End of a Vera

After 14 seasons, Brenda Blethyn parks the Land Rover -- and Vera meets her younger self

After 14 seasons of fine detective drama entertainment, actress Brenda Blethyn has hung up her raincoat for the final time.

In a highly emotional two-parter to see off the character, Vera had much to contend with — not least from her pesky sidekick Joe who brought her to her wits end in the first episode over his erratic behaviour.

No one would have minded normally but this time he was only two feet from a Northumberland cliff edge and we didn't want our star losing her footings, not before the finale.

Vera was also offered a promotion to superintendent — a envelope she eyed suspiciously.

Supers rarely get a series of their own.