Vera star Brenda Blethyn says filming final scenes of ITV drama ‘broke her heart’ as show ends after 14 series

Brenda Blethyn, the star of ITV’s crime drama series Vera, has opened up about her heartbreak while filming the final episodes of the show.

The beloved drama concludes this new year with a two-part special after a successful 14-year run.

And this week during an emotional conversation with Radio timesThe actress, 78, revealed that one particular scene with Jon Morrison, who plays DC Kenny Lockhart, was very emotional to film.

She said: ‘One scene involved Vera and DC Kenny Lockhart, played by Jon Morrison. It broke my heart when I read the script and it was emotional to film.”

Meanwhile, Jon himself contacted Brenda after filming wrapped, expressing his gratitude for her fourteen years of work.

Brenda added, “Jon called me after everything was over. And he said, “I just wanted to thank you for giving us fourteen years of work.” What a gentleman. But I thanked him and told him I definitely wouldn’t do any episodes without him, which is true.”

The much-loved drama concludes this new year with a two-part special after a successful 14-year run (David Leon and Brenda pictured in the show)

In the gripping finale, which airs January 1 and 2 at 8pm, Detective Vera is called to investigate a body found by the Tyne, leaving her entangled in a case of ‘a broken relationship, secret love, grudge , regret and fraud’.

As Vera’s journey comes to an end, Brenda is joined by David Leon as Joe Ashworth, Rhiannon Clements as Detective Steph Duncan and Shobna Gulati as Chief Inspector Khalon, Chronicle Live reports.

In addition to the main cast, Riley Jones will return as DC Mark Edwards alongside Sarah Kameela Impey as Dr. Paula Bennett, and Jon will reprise his role as DC Kenny Lockhart.

It comes after Brenda admitted she struggled to ‘drag’ herself away from the ITV detective show for so long.

She said: ‘It was a tough decision and in March when I would normally be getting ready to go back up I will probably be crying.’

“As much as I enjoyed all of that, I have a family at home and I realized I hadn’t had a summer with my family in fourteen years.”

‘So I made another series because I couldn’t drag myself away. Anyway, it was time, that’s all.’

However, the star has kept a few souvenirs from the set as a fond reminder of her time on the show.

This week, during an emotional chat with Radio Times, the 78-year-old actress revealed that a particular scene with Jon Morrison (pictured), who plays DC Kenny Lockhart, was very emotional to film.

She said: ‘One scene involved Vera and DC Kenny Lockhart, played by Jon Morrison. It broke my heart when I read the script and it was emotional to film.”

‘I have the mac and the hat! I think I have the jacket too, the tweedy. Although it seems like it’s been through the mill,” she said.

The actress initially declined to speak about the finale at an event at the BFI in London.

‘No comment. I’m not going to tell you,” she joked when asked for information.

But she did drop some hints, hinting that a tough time was ahead for Vera and her colleague Joe Ashworth (David Leon).

Brenda said, “Joe has something going on that he doesn’t want to talk about and Vera wants to get to the bottom of it.”

The final series airs on January 1 and 2 at 8pm, while the show’s documentary, Vera: Farewell Pet, airs on January 3 at 9pm on ITV1 and STV.

“We know he came back to the area because his father was ill. He has died, we have already seen that.’

“Joe doesn’t seem to have gotten out of that dungeon and Vera is worried about that.”

Meanwhile, Vera faces her own dilemma when she learns that her boss plans to promote her.

Brenda said, “Vera’s superior, the superintendent, wants to promote her, so it’s a big decision for Vera.”

The final series airs on January 1 and 2 at 8pm, while the show’s documentary, Vera: Farewell Pet, airs on January 3 at 9pm on ITV1 and STV.