Down Under was calling.
It’s all change for Vera Stanhope (played by Brenda Blethyn) on the ITV crime series.
The detective returned for a new case in season 13 premier Fast Love, as she investigated a hit and run in the fictional town of Bentham.
However while talking to Dr Paula Bennett (Sarah Kameela Impey) at the crime scene, she had to explain why she was missing her right hand man, DS Aiden Healy (Kenny Doughty).
Vera revealed he’s actually moved to Perth in Australia – something which came of complete surprise to her.
She announced that his partner’s sister lives out there, and his wife thought it would be a nice challenge for them to join her.
Aiden was last seen in the Christmas special, The Rising Tide.
Speaking about his decision to leave Vera, Doughty said: “I made the decision before we started filming series 12. That was initially going to be the four films screened at the start of 2023.
“But then halfway through filming they said, ‘Can we do a Christmas special as well?’ So it was a long goodbye, with The Rising Tide being my last episode, filmed in November and December 2022.
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“There were lots of personal and professional reasons why I wanted to move on. I have loved doing Vera, 100 per cent. It has been a life-changing job for so many reasons. Including working with Brenda Blethyn and in the North East. I feel like an honorary Geordie.
“There is also a real family connection to the crew, who I’m still in touch with.”
The Vera continues next Sunday on ITV at 8pm. To find out what else is on, check out our TV Guide or visit our dedicated Drama hub. You can buy the first of Ann Cleeves’s Vera novels online.
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