Look who’s back
Brenda Blethyn resumes detective duties as Vera investigates a body found in landfill…
DCI Vera Stanhope pulls on her hat and trusty mac as she and her team return to solve a new batch of crimes in the ninth series. The brilliant detective, played again by Brenda Blethyn, and her loyal colleague DS Aiden Healy (Kenny Doughty) get things underway with an unpleasant start when the body of a woman is found dumped in a landfill site in Northumberland.
‘It was our very first day of filming,’ says Brenda.
‘It was hot and windy, and there was the stench of methane from the landfill. It was rank! Plus, I couldn’t help thinking, “Chances are there’s probably a real body in here somewhere!”’
The victim is soon identified as Joanne Caswell, a newly qualified forensic psychologist who had been working with prisoners in Newcastle. As Vera and Aiden attempt to uncover who might have a motive to kill Joanne, their investigation takes some unexpected twists.
New faces
Peter Davison stars as Joanne’s colleague Matthew, while Adrian Lukis plays her father, Graham. Meanwhile, Vera has a new pathologist in tow, Dr Malcolm Donahue, played by Paul Kaye. ‘Malcolm has got his own agenda and no time for Vera,’ explains Brenda. ‘He’s a miserable man!’ Which is a world away from Paul, who Brenda calls ‘gold dust’.
The four-part series features other well-known faces, including Mark Addy, Robert JamesCollier, Mark Wingett and Patrick Baladi.
‘We’re so lucky to always have such great guest stars,’ says Brenda. ‘That, and the fact I love working with Kenny and all the crew, is what makes Vera such an enjoyable job to do.’