Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Chronicle Live
Chronicle Live
Entertainment
Simon Duke

Vera's Brenda Blethyn lifts lid on behind the scenes 'secret' viewers don't see on screen

Brenda Blethyn has lifted the lid on some behind the scenes trickery used by the Vera crew, that ITV viewers won't have a clue about. And it's all to do with her character's famous Land Rover.

Now that the latest series of the hit drama has come to an end, Brenda has bowed out of the primetime spotlight once again, with millions of viewers tuning into watch her in action in last Sunday's series finale The Darkest Evening. Things looked rather bleak for Brenda's legendary alias at one point when, after shots were fired, Vera fell to the ground with blood pouring from her head.

Thankfully, after the drama returned from a well timed ad break, during which Vera fans who hadn't already ready the Ann Cleeves novel held their breath, it was revealed that, rather than being shot, Vera had just banged her head on the wall in front of her and fallen to the floor.

Prior to the latest six episode run of Vera coming to an end, leading lady Brenda had already confirmed that another 'special' episode had been filmed, after the cast and crew reunited for filming just before Christmas. The result is a screen adaptation of another of Ann's acclaimed Vera novels The Rising TIde.

READ MORE: ITV's Vera 'replacement' confirmed as upset fans make new series demand

It looks likely that will air on ITV at some point later this year and, as well as teasing details about that, Brenda has also exposed something that goes on backstage involving Vera's famous Land Rover.

The Defender has become just as synonymous with DCI Stanhope as her mac and fishing hat but, all it's quite what it seems on screen.

Talking about something fans have seen on screen this year, Brenda explained: "“There’s a brief scene where we see Vera changing a tyre on her Land Rover in the middle of nowhere. It was a very heavy tyre but I lifted it up and chucked it in the back. Vera would have learned how to do all of that from her dad. That’s her dad’s motor. It was her who got it going when he died. She got it out of the shed.“

However, divulging a behind the scenes 'secret' she added: "The Land Rover was adapted to an automatic for me to drive. And I’ve got a little extra step to get in and out. Getting out is easy. I just come out like going down a chute. But it’s quite high up to get in. So they added a little step for me."

Earlier this week it was confirmed that another detective drama, Endeavour will go in to Vera's 8pm slot on Sunday nights, starting from February 26.

*Sign up to get the latest TV and showbiz news straight to your inbox with the Chronicle TV and celebs newsletter. If you can't see the form below, click HERE

READ NEXT:

*Win a personalised Love Island merchandise bundle as new series final nears

*Loose Women's Jane Moore gets 'promotion' on ITV show after spat with co-star divides viewers

*ITV Vera viewers call out drama over 'impossible' Newcastle error in latest episode

*Win tickets for a tour of Emmerdale's famous set

*Brenda Blethyn confirms Vera return for 'special' episode

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.