Vera is finally back this weekend and fans will want to keep their eyes peeled for a few familiar faces amongst its cast, as a whole host of guest stars join the action.
After nearly a year long wait for new episodes, ITV viewers will soon get to watch six feature length editions of the long-running crime drama, starting on Sunday, January 25 with Vital Signs, which while being billed as the opener for series 12, is one of two remaining episodes from the last series, which was brought to an abrupt end by ITV in early 2022, as Vera's time slot was taken over by Good Karma Hospital and Trigger Point.
As well as leading lady Brenda Blethyn being back for Vera's return, alongside co-stars like Kenny Doughty, Riley Jones and Paul Kaye, who has now quit the show; a variety of actors will be on screen to play a part in the many twists and turns that Vera always delivers.
READ MORE: Vera's Brenda Blethyn confirms co-star will leave ITV drama during new series
One of the most recognisable is Hugh Quarshie. Hugh, who will take on the role of Dr Leon Palmer in Vital Signs, is best known for playing Ric Griffin in Holby City from 2001 to 2020 and been in Doctor Who and in movie blockbusters like Highlander and Star Wars: The Phantom Menace.
Another guest star who's come into the Vera fold for the new episodes is star of stage and screen Samantha Spiro. As well as playing TV legend Barbara Windsor in biopic Babs, Samantha has appeared in countless hit TV shows, including Sex Education, Game of Thrones and Call The Midwife.
Vera new series guest stars
Vital Signs
Hugh Quarshie
Issey King
Frances Grey
Geoffrey Lumb
Angela Sims
Garry Cooper
Heather Bleasdale
Spike Leighton
Kirsten Foster
Danyal Ismail
Sean Kearns
Isabel Butt
Joyce Veheary
The Way The Wind Blows
Michael Balogun
Kris Mochrie
Poppy Winter
Rochelle Goldie
Ross Waiton
Catherine Dryden
Hopi Grace
Jon Edgley-Bond
Andrew Whipp
Cynthia Emeagi
Sian Webber
Ezra Faroque Khan
Alan Stocks
Charlotte Baker
Stacey Evans
Against The Tide
Samantha Spiro
Robert Wilfort
Rachel Morris
Amanda Horlock
Flynn Allen
Ellis Konstantina
Paul Bown
Ade Ajibade
Jason Hewley
Patricia Potter
Jasmine Kerr
Dharmesh Patel
Harvey Smith
For The Grace of God
Sara Kameela Impey (takes over as Paula the pathologist)
Francis Magee
Zak Douglas
Rachel Denning
Paul Thornley
Sarah Ball
Tom Machell
Kevin Wathen
Charlotte Ryder
Victoria Ekanoye
Joanna Horton
Denver-Isaac Kwashe
Billy Wolf
Tamsin Griffin
Jake Ashton-Nelson
Rosalyn Wright
Harry Long
Mark Armstrong
Heidi Sellers
Mary Malone
Blue
Matthew Marsh
Billy Gunnion
Ellis Eyres
Bill Blackwood
Connor Crawford
Jesse Akele
Kem Hassan
Gary Mavers
Lizzie Hopley
Nicola Alexis
Emily Dowson
Rebecca Bowser
Su Elliott
Wolfe J Mller
Nikita Mehta
Srabani Sen
The Darkest Evening
Zoe Telford
Stephen Walters
Jack Deam
Kevin Doyle
Joshua J Parker
Sky Francis
Kaye Brown
Simon Harrison
Rosalind March
Karen Henthorn
Shelley Williams
Mo Sesay
Reyna Rita
Aimée Cassettari
*Lorraine Kelly returns to host her ITV show after operation
*Ruth Langsford breaks news of Eamonn's nasty fall and family tragedy
*James Jordan defends 'thinner' comment about wife Ola's weight after backlash
*Giovanni Pernice recruits Strictly co-star for his own tour
