First off, we have good news, bad news, and questions. The good news is that Vera will return for a 14th season consisting of two episodes.

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The bad news is that afterwards, she'll be hanging up her coat and hat to step away from the role of DCI Vera Stanhope. In a statement, she said:

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"Working on Vera has been a joy from beginning to end, and I’m sad to be saying cheerio. But I am so proud of our achievements over the last 14 years. I’ll be forever grateful to the wonderful Ann Cleeves, who created Vera, and to Elaine Collins, who saw fit to cast me in the role.

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The producers, dream cast and crew have been fabulous, and I’m going to miss them, but I won’t forget their huge talent, the camaraderie, laughter or kindness we shared, nor the friendship of the people of the North East and our fans worldwide.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart."

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The remaining question, of course, is what will happen after season 14. Will they pull a Midsomer Murders and bring in a new DCI who is also called Vera? Or a Shetland, where they simply replace her and carry on? A spin-off with one of her colleagues? Or will season 14 be the final goodbye for the world of Vera (at least in TV form - Ann Cleeves is still alive and well and writing new books)? There have been rumours of a possible continuation, but nothing confirmed just yet.

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Whatever happens, we'll be eagerly awaiting those final episodes - and crossing our fingers for some kind of continuation. We wish Brenda Blethyn all the best as she continues on in her career and/or retirement. At 78 (and with 87 current IMDb credits), she's certainly earned some time off!

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​10 of the Best British Period Dramas of All Time - Good period dramas represent some of the finest TV ever made - and these are as good as it gets.

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Idris Elba Teases Us With the Prospect of More Luther

Back in 2023, Netflix released a follow-up to the Luther TV series - Luther: The Fallen Sun. It was a hit for Netflix, though we saw some mixed reviews from people who didn't feel it was on the same level as the TV series.

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Last week, star Idris Elba did an interview with Radio Times magazine in which he discussed a desire to return to the character. He said, "Luther ended up being one of the top five most streamed films on Netflix, which is an incredible achievement, since it was the first film from the television show. I'm hoping to make another one."

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He mentioned that he loves the character, and it's his "legacy project" and the longest role in his life. Between his interest and the success of the film on Netflix, it sounds very likely we might just get to see more of DCI John Luther.

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More to Read...

​24 of the Best Scottish Mysteries & Crime Dramas - From classics like Rebus to newer shows like Karen Pirie, there are quite a few great Scottish crime shows to choose from (now someone please do JD Kirk's Jack Logan series).

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​British & Irish Books for Fans of Dead Still - If you enjoyed the slightly macabre period mystery Dead Still (Acorn TV), these books are sure to be right up your alley.

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You should never tell a psychopath they're a psychopath. It upsets them.

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Villanelle, Killing Eve

Stream it (US): AMC+, Netflix, Acorn TV

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More Mick Herron on the Horizon...

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If you've been watching and enjoying Slow Horses over on Apple TV+, you're probably aware it's based on the Slough House series of novels by British author Mick Herron. Like many experienced authors, though, he's written other books.

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Now, his Zoë Boehm thrillers are getting a TV adaptation (also with Apple TV+). The official plot summary says: "When a house explodes in a quiet Oxford suburb and a girl disappears in the aftermath, neighbor Sarah Tucker becomes obsessed with finding her and enlists the help of private investigator Zoë Boehm. Zoë and Sarah suddenly find themselves in a complex conspiracy that reveals that people long believed dead are still among the living, while the living are fast joining the dead."

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Though it's still too early to have a premiere date, they've announced that Emma Thompson will play Zoë Boehm, while Ruth Wilson will fill the role of Sarah Tucker.

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If the adaptation is even half as good as Slow Horses, we're all in for a treat.