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The much-celebrated detective series, Vera, is back with three new compelling feature-length episodes. Starring the internationally acclaimed and award-winning actress Brenda Blethyn as DCI Vera Stanhope, the thirteenth series sees the return of actor and director David Leon as DI Joe Ashworth.

Joining Brenda Blethyn and David Leon across the three new feature-length episodes are Jon Morrison as DC Kenny Lockhart, Riley Jones as DC Mark Edwards, Sarah Kameela Impey as Pathologist Dr. Paula Bennett and Rhiannon Clements (Ridley, Hollyoaks) as new and ambitious DC Steph Duncan, who joins Vera's team.

In the opening episode, titled Fast Love, DCI Vera Stanhope (Brenda Blethyn) is called to a quiet country lane where a young man has been found dead following a collision with a car. Vera discovers that the victim is a popular market trader so heads down to his pitch to start to put together an idea of who the man is.

As the investigation gathers pace, Vera learns that this cheeky chappy was a complex character. Antagonistic, arrogant and able to get what he wanted but did all of this come at a price? Adding to the complexity of the case, Vera is taken aback by Joe Ashworth's (David Leon) return and is unsure of his motives.

Other actors appearing in the first episode include Nimmy March (Agatha Raisin, Midsomer Murders), Amit Shah (Mr Bates vs the Post Office, Happy Valley, The Other One), Stephen Lord (Coronation Street, Safe House), Patrick McNamee (Our Girl, Inspector George Gently), Andrew Dunn (The Syndicate, Doctors), Bryan Dick (Ridley, The Split), Samantha Seager (Coronation Street, This is Vanity), Beruce Khan (War of the Worlds, The Capture) and television newcomers Travis Ross, Evie Hargreaves and Susan Jayne-Robinson.

The three self-contained crime stories in the new series draw inspiration from the best-selling novels and characters created by acclaimed crime writer Ann Cleeves.

Vera: Series 13, including the Christmas Special, is released 26th February 2024 on DVD from ITV Studios Home Entertainment.