ITV renews Vera for Season 10
David Farnor | On 10, Mar 2019
ITV has renewed Vera for a 10th season.
The crime drama, which has just aired its ninth season, stars Brenda Blethyn as DCI Vera Stanhope. Now, within weeks of Season 9’s finale, ITV and Silverprint Pictures have already ordered a 10th season.
Blethyn will return for four feature length episodes, set against the backdrop of the North East. Kenny Doughty will also return as Detective Sergeant Aiden Healy, who over the years has proved himself to be a strong and reliable partner to DCI Stanhope. Completing Vera’s team is Jon Morrison who plays DC Kenny Lockhart, Riley Jones who plays DC Mark Edwards, Ibinabo Jack who plays DC Jacqueline Williams and Paul Kaye, who returns as Pathologist Dr. Malcolm Donahue.
The four self-contained crime stories will be inspired by the best-selling novels and characters created by acclaimed crime writer Ann Cleeves, who received the Diamond Dagger Award at the Crime Writer’s Association in 2017 for a lifetime achievement for sustained excellence.
Season 10 will be produced by Will Nicholson while Executive Producer Phil Hunter returns for his fourth consecutive season. Director Paul Gay and writer Paul Logue also return to the production and will be working on the first episode.
Blethyn says: “Along with the rest of the cast of Vera, I’m delighted to be embarking on series ten. The enthusiasm and warmth shown to Vera has been overwhelming and we can’t wait to get started. Newcastle here we come!”
Hunter adds: “I’m thrilled Vera is returning for series ten. Making this show is such a joy and it’s clear that Team Vera love it as much as the viewing fans love watching. I’m continually overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and commitment the brilliant cast and crew bring to the show.”
In the UK, Vera performs consistently for ITV. Season 9 averaged 7.9 million viewers. Internationally, Vera is also one of the most successful imported drama titles in Belgium, Denmark, France, Netherlands and Norway, and has been sold to more than 150 territories worldwide.
At this year’s Royal Television Society Awards: North East & The Border, the show won the Judges Award for outstanding contribution to the region and Production Designer Patrick Bill won the award for Professional Excellence for Production Design.
Season 10 will begin production in April for transmission in 2020.
