NORTH EAST residents were left stunned after spotting Brenda Blethyn as she continues filming for the latest series of ITV Vera.
Brenda Blethyn and cast were seen filming across Blyth, in Northumberland, last week as parts of the town were transformed into filming locations.
Blethyn, who plays DCI Vera Stanhope in the hit show, recently made a return to our screens as the first two episodes of the new series aired earlier this month.
Filming is continuing ahead of four further episodes as part of the new series, which show bosses have said will be broadcast in 2022.
Read more: Brenda Blethyn suprises beach-goers after filming scenes for Vera on North East beach
But for Julie O'Sullivan, who lives in the town, she and a number of residents were left stunned after filming moved to the area last Monday.
She told The Northern Echo that she had spotted filming take place on the South Shore Estate, before seeing her film the day after near Asda.
She said: "I was driving along the Main Road in Blyth and had turned left into South Shore, where I could see all these vans and thought it must be for Vera."
Ms O'Sullivan, who had previously heard Blethyn was due to film in the town, said: “People love good old Vera. I am a big fan of the show.
"Somebody put it out on Facebook, and I saw she must have been filming in South Shore."
Describing that she had driven past to see nothing but vans, Ms O'Sullivan said she decided to return in 30 minutes' time to see if she could spot the cast.
She said: "I had half an hour before I needed to go to work, so thought I'd go back and then this time her Range Rover was parked outside the house.
"I must have only been there for five seconds and the door of the property opened and she came out."
The following day, Ms O'Sullivan said she spotted Blethyn, Kenny Doughty and cast resume filming, but this time on Chestnut Avenue, near Asda.
She said: "I saw her filming again and thought 'oh my god,' she's there - I had different clothes on and thank god, I thought she would think 'there's that woman again'."
Ms O'Sullivan who said filming had put a smile on everybody's faces explained how Blethyn had a brief interaction with onlookers the previous day.
She said: "What she did on the first day, we were standing on the pavement opposite, and she came out of the property.
"There was a lady ushering her into a black car, but as she walked towards the car she had a beaming smile and waved. I did think how nice she is."
Since resuming filming for the new series, Blethyn has left people across the North East excited with those managing to spot her filming starstruck.
Earlier this month, Rachel Malton of Catterick, was left "surprised" after visiting some of the former locations and stumbled onto cast and crew back there again.
She had been visiting Tynemouth in North Tyneside when she spotted filming take place.
Read more: Brenda Blethyn suprises beach-goers after filming scenes for Vera on North East beach
A spokesperson for ITV previously summed up how the eleventh series will play out with Blethyn and cast returning for more.
They said: "DCI Vera Stanhope questions how such a seemingly beloved and imposing figure could be attacked so viciously.
"The mystery deepens when she discovers that Tullman was due to testify in court as the key witness in a violent assault. Could these two crimes be connected?
"As Vera delves deeper into Jim Tullman’s life she discovers unresolved bitterness between his estranged wife Barbara and doting son John Paul, while tensions with old family friends Gary and Lesley Clayton threaten to spill over.
"Vera must see through the web of family grievances, jealousies and lies to ensure justice is done."
To catch up on new and old Vera episodes on the ITV Hub - click here
--
Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
You can also follow our dedicated County Durham Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.
For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.
Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel