Vera fans divided over whether they want a spin-off as they look to future
The detective drama is ending after 14 seasons – but what comes next?
Vera fans might well be nursing heartbreak over recent news that the long-running detective drama is ending, but despite that they remain uncertain about the prospect of a spin-off.
Brenda Blethyn has led the cast of the ITV series since 2011, portraying Northumberland-based DCI Vera Stanhope as she pieces together challenging cases from the mind of novelist and screenwriter Ann Cleeves.
The upcoming 14th season is set to be the show's last, with Blethyn saying that working on the show has been "a joy from beginning to end and I'm sad to be saying cheerio".
She continued: "I am so proud of our achievements over the last 14 years. I'll be forever grateful to the wonderful Ann Cleeves, who created Vera, and to Elaine Collins, who saw fit to cast me in the role."
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Following the announcement, conversation soon shifted towards whether a spin-off could be possible, with the recently returned David Leon an obvious candidate to star as DI Joe Ashworth.
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We put the idea to readers on X (formerly Twitter) and found a divided response, split almost exactly evenly, but the camp saying 'no' to a spin-off managed to maintain a slight edge – 50.7 percent, as opposed to the 49.3 percent saying 'yes'.
It's an interesting result, showing some appetite for a continuation alongside apprehension from other corners of the fandom, who might be concerned about an inferior spin-off tarnishing the legacy of the original series.
However, detective dramas have successfully pulled off this trick in the past, with BBC One's Beyond Paradise currently proving a worthy addition to the universe that began with parent show Death in Paradise.
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While not technically a "spin-off", Douglas Henshall's passing of the Shetland baton to current star Ashley Jensen is a comparable scenario that has also worked out well.
So, there's certainly potential here, but it seems that ITV could have a battle on its hands if it does attempt a Vera follow-up. To be clear, the broadcaster is yet to confirm any such plan – this is all speculation for the time being.
Vera is available to stream on ITVX. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on.
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