As series 13 of ITV's Vera returns to our screens next week, we wait in anticipation for what is in store and to see the stunning landscapes of the North East.

Filmed in the region, fans of the hit show have always appreciated the scenery, as well as Brenda Blethyn's depiction of DCI Vera Stanhope. 

While Vera did have a festive special over the Christmas period, it has been over a year's wait for fans of the show since series 12 finished. 

The new series will start on ITV1 on Sunday, January 7, 2024 at 8pm, with the episode being two-hours in length.

The 13th series will then run for two more consecutive weeks on January 14 and January 21.

As fans of the show will already realise, DS Aiden Healy actor Kenny Doughty has bowed out of filming of the show, with his final series coming at series 12. However, he has been replaced in series 13 by David Leon.

In episode one of series 13, the team looks into the death of a young man following a car collision in a quiet country lane. Vera soon learns that the victim was a popular market trader whose antagonistic and arrogant ways may have come back to bite him. 

Over the last year, the cast and crew of Vera have been spotted across the North East, including in Hexham, Gateshead, Redcar, Hartlepool, and many other familiar places. 

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We have delved into the locations that ITV's Vera has used for series 13:

Hartlepool

The Northern Echo:

Stars of the popular ITV show Vera were spotted filming for series 13, including  The Cosmopolitan, which has a reputation as Hartlepool's most haunted pub.

Those who were lucky enough managed to catch a glance of the crew and the actors from behind the bar, while landlord Tim Fleming’s granddaughter Reeva took a picture with series stars Brenda Blethyn, who plays Vera, and David Leon, who plays Joe Ashworth.

The filming in Hartlepool happened on August 29 and August 30.

Redcar

The Northern Echo:

On August 22, the cast of Vera were at Redcar Esplanade, which has seen Brenda Blethyn spotted outside playland amusements and the nearby fish and chip shop.  

On August 24, Brenda Blethyn and several other crew members were seen back in Redcar, with numerous excited members of the public watching on as some of the scenes were filmed. 

Gateshead

The Northern Echo:

On July 4, the filming crew picked Gateshead Quayside as their backdrop to film some of the scenes.

While the choice of location as Gateshead Quay wasn't too unusual for filming Vera, some fans were kicking themselves after missing out on the opportunity to be an extra in the TV show.

Hexham/Fish Quay in North Tyneside

The Northern Echo:

Brenda Blethyn donned in Vera’s trademark coat and hat, was spotted in Hexham marketplace in May as filming for series 13 of the North East-based show continued.

Crowds gathered to watch the award-winning actress in action before the town’s famous abbey.

She was also spotted several days later at the Fish Quay in North Tyneside - also donning her trademark coat and hat.