Vera’s sleuthing rubs off on Brenda Blethyn, who reveals what happens if she can guess the plot

Brenda Blethyn as DCI Vera Stanhope
Before Vera came along, its leading star, Brenda Blethyn, was thinking about packing acting in.
“I don’t know how serious I was, but it had crossed my mind,” confides the 75-year-old star, who was born in Ramsgate, and has played the titular role in the ITV drama since 2011.