Former character set to return in Vera Christmas special

As fans patiently await the 13th series of TV crime drama Vera to land, ITV/STV have announced this year's Christmas special, which will land on Boxing Day with Brenda Blethyn as DCI Vera Stanhope.

Titled The Rising Tide, the episode will be the final time actor Kenny Doughty appears as DS Aiden Healy, after he made the decision to quit the show earlier this year. But don't panic, because the festive special is bringing back a much-loved character!

The Christmas special will see the return of actor Jake Ashton-Nelson, who plays the role of PC Billy Billington.

Although PC Billington appeared in earlier series as an officer at the front desk of the police station, this time round he joins Brenda's CID team.

Speaking to the Mirror about Jake's return, actress Brenda said: "PC Billy Billington, played by Jake Ashton-Nelson. Jake is terrific in this. He played an officer on the police station front desk in a previous episode. Somebody had come in to report something but he thought they were time wasting and sent them away. Vera really tore him off a strip for that. She told him to listen to what people had to say as it threw a spanner in the works for solving that particular case.

"So we come to this episode and Billy has put in for secondment to CID. Vera is going to give him a chance but he exasperates her. He’s very funny. Vera is his boss but there’s also an element of mothering in her relationship with Billy. She tries to guide him in the right direction but gives him a hard time. Mind you, Vera gives all of her team a hard time!"

When is the Vera Christmas special?

This year's Christmas special will air on Boxing Day (26th December 2023).

What time is it on?

It will air at 8pm.

What channel is it on?

Just like the usual series, the Vera Christmas special will air on ITV1 and ITVX, and STV and STV Player for viewers in Scotland.

What is the Christmas special about?

Titled The Rising Tide, the festive episode will follow Vera investigate the apparent suicide of Rick Kelasall on Holy Island.

Bosses describe the episode as: 'As his death related to the scandal that has knocked his career sideways, could the motivation be greed, is someone out for revenge, or is it something much more obscure, how far will the killer or killers go to cover their tracks, could Vera and her team also be in danger, and will they all see Christmas?'

Who features in the Christmas special?

As well as the usual suspects such as Brenda Blethyn, Kenny Doughty, Jon Morrison, Riley Jones, Ibinabo Jack, and Sarah Kameela Impey, the Christmas special will also see the return of Jake Ashton-Nelson.

There's also plenty of guest stars for the festive special, including Clare Holman, Jake Ashton-Nelson, Adrian Mills, Suzette Llewellyn, Brian Bovell, Orlessa Altass, Phil Cornwell, Adrian Rawlins, Kate Isitt, Felicity Dean, Natasha Patel, Sara Powell, Cora Kirk, Martin Turner, Eric Richard, Phillippa Wilson, Liz Crowther, Sam Halpenny and Peter Peverley.

The Christmas special will be the last time fans see Kenny Doughty as DS Aiden Healy, after he revealed he'd quit the show in March this year.

Check out all of the other Christmas specials happening this year:

When is the next series of Vera?

Series 13 of Vera started filming in May this year, so we imagine the new series will land sometime in 2024.

The Vera Christmas special airs at 8pm on Tuesday 26th December.

Now read:

First look at Vera series 13 as filming begins

Vera star quits show after eight years leaving fans devastated

The best TV crime dramas to binge watch right now

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