Vera's David Leon on whether he'd return as Joe Ashworth again
Will Joe be back?
Vera season 13 has come to an end and it was an emotional affair for the detective played by Brenda Blethyn and DI Joe Ashworth (David Leon).
Joe's return at the beginning of the series caused some tension in Vera's office, with the long-standing detective feeling put-out by his arrival since he'd had a promotion and was on her level now.
The final episode, titled Salt and Vinegar, saw Joe struggle as his dad became very sick off-screen, and the weight of it caused him to buckle under the pressure of his job.
But at the end, he had a heart-to-heart with Vera, where the pair reflected on life and death before finally reaffirming their friendship with one-another after a tense wrangling.
The door was firmly left open for Leon to reprise the role of Joe once more, with the actor telling RadioTimes.com exclusively that he'd be up for it.
Leon said when we caught up with him earlier in the year: "I'd certainly be very open to [returning].
"We haven't had any conversations about that as things stand, but it's something I'm very proud of and I'd certainly be open-minded to that."
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Fans will be delighted to know that Vera will return for 2 more feature-length episodes.
The news was confirmed after the end of season 13, when it was also revealed that it will commence filming in the spring.
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Vera's previous seasons are available to watch on ITVX while seasons are also available on BritBox – you can sign up for a 7-day free BritBox trial here.
You can also purchase instalments from any series on Amazon Prime Video. You can buy the first of Ann Cleeves's Vera novels here.
To find out what else is on, check out our TV Guide and Streaming Guide or visit our dedicated Drama hub.
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Authors
Helen Daly is the Associate Editor for Radio Times, overseeing new initiatives and commercial projects for the brand. She was previously Deputy TV Editor at a national publication. She has a BA in English Literature and an MA in Media & Journalism from Newcastle University.