Vera Series 9 UK Region

New year, same old Vera (ITV). DCI Vera Stanhope (the estimable Brenda Blethyn) might look like your bumbling aunt in her gardening clothes but the shambolic exterior hides a razor-sharp mind. She’s the Geordie Columbo. Miss Marple relocated from St Mary Mead to St James’ Park.

This ninth series of Tyneside sleuthing began with the corpse of prison psychologist Joanne Caswell discovered dumped on a landfill site, having been stabbed multiple times. Vera learnt that Joanne had been investigating the original murder conviction of a former inmate. Had she uncovered something worth killing for?

During her eight years on our screens, Vera’s trademarks have become her shapeless hat, flapping mac and habit of calling everyone “pet” or “love” (even murderers). Less remarked upon is her blue Land Rover Defender, which got more screen time than most of the human characters. A cynic might suspect surreptitious product placement. If there was one shot of her pulling up at a crime scene and wearily slamming the car door, there were several dozen….