Crowds gather as ITV drama Vera films on popular high street

Following a delay due to the coronavirus pandemic, filming for series 11 of Vera is under way in locations around the North East.

Earlier today (Tuesday, October 20), crowds gathered in Chester-le-Street to catch a glimpse of star Brenda Blethyn and the famous Land Rover, which was pictured parked in the Front Street

Many passersby can be seen wearing masks as police officers block off parts of the road.

In August, ITV announced confirmed Blethyn will return to the role of DCI Vera Stanhope for six ‘emotionally compelling’ feature length episodes set against the backdrop of the North East.

Two episodes will be filmed this autumn until Christmas for broadcast in 2021 and the remaining four episodes will go into production from spring 2021 to be broadcast the following year.

Brenda Blethyn said previously: “I’m really looking forward to working on the next series of Vera. The safety of all personnel is always at the forefront of production, and with all the extra Covid precautions in place we will relish creating and delivering six cracking new episodes.”

The eleventh series, based on the novels by Ann Cleeves, opens when the body of well-respected local builder, Jim Tullman, is found beaten to death on the steps of the Collingwood Monument.

Kenny Doughty will return as sidekick Detective Sergeant Aiden Healy and actors such as Jon Morrision, who plats DC Kenny Lockhard, Riley Jones, who plays DC Mark Edwards, and Ibinabo Jack, who plays DC Jacqueline Williams, will reunited for the eleventh series.

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