‘Vera’ announces Season 13 start date – with an unfortunate schedule clash!

ITV has confirmed when the new season of Vera begins!

Based on award-winning author Ann Cleeves‘s character, the long-running crime drama has been a hit for ITV since it launched 12 years ago.

Three brand new feature-length stories were shot in the North East of England this summer.

The thirteenth season of Vera sees Brenda Blethyn reprise her role as DCI Vera Stanhope.

While Blethyn’s co-star Kenny Doughty will make his final appearance as DS Aidan Healey in the upcoming Christmas special, it’s not all sad news as original cast member David Leon is coming back!

“I’m thrilled to be returning to Vera,” said the 43-year-old actor. “It’s fantastic to be back in the North East and reunited with Brenda and the crew for the new series.

Leon played Joe Ashworth in the first four seasons of Vera until 2014.

“I’m looking forward to exploring the relationship between Joe and Vera as they make up for lost time,” he commented earlier this year.

Also returning are Jon Morrison, Sarah Kameela Impey, and Riley Jones playing DC Kenny Lockhart, Pathologist Dr. Paula Bennett, and DC Mark Edwards respectively.

Joining the cast is Rhiannon Clements (Ridley) as Steph Duncan, a new and ambitious DC on Vera’s team.

When’s the release date?

Season 13 premieres in the UK at 8pm on Sunday 7 January 2024 on ITV1, and it’ll also be streaming on ITVX.

Unfortunately, this clashes with the return of Call the Midwife, which is back at 8pm on the same night over on BBC One.

If you’re a fan of both shows, you’ll have to set the recorder or pick one to stream on a catch-up service.

Over in the US, the new episodes of Vera will arrive on BritBox later in the year for American viewers.

While we wait for the new season, you can catch up on every episode of Vera so far on BritBox for free with this 7-day trial!

The first episode of Season 13, titled, ‘Fast Love’, sees DCI Vera Stanhope (Brenda Blethyn) called to a quiet country lane where a young man has been found dead following a collision with a car.

“On closer inspection, it becomes clear that this is not an accident and is way more than a hit and run,” the official synopsis reveals.

“Vera discovers that the victim is a popular market trader so heads down to his pitch to start to put together an idea of who our man is and ascertain why anyone would want him dead.

“As the investigation gathers pace, Vera learns that our cheeky chappy was a complex character. Antagonistic, arrogant and able to get what he wants, but did all of this come at a price?”

Four other popular British detective dramas are also returning to ITV in 2024, including Grace and The Bay.

All twelve seasons of Vera are available to watch on BritBox with a free 7-day trial.