His role will be filled in season 13<\/a> by David Leon, who is returning to play DS Joe Ashworth<\/a>, and was last seen in the series in 2014.<\/p>\n Doughty has now explained the factors that went into his decision to leave, revealing that he was initially meant to depart at the end of season 12, ahead of this special.<\/p>\n Doughty said: \u201cI made the decision before we started filming series 12. That was initially going to be the four films screened at the start of 2023.<\/p>\n \u201cBut then halfway through filming they said, \u2018Can we do a Christmas special as well?\u2019 So it was a long goodbye, with The Rising Tide being my last episode, filmed in November and December 2022.<\/p>\n \u201cThere 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.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is also a real family connection to the crew, who I\u2019m still in touch with.\u201d<\/p>\n He continued: \u201cIt has been nine years since I filmed my first episode in 2014, which was screened in 2015. I just wanted to leave while I was still happy with everything.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a really difficult decision to leave, because I loved doing that job and I loved working with everybody on the Vera team.<\/p>\n Read more:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cBut a little part of me, for whatever reason, the little inner self said to me, \u2018You should probably call it a day while you\u2019re still enjoying it\u2019. To step away and seek new acting challenges.<\/p>\n \u201cMy first Vera film was series five, episode one, called Changing Tides. While this story is called The Rising Tide. So it feels appropriate to come in on one tide and go out on another.\u201d<\/p> Blethyn also paid tribute to Doughty on his departure, saying: \u201cI was sad when he said he was leaving. He\u2019s my mate. We had filmed eight series together. I\u2019ve never laughed so hard as I did with Kenny Doughty.\u201d<\/p>\n The Rising Tide will be based on the 10th Vera novel by author Ann Cleeves, and will see Vera and her colleagues taking on a chilling investigation when a reunion of friends on the tidal island of Lindisfarne ends with one of them being found dead.<\/p> ![\"Brenda](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/3\/2023\/12\/verachristmasspecial330-d40d6d7.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413\" "\\"vera_christmas_special_33_0\\"\/")
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