Lights, camera and
IAIN BUIST WITH police tape, ambulances and a crowd gathered round, you could be forgiven for thinking something terrible had happened in this quiet street.
South Terrace, a residential road in Wallsend, was cordoned off yesterday morning as an ‘investigation’ took place.
However, it was not Northumbria Police, but the fictional Northumberland and City force which was combing this crime scene, under the direction of DCI Vera Stanhope.
At the end of last month, we reported the shoot for the popular ITV series Vera had been paused after some people, including “key cast members” fell ill.
But it seems to be business as usual for the North East’s favourite detective, as star Brenda Blethyn was among the actors spotted on the set.
For those living around the quiet street, near Hadrian Road Metro station, the appearance of cameras and TV stars sparked excitement.
Sheila Pattinson, who lives a street away from South Terrace, said: “It’s great, because I love Vera. We’ve got a caravan at the coast and we always love seeing places we know around there on screen - but this is even better.”
Stephen Pattinson added: “It’s a great programme, it really brings out the North East, it puts us on the map. I love seeing them coming over the Tyne Bridge, seeing the North East on TV.
“I love it, and I love her, I think she’s a great actress, so it’s great to see her here.”
The shoot caused quite a stir, including for one baffled postman, who said he’d never found his round interrupted by TV cameras before, but many locals were looking forward to seeing their street on national TV.
One mother, who lives on South Terrace, said: “I think it’s awesome, personally. I’ve never really watched Vera, though my mam does, but I think I will now, with it being filmed at the bottom of my street.”
Since Vera’s first appearance in 2011, the raincoat-wearing crimesolver has been a common sight across the region, filming everywhere from schools in Newcastle to out on the Farne Islands.
In August, she was seen solving crimes on the banks of the River Tyne, while she popped up in the Turknaz restaurant in Whitley Bay in July.