Brenda Blethyn has admitted that "it was time" for the beloved show Vera to end. The esteemed actress first appeared as DCI Stanhope in 2011's pilot episode 'Hidden Depths', and since then, the programme has become a favourite among crime drama enthusiasts.

However, ITV has announced the approaching series, which will air on January 1 and January 2, marks its conclusion. During a New Year's Eve interview on This Morning with presenters Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary, Brenda delved into the reasons behind her departure from the celebrated role.

She said: "I've loved every minute of it but I suddenly realised I hadn't had a summer with my husband and I thought I'd quite like one. It was time. The writing's always so good, the stories are good and they're true to Ann Cleeves' creation."

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Reflecting on her parting moments during filming, Brenda shared: "It was emotional. There were tears not just from me. Everyone got on so well, there wasn't an ego in sight in 14 years. It was just great."

Despite her passion for her craft, Brenda conceded that she occasionally second-guesses her decision: "When I'm working, I'm absolutely full-on and giving it 100% but in a quiet moment I sit down and think 'have I made a terrible mistake here? ' and when it comes to March, when I'd be packing my bag to go up there, I'm going to be miserable," reports the Express.

The actress known for her role as Vera has ruled out any chances of the character returning in future spin-offs or prequels. She took a dig at shows that try to extend their longevity with such projects.

During an interview, she casually dismissed rumours about any potential Vera spin-offs: "Not that I'm aware of. No, I've not heard any.

"People sometimes say is there going to be a prequel? Personally, I don't think they ever work."

While she enjoys some prequels like ITV's Endeavour, she often ponders their necessity in relation to the original story. Discussing Endeavour, which acts as a precursor to Inspector Morse, she said: "That's not to say I don't like Endeavour.

"I do, and I love Morse, and I loved Endeavour, but I saw no connection between the two." Her frank take was revealed during an interaction with The Sun, where she described prequels as mere vehicles to produce period set pieces unrelated to the original content: "It was just an excuse to make a period set piece, which I liked, but it had nothing to do with Morse as far as I could tell."

The latest instalment of the series hints at more mystery unfolding, according to the synopsis: "In the first episode, DCI Vera Stanhope is summoned to the Tyne's banks where a young man's body has been found by anglers."

With the plot poised to follow a web of secrets and lies, the summary suggests a deep dive into possible motives for the crime: "A complex weave of broken relationships, clandestine romance, grudges, remorse, and deceit starts to unravel – has our former inmate met with a chilling retribution, or is there more to his demise?"