Vera Stanhope: the books...
...and the TV series
©ITV Studios
38.107.191.92
2010-09-03 00:57:32
The television adaptation of Ann Cleeves's novel Hidden Depths, which was to have been brosdcast in the autumn of 2010, starring Brenda Blethyn as DI Vera Stanhope, has been deferred until early in 2011. But this is actually good news, because the reason is that ITV were so pleased with the pilot episode that they have commissioned three additional installments, even before the first episode has been broadcast.
The title rôle is played by Brenda Blethyn, (shown, left, as herself and above, in the character of Vera. Brenda Blethyn OBE is an international award winning actress, and Ann Cleeves is thrilled to have her playing the part of Detective Inspector Vera Stanhope: "She absolutely captures the spirit of the character," she said. Gina McKee, David Leon and Juliet Aubrey also feature in the first episode.
The new episodes will be adapted from Ann's other novels, Telling Tales and The Crow Trap and the third will be an original story. Filming has been set extensively on location in the North East, and Ann comments: "I've been fortunate enough to be included in the process throughout and have just spent a day freezing on set." Read her account of the filming of Vera in her Diary.
Laura Mackie, ITV's Director of Drama Commissioning, said "With the demise of Frost we are keen to introduce new crime dramas into the mix and to create the iconic detectives of the future. Brenda's portrayal of the sharp but shambolic Vera Stanhope is a wonderful addition to our slate."
Ann's publisher, Pan Macmillan, have reissued the Vera Stanhope books, in anticipation of the broadcast. the broadcast; the three paperbacks with an "atmospheric" new look (shown above) are in the shops now, and the new Vera Stanhope novel, Silent Voices, will be published in hardback in the spring.
"... one of the most appealing fictional detectives to emerge since Andy Dalziel got into his stride..."
Martin Edwards, Spinetingler Magazine
"... although she is lonely, obsessed with her job and over fond of a beer, Vera is one of the few fictional detectives who seems not only like a real person, but one capable of conducting a murder enquiry. Ann Cleeves brings the same skill to all her characterisations in this highly impressive story."
Jake Kerridge, Daily Telegraph
'Vera' photograph © Patrick Smith, 2010