Returning: Vera

Brenda Blethyn returns to ABC in Vera later this month.

It will screen on Sunday nights after The Politican’s Wife concludes.

But this is the third season which aired in the UK in 2013 with 4 episodes. A fifth season has already played on Pay TV last month.

Based on the novels written by Ann Cleeves, Oscar winner Brenda Blethyn stars as Detective Chief Inspector Vera Stanhope as she tries to crack some of the toughest cases in Northumberland. Stanhope is obsessive about her work and driven by her own demons. If she’s lonely she doesn’t show it and faces the world with caustic wit, guile and courage. Her trusted and long suffering colleague Joe Ashworth (David Leon) is her right-hand man and surrogate son. Together they approach every new case with unparalleled gusto and professionalism.

“Castles in the Air”
D.C.I. Vera Stanhope (Brenda Blethyn) investigates the brutal murder of young physiotherapist, Lizzie Faulkner (Eva Quinn), gunned down at a luxury country retreat. For D.S Joe Ashworth (David Leon), the case brings him face to face with a part of his past he’d rather forget. Local man, Robert Doran (Richard Riddell) was in the area shooting badgers at the time but denies any part in the killing, despite having a Connection to Lizzie. The team discover Lizzie’s holiday was a last minute gift from client, Corinne Franks (Vinette Robinson), the architect behind the expensive new holiday village. Her husband Andrew (John Light) and their business partner, Tim Hopkins (Nicholas Gleaves) refuse to accept the murder is connected to local resentment towards their new development. But when Corinne is mowed down in a deliberate hit and run they are forced to reconsider.

Sunday August 23 at 8.30pm, ABC.