fri 08/11/2024
Home > node > Vera, ITV1

Vera, ITV1 | reviews, news & interviews

Vera, ITV1

Vera, ITV1

Brenda Blethyn shines as Ann Cleeves's rumpled Geordie detective

by Sunday, 01 May 2011
Share
Brenda Blethyn as Tyneside 'tec Vera Stanhope, with David Leon as Sgt Joe Ashworth

ITV1 really, really loves that succulent two-hour slot in the middle of Sunday evening, and anything that goes in there has the legacy of Morse, Lewis, Frost, Miss Marple et al to live up to. The latest cunning plan for Detective Sunday is to recruit the rather excellent Brenda Blethyn to play DCI Vera Stanhope in adaptations of Ann Cleeves's novels, set in the author's native North-East.

ITV1 really, really loves that succulent two-hour slot in the middle of Sunday evening, and anything that goes in there has the legacy of Morse, Lewis, Frost, Miss Marple et al to live up to. The latest cunning plan for Detective Sunday is to recruit the rather excellent Brenda Blethyn to play DCI Vera Stanhope in adaptations of Ann Cleeves's novels, set in the author's native North-East.

Her dress sense is Oxfam-gumshoe, with all expense spared. She makes Columbo look like Tom Ford

rating

Editor Rating: 
4
Average: 4 (1 vote)

Buy

Related Articles

Explore topics

Share this article

Share

Comments

Submitted by Novocastrian (not verified) on Mon, 02/05/2011 - 09:56
Strong support, too, from David Leon as Ashworth, who brings authentic Geordiness to the part despite being altogether far too pretty. This is a poor choice of words as it seems you are saying that he is too pretty the be from Newcastle. I hope this is not what you meant as people form the north east are often as beautiful as the ravishing landscape.

Submitted by Adam Sweeting on Mon, 02/05/2011 - 13:22
No, Novocastrian, what I meant was that David Leon was too pretty to be a gruff and gritty police detective. Apols to anyone in the north east who thought I was trying to abuse them. I lived in Whitley Bay a long time ago (and loved it), so I'm well aware that the locals are all absolutely gorgeous.

Submitted by Silver Knight (not verified) on Tue, 03/05/2011 - 06:59
No, no no! My wife and I are voracious fans of tv crime drama and this is the worst we have seen for a very long time. Totally unbelievable plot and filled with characters you simply didn't care about. And as for Vera herself - words fail me. Blethyn is 64 for Gods sake. How many detectives are still working at that age? At least with Frost we aged with him but even then he became a joke. I cannot listen to Vera's screeching voice ever again. Simply dreadful. On a positive note the countryside looked lovely

Submitted by George Payne (not verified) on Thu, 05/05/2011 - 12:51
I live in Kent and with referance to Vera, North East accent was so strong i could only understand about one in ten words especially where brenda was concerned She was not helped by the quality of the sound track, however if that had been perfect i still think i would not have coped with the dialect.I was so looking foreward to it but i suspect like a few million other viewers south of Manchester. I changed channel,had to. A tip from me to you -- the further you move from Kings English the fewer viewers you will have and an unsaleable product. This programn only catered for people around Newcastle. Funny , you have only had good reviees. George Payne

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 21/09/2011 - 19:30
Yes David Leon is beautiful, but so talented too. Ignorant to say the programme was for people around Newcastle. I have watched my DVDs over and over again and I'm a Londoner. The accents are delicious - though Geordie is hard to fake and Brenda suffers at times - and the supporting and lead actors just brilliant; I enjoyed the way they intoned every line. Only thing is, the plots weren't exciting enough and the 'a-ha moments' weren't convincing. Bring on series 2. I shall be glued and buying it on DVD.

Add comment

Subscribe to theartsdesk.com

Thank you for continuing to read our work on theartsdesk.com. For unlimited access to every article in its entirety, including our archive of more than 15,000 pieces, we're asking for £5 per month or £40 per year. We feel it's a very good deal, and hope you do too.

To take a subscription now simply click here.

And if you're looking for that extra gift for a friend or family member, why not treat them to a theartsdesk.com gift subscription?

more TV

The Day of the Jackal, Sky Atlantic review - Frederick Forsyth's assassin gets a modern-day makeover Eddie Redmayne shoots to kill in lavish 10-part drama
Until I Kill You, ITV1 review - superb performances in a frustrating true-crime story Anna Maxwell Martin and Shaun Evans are compelling, but the script needs more ballast
Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Disney+ review - the Boss grows older defiantly Thom Zimny's film reels in 50 years of New Jersey's most famous export
Industry, BBC One review - bold, addictive saga about corporate culture now Third season of the tale of investment bankers reaches a satisfying climax
Rivals, Disney+ review - adultery, skulduggery and political incorrectness Back to the Eighties with Jilly Cooper's tales of the rich and infamous
Disclaimer, Apple TV+ review - a misfiring revenge saga from Alfonso Cuarón Odd casting and weak scripting aren't a temptation to keep watching
Ludwig, BBC One review - entertaining spin on the brainy detective formula David Mitchell is a perfect fit for this super-sleuth
The Hardacres, Channel 5 review - a fishy tale of upward mobility Will everyday saga of Yorkshire folk strike a popular note?
Joan, ITV1 review - the roller-coaster career of a 1980s jewel thief Brilliant performance by Sophie Turner as 'The Godmother'
The Penguin, Sky Atlantic review - power, corruption, lies and prosthetics Colin Farrell makes a beast of himself in Batman spin-off
A Very Royal Scandal, Prime Video review - a fairly sound reimagining, but to what end? The acting is first-rate, but it has no satisfying dramatic goal
Nightsleeper, BBC One review - strangers on a runaway train Six-part thriller goes off the rails

newsletter

Get a weekly digest of our critical highlights in your inbox each Thursday!

Simply enter your email address in the box below

View previous newsletters