I never really nailed Vera's accent, pet..

Actress Brenda on voice of iconic Geordie sleuth

- NICOLA METHVEN

FANS of Vera breathed a sigh of relief this week as the TV sleuth strolled off into the sunset with a scruffy stray dog as her sidekick in retirement.

Now, actress Brenda Blethyn, 78, who played DCI Vera Stanhope for 14 years, has revealed she is glad the character, created by author Ann Cleeves, was not killed off.

And Brenda, who is from the South East, admits feeling like she never really mastered Geordie icon Vera's North East accent.

In ITV's behind-the-scenes documentary, Vera, Farewell Pet, Brenda says: "I didn't want Vera killed off because I suspected that she'd be living on in the books.

She's a sensible woman, Vera she knows when it's time to call it a day in the same way Brenda Blethyn knows when it's time to call it a day. You just sense when the time is right." But the actress, who decided to retire from the role so she could reclaim her summers, found leaving Vera behind hard.

She says: "On the last day, I felt very emotional. It's her packing up her stuff and backing out of the office... I could have cried, to be honest. It's so bittersweet because I've loved every minute of this job."