{"id":42647,"date":"2023-12-29T01:01:49","date_gmt":"2023-12-29T00:01:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1949897"},"modified":"2023-12-29T05:52:49","modified_gmt":"2023-12-29T04:52:49","slug":"vera-star-brenda-blethyn-almost-quit-series-after-co-star-exit","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/vera-star-brenda-blethyn-almost-quit-series-after-co-star-exit\/","title":{"rendered":"Vera star Brenda Blethyn almost quit series after co-star exit"},"content":{"rendered":"

Blethyn opens up on the departure of Kenny Doughty. <\/p>

By Helen Daly\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Friday, 29 December 2023 at 00:01 AM<\/p>

\n\n

It\u2019s all change for Vera<\/a> in season 13, with Kenny Doughty stepping down from his role as DS Aiden Healy in the Christmas special.<\/p>\n

The Rising Tide didn\u2019t show Aiden leave, nor explain why, but it will be addressed in the upcoming season.<\/p>\n

A familiar face will be back to replace him, though, in the form of David Leon as Joe Ashworth<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Vera favourite was last seen in season 4, but thankfully is returning \u2013 and it\u2019s lucky he did, because Brenda Blethyn was close to quitting herself.<\/p>\n

Speaking to press including RadioTimes.com<\/a>, Blethyn opened up on losing Doughty from the series.<\/p>\n

She said: \u201cAfter we filmed The Rising Tide at the end of 2022, I didn\u2019t want to do any more without Kenny Doughty, who had decided to leave.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I said, \u2018I\u2019ll think about it, if you can see if David Leon is available to return as Joe Ashworth.\u2019 And so they did, and here I am.<\/p>\n

\"Kenny\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Kenny Doughty and Brenda Blethyn pose as Aiden and Vera on Lindisfarne<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

\u201cI was broken-hearted when David left after season 4, and equally overjoyed when I heard he was coming back, as the relationship between Vera<\/span> and Joe worked so well. They have all of that early history together.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wouldn\u2019t have continued if David had not agreed to come back. I just didn\u2019t want to start another board game with somebody else when I know I\u2019m not going to do many more. And who would want to do it, anyway?\u201d<\/p>

Vera is available to watch on ITVX<\/a>\u00a0while seasons are\u00a0also available on\u00a0BritBox<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 you can sign up for a\u00a07-day free BritBox trial here<\/a>. You can also purchase instalments from any series on\u00a0Amazon Prime Video<\/a>. You can buy the first of\u00a0Ann Cleeves\u2019s Vera novels<\/a> online.<\/strong><\/p>\n

To find out what else is on, check out our TV Guide<\/a>\u00a0and Streaming<\/span> Guide<\/span><\/b><\/a> or visit our dedicated\u00a0Drama<\/a>\u00a0hub.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Want to visit Death in Paradise locations in Guadeloupe at a discount?\u00a0<\/strong>Radio Times is offering savings of up to 7% for registered users booking their next holiday with travel website Expedia.\u00a0Claim your exclusive Radio Times Expedia holiday discount now<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Try Radio Times magazine today and get 10 issues for only \u00a310 \u2013\u00a0subscribe now<\/a>. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to\u00a0The Radio Times Podcast<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n

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