Vera star Brenda Blethyn reveals her 'regret' over quitting ITV show and how husband Michael Mayhew reacted to her walking away from the hit series after 14-years

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Brenda Blethyn has admitted she will probably 'soon regret' her decision to quit smash hit ITV series Vera after 14-years.

But the actress, 78, who plays the titular DCI Vera Stanhope, said that despite her reservations she knew it was the right decision after the demands of filming in the North East kept her away from loved ones, including husband Michael Mayhew.

Brenda told Saga Magazine: 'I shall probably regret the decision soon, but Vera takes up quite a lot of my time. Filming a series means six months of the year away from home. The people I work with do feel like family, but I've also got my own family down south'. 

She said that realising she had not spent a summer at home for the last decade  due Vera's busy schedule, was a major factor in deciding to hang up the detective's bucket hat and rain coat - news which delighted her beloved husband. 

'Michael's face lit up when I told him [I was going to quit]. I could tell he was kind of pleased I might be around a bit more, though he wouldn't have imposed that on me.'

The final series will air on January 1 and January 2 at 8pm, while the show's documentary, Vera: Farewell Pet, will air on January 3 at 9pm, on ITV1 and STV.

Brenda Blethyn has admitted she will probably 'soon regret' her decision to quit smash hit ITV series Vera after 14-years

Brenda said that realising she had not spent a summer at home for the last 14-years due Vera's busy schedule, was a major factor in deciding to hang up the detective's bucket hat and rain coat - news which delighted her beloved husband (pictured together 2012)

During the interview Brenda also shared what she believed was the secret to her and Michael's 50-year relationship. 

Telling the publication: 'Two bathrooms. Two different rooms with a television too, so you can watch whatever you want. No arguments. You don't want someone rabbiting on while you're engrossed in an episode of Vera do you?'.

It comes after Brenda admitted she had 'struggling to drag herself away' from the ITv detective show for so long.

She said: 'It was a hard decision and come March when I would normally be getting ready to go back up there, I'll probably be crying.

'As much as I loved all that, I've got a family at home and I realised I hadn't had a summer for 14 years with my family.

'So I still did another series because I couldn't drag myself away. But anyway it was time, that's all.'

However, the star has kept a few souvenirs from the set as a sweet reminder of her time on the show.

'I have got the mac and hat! I think I've got the coat as well, the tweedy one. Although it looks like it's been through the mill,' she said.

She said: 'I shall probably regret the decision soon, but Vera takes up quite a lot of my time. Filming a series means six months of the year away from home' 

Brenda said that realising she had not spent a summer at home for the last 14-years due Vera's busy schedule, was a major factor in deciding to hang up the detective's hat and rain coat 

'Michael's face lit up when I told him [I was going to quit]. I could tell he was kind of pleased I might be around a bit more, though he wouldn't have imposed that on me

The actress initially refused to speak about the finale at an event at the BFI in London. 

'No comment. I'm not going to tell you,' she quipped when she was pressed for information.

But she did drop some hints, suggesting a rocky time ahead for Vera and her colleague Joe Ashworth (David Leon).

Brenda said: 'Joe has something going on that he doesn't want to talk about and Vera is anxious to get to the bottom of that.

'We know he came back to the area because his father was ill. He passed away we've already seen that.

'Joe doesn't seem to have come out of that dungeon and Vera's concerned about that.'

Meanwhile, Vera is faced with her own dilemma after she learns her boss intends to promote her.

Brenda said: 'Vera's superior, the Chief Inspector, wants to promote her, and so it's a big decision for Vera to make.'

The final series will air on January 1 and January 2 at 8pm, while the show's documentary, Vera: Farewell Pet, will air on January 3 at 9pm, on ITV1 and STV. 

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