Go Behind the Scenes of the Final Series of ITV's Vera
It's the end of a (v)era... at least on screen
The series first aired in 2011, and this year marks 25 years since the publication of Ann’s first Vera novel. The unconventional detective came to life in The Crow Trap, published in 1999. What followed was a bestselling and critically-acclaimed collection of crime novels and a TV adaptation which has been filmed around the region and achieved worldwide success. It’s hard to believe that The Crow Trap was originally planned to be a standalone novel. ‘I wrote it as a one off but just really loved the character so kept writing more of them,’ explains Ann.
When we spoke to her in 2012, Ann revealed that Vera was partly inspired by her frustration with the fictional female detectives of the time. ‘Even the feminists were writing female characters who were quite good-looking, and managed to get a bloke,’ she told us. On reflection, today Ann believes Brenda’s take on the character she created could be one of the reasons why the series has proved so popular.
‘I think it’s about having a woman who’s a certain age who isn’t dependent on family, who doesn’t need a love interest, and who doesn’t care what she looks like, but who is strong, confident, authoritative, kind – because kindness seems to be at the heart of the show – and, more than any of that, showcases this amazing region where the filming takes place,’ she says. ‘I think that’s what keeps people watching, as much as the storylines and the pull of the amazing character that Brenda has created.’
Brenda has made Vera her own but, having read Ann’s books, she made subtle decisions on bringing the character to life. ‘Vera in the books reacts badly to sunlight, and that’s why [Brenda] chose the bucket hat, because it would keep the sun off,’ Ann reveals. ‘That was her nod to the original character which just shows how amazing and detailed her process of getting into character is.’
Since the series began, Living North have gone behind the scenes on more than one occasion, and crowds of fans have continued to flock to filming locations to see Brenda in action. Ann has written 11 books, but Brenda’s Vera has gone far beyond that – the ITV drama will conclude with its 56th episode. Ann no longer sees the episodes in advance so, like us, she looks forward to tuning in at home. ‘There are so many good episodes but I do like the adaptations of my books,’ she admits. ‘The Seagull, set in Whitley Bay (which is where I live) – that was a great one. Silent Voices was really good, very atmospheric.
‘There are lots of great moments but the most moving [one] was being on set for the last day of filming – everyone came together. I didn’t stay for the afternoon because that was much more of a family event. They were in mourning really; some of them had worked on the show for 14 years. We had the wrap party at St James’ Park which was really special too.
‘It was great to be on set for the last few days of filming, just to say goodbye to everybody. I’d been down in London and it was amazing chatting to journalists from all over the world. I did an interview with a journalist from Japan who said that Vera, for the last two years, has been voted the favourite crime show on Japanese television. Someone from Finland, and another from Estonia, were also saying how popular the show was. I knew that it’d sold to around 180 territories, but I don’t think I’d realised just how it’d caught everyone’s imagination. It feels very moving.’
A special screening took Ann back down memory lane. ‘They showed some of the earlier clips and there was a screening of the very first pilot,’ she says. ‘I was looking at it and thinking, wow, that’s a while ago, but even in that very first episode Brenda captured the character of Vera. I think she’s quite unusual amongst actors in popular drama in that she does read all the books. She talks about going back to the source material and she gets a lot of information from the books. I learn from her portrayal of the character as well. We’re very lucky to have that kind of synergy – it very rarely happens.’
The penultimate episode is an original story, and the very final episode has been adapted from The Dark Wives, Ann’s latest Vera novel which was published in August this year. In this episode, Vera is called to the foot of The Dark Wives, three mythical monoliths she remembers from her childhood. A student has been violently killed and there’s a missing girl to contend with. Fractured relationships, secret projects, corruption, lies and betrayal will all come to light – and another avenue of investigation will lead Vera to an exciting and dangerous conclusion. ‘Everybody is completely sworn to secrecy,’ Ann says. ‘I don’t know how they’ll end it. I know how the book ends, but I don’t know at all how the show ends.’
A special celebratory documentary will mark the end of the series. ‘I can’t wait to see it, and see what other people have said and think about it,’ says Ann. ‘It was nice that some of the former script writers, directors and producers were there – it was really lovely to catch up with everybody.’ The hour-long documentary will feature exclusive behind-the-scenes access to the final series, and interviews with cast members including David Leon, Jon Morrison and Riley Jones, giving viewers the chance to bid ‘Farewell Pet’ to one of television’s most beloved detectives.
Most excitingly, Ann reveals that, while this may the end of ITV’s Vera, we might not have heard the last from her. ‘I’ll write at least one more Vera book, I’m not letting go of her just yet,’ Ann says. ‘She hasn’t aged in realtime over those 25 years so I can certainly write one more.
‘Thank you to all the people in the North East who have taken Vera into their hearts, watched regularly and turn out to watch the filming. Brenda is really moved and I think if someone did say to her “come on, stay on for a bit,” she would be very tempted…’
The final series of Vera and the factual documentary Vera… Farewell Pet will air in January 2025.
What advice can you give budding writers?
Read a lot. Join your local library – it doesn’t cost anything. Just read as wide a variety as you can and that’ll help you find your own voice because you’ll know the sort of books you love.
What was the last book you read?
It was a Sara Paretsky. Her central character is V.I. Warshawski. The book I read was called Hardball and it was fabulous. It’s set in Chicago. She’s a private eye and it’s a kind of feminist take on American thrillers. Sara set up an organisation called Sisters in Crime because when she started writing she realised that men were getting far more reviews than women were.
What was the last TV show you watched?
I watch a bit of TV. It sort of breaks up my day. The last TV show I watched was Shetland which is another one I set off, although it’s moved a long way from the books now. The new series of that has started. I got home from London and put the kettle on in time to watch the first episode.
What’s your favourite crime fiction series?
If we’re talking about what budding writers should read, I would read the Georges Simenon Maigret books. They’re so tight and so clear and a great learning tool for new writers.
What advice would you give your younger self?
I probably wouldn’t have listened anyway! I’ve had such a great life, I’d just do it all again.
Where’s your favourite place to spend time in the North East?
I’ve got a cottage up in the Tyne Valley near Bellingham and I love going up there. It’s beautiful. That’s where I go to chill and write when I need to get away.
What’s next for you?
I’ve got a new book out next autumn which is set in Orkney, which is a bit of a departure for me so that’ll be quite fun. I’m just writing a new Matthew Venn, which is my series set in North Devon where I grew up.
