Brenda Blethyn has confirmed the 11th series of ‘Vera’ has been halted due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The 74-year-old actress stars as the titular detective in the ITV crime drama, and has said that whilst she was due to be on set for the next series in just a few weeks time, production has been brought to a halt because of the outbreak of the respiratory illness, also known as COVID-19.
During an appearance on ‘This Morning’ on Wednesday (18.03.20) – where she appeared via video link as she is self-isolating at home – she explained: "We were due to start in a couple of weeks, actually. I mean, it’s all cast, first episode’s written, more episodes have been commissioned to be written. We’re all ready to go, we’re just waiting for the all clear."
Brenda appeared on the show to promote her new comedy series ‘Kate & Koji’, which she stars in alongside Jimmy Akingbola, and the pair also discussed other areas of the entertainment industry that have temporarily shut down in order to try and limit the spread of the virus.
Jimmy said: "I have a friend that was in ‘Line of Duty’, that stopped as well. I live in America, between here and America, and a lot of friends in America, all their productions have stopped. It’s that thing … We’re all affected, but I just think people need to try and stay strong, keep their heads, and just be good to themselves and to each other."
The news of ‘Vera’s delay comes as ‘EastEnders’ bosses announced on Wednesday they have suspended filming on the BBC One soap due to the coronavirus outbreak, with other soaps including ‘Coronation Street’ and ‘Emmerdale’ set to follow suit.
Several movies have had their release dates postponed as countries shut down cinemas and large gatherings in an attempt to keep the virus from spreading.
Brenda Blethyn confirms Vera filming has been halted due to coronavirus
