Vera star Kenny Doughty has explained the reasons behind his "difficult decision" to quit the show.
The actor, who has played DS Aiden Healy on the crime drama since season five, is set to hang up his badge in Vera's upcoming Christmas special, 'The Rising Tide'.
Speaking to Radio Times, Doughty has revealed the factors that led to his decision.
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"I made the decision before we started filming series 12. That was initially going to be the four films screened at the start of 2023," he said.
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"But then halfway through filming they said, 'Can we do a Christmas special as well?' So it was a long goodbye, with 'The Rising Tide' being my last episode, filmed in November and December 2022.
"There were lots of personal and professional reasons why I wanted to move on. I have loved doing Vera, 100 per cent. It has been a life-changing job for so many reasons. Including working with Brenda Blethyn and in the North East. I feel like an honorary Geordie. There is also a real family connection to the crew, who I'm still in touch with."
Doughty went on to describe how much he enjoyed being a part of the show, though acknowledged that it was the right time for him to leave.
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"It has been nine years since I filmed my first episode in 2014, which was screened in 2015. I just wanted to leave while I was still happy with everything," he explained.
"It was a really difficult decision to leave, because I loved doing that job and I loved working with everybody on the Vera team. But a little part of me, for whatever reason, the little inner self said to me, 'You should probably call it a day while you're still enjoying it'. To step away and seek new acting challenges."
Vera will return on Boxing Day (December 26) for its festive instalment, which will centre around the investigation of a reunion party that ends in murder. The episode will also see the return of Jake Ashton-Nelson as PC Billy Billington.
Vera's Christmas special episode, 'The Rising Tide', will air on Boxing Day at 8pm on ITV.
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Sara is an entertainment journalist who specialises in TV and film. After studying journalism at the University of Roehampton, Sara joined Digital Spy in 2023, writing news (and the occasional feature) on all things entertainment. She has also written for the culture desk at The Evening Standard. A lover of all things TV and film, Sara can wax lyrical about everything from Bridgerton to The Witcher. She can also recite entire episodes of New Girl, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Parks and Recreation. In her spare time, Sara loves to knit, crochet and cross-stitch. Also a musical theatre aficionado, Sara counts Samantha Barks as one of her heroes and is a loyal fan of Jodie Comer.
