Brenda Blethyn recalls 'losing her Vera hat' on set
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Vera has been a hit with viewers since it first launched in 2011, with Brenda Blethyn taking the lead as DCI Vera Stanhope. In the beginning, Vera was partnered up with Joe Ashworth (played by David Leon) before he was replaced by Aiden Healy (Kenny Doughty) in 2014. Vera’s colleagues DC Kenny Lockhart (Jon Morrison), DC Mark Edwards (Riley Jones) and DC Jac Williams (Ibinabo Jack) have also been regular staples on the ITV show.
The remaining two episodes of series 11 are expected to air later this year, and Brenda has already confirmed to her Twitter followers that filming for series 12 is expected to start in March.
And while the 75-year-old has no plans of giving up her role, her co-star Ibinabo has addressed the actress’ potential retirement.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Express.co.uk about the possibility of Brenda leaving the show, Ibinabo admitted: “I don’t want her to.
“I think Brenda’s the boss so if she keeps making them, we’ll keep doing them.”
“I can’t imagine there not being a Vera to watch,” the actress continued.
“I mean we’ve got a back catalogue of loads and loads. But yeah, she’s brilliant.
“It’s such a treat to work with her, I feel very lucky.”
The Jac Williams star made her debut on the ITV series in 2018, and she has been a regular fixture on the programme ever since.
She went on to recall filming her first-ever scene with Brenda, as she admitted her co-star was forced to offer her a piece of advice.
Ibinabo, who has featured in a number of theatre shows, landed her first TV role in Vera.
“It’s a funny story, my first ever scene on Vera was with Brenda and it was in the Land Rover. So it’s iconic,” the actress explained.
“She’s iconic. I’ve been a huge fan of hers for years and I was massively nervous.”
“With stage performances, you do it for whatever audience is in that night, but the next day, it is a different audience,” she recalled.
“So it’s never the same show, whereas with TV it’s filmed and it’s permanent forever.
“So I got on set and I was doing this scene. It was quite cloak and dagger, an intimate scene, and I’m projecting [my voice].
“Brenda took me to one side and said ‘You don’t need to project because you’ve got a microphone on’.”
The actress explained: “That was the hardest thing, I think, making things look naturalistic.
“And remember not to turn my body outwards to present like you have to do on stage because it’s not flat facing.
“So, that was my first ever day in the Land Rover with Brenda and she had to tell me not to project.”
Speaking about what it’s like working with the leading actress, Ibinabo added: “She’s very good at welcoming people.
“And I do see it now that I’m a regular [actor] when you’ve got guest actors in. She’s very good at putting people at ease.”
Series 11 of Vera will air later this year on ITV.
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