Brenda Blethyn and Vera author Ann Cleeves are both celebrating after the hit collection of novels turned much loved crime drama earned some top recognition over the other side of the Atlantic.
ITV viewers will soon get their first look at series 11 of Vera, after the first two episodes were shot in the North East last year and, the cast and team behind the ITV ratings winner has been given a real boost ahead of the new run with the news that American readers are also big fans.
World famous paper The Washington Post recently asked its readers to pick their favourite fictional detective and, while the full list is yet to be published, it has been confirmed that no nonsense DI Vera Stanhope made the top 5.
Vera was joined in the upper echelons of the list by Armand Gamache, Sherlock Holmes, Harry Bosch and Hercule Poirot, making her the top female detective with voters, seeing off competition from legendary names like Miss Marple.
And both lead actress Brenda and Geordie writer Ann were delighted with the result. BAFTA winning actress Brenda tweeted: "Many thanks to readers of @washingtonpost So glad you enjoy watching Vera. Thank you."
Ann posted: "Thanks to the readers of the @washingtonpost who voted Vera as their fifth favourite detective. Up there, with some brilliant characters. And the top woman! She even beat Miss Marple. Congrats to @BrendaBlethyn and @SilverprintPics."
Vera and other cast members including her on screen sidekick Kenny Doughty have been back on Tyneside in recent weeks to shoot scenes for the remainder of series 11 in Whitley Bay, with filming locations last year including Amble, Tynemouth, Chester-le-Street and South Shields.
Early last month, ITV revealed the eleventh series opens when the body of well-respected local builder, Jim Tullman, is found beaten to death on the steps of Tynemouth's Collingwood Monument.
DCI Vera Stanhope questions how such a seemingly beloved and imposing figure could be attacked so viciously.
The mystery deepens when she discovers that Tullman was due to testify in court as the key witness in a violent assault. Could these two crimes be connected?
We'll soon find out as Vera is one of the dramas included in ITV's spring programming.
