Vera makes its highly-anticipated return to ITV on Sunday night and while viewers will no doubt be over the moon to see Brenda Blethyn reprise her role as the titular DCI, the actress came close to departing the show for good at the end of the last season.
Ahead of the series 13 premiere, Brenda revealed that she "didn't want to do any more" episodes after Kenny Doughty announced his departure from the popular crime drama, but was persuaded to reprise the role after the show's producers secured David Leon's return.
David, who portrayed Joe Ashworth from series one to four, will return as Vera's trusty sidekick in the new episodes, taking over from Kenny, who has played DS Aiden Healy since 2014.
Talking to ITV about David's comeback, Brenda explained: "After we filmed The Rising Tide at the end of 2022 I didn't want to do any more without Kenny Doughty, who had decided to leave. But I said, 'I'll think about it if you can see if David Leon is available to return as Joe Ashworth.' And so they did and here I am."
She went on to reveal that she was "broken-hearted" when David first departed the show after season four and was "overjoyed" after learning the news of his return, adding that Vera and Joe's relationship "worked so well".
Brenda went on to admit that she doesn't plan on filming "many more" series of the drama. "I wouldn't have continued if David had not agreed to come back," said the 77-year-old. "I just didn't want to start another board game with somebody else when I know I'm not going to do many more. And who would want to do it anyway?"
Thankfully, David is returning and fans can look forward to seeing Joe and Vera team up to investigate the death of a young man following a car collision in the opening episodes.
Speaking about the circumstances surrounding his comeback, David explained that he "hadn't considered" returning to the show when one of the producers reached out.
"It was something I hadn't really considered previously as being an option," said the actor. "Although it was a question, I had probably been asked by Vera fans and others every day since I left at the end of series four, with Joe last seen on screen in 2014.
"It felt like there was some unfinished business there," he continued, adding: "So it was a nice opportunity to come back and, to some extent, tie up some loose ends."
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So, what can we expect from the new episodes?
Since the show is based on Ann Cleeves's best-selling novel series, we can expect the investigations to be pulled from the books.
In episode one, which is titled 'Fast Love', the Northumberland and City Police force are called upon to investigate the death of a young man following a car collision in a quiet country lane.
As Vera and the team get to work, the DCI learns that the victim was a popular market trader whose antagonistic and arrogant ways may have come at a price.
The synopsis teases: "Secrets. Lies. Betrayal. Fractious relationships and intense rivalries but who would want our barrow boy buried."
Vera series 13 airs on ITV on Sunday 7 January at 8pm.