, a Golden Globe, a BAFTA and a Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress.
Made by Silverprint Pictures, part of ITV Studios, the thirteenth series will be Executive produced by Will Nicholson and Kate Bartlett. Drama Commissioner Huw Kennair-Jones will oversee the production on behalf of ITV.
‘Vera‘ Season 12 will continue later in 2023 on ITV1. Seasons 1-12 are available on ITVX. If you want to keep track of this or any other show, you can add them via our Never Miss system, and you’ll be notified when it gets a UK premiere date.
