Former character set to return in Vera Christmas special
The special episode will air on Boxing Day
Last updated 6th Dec 2023
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:
Ultimate Christmas Gift Guide with Josie Gibson
The lovely Josie Gibson is hosting Channel 4's Ultimate Christmas Gift Guide this year, perfect if you need some last minute gift ideas.
Air date: 9th December (8pm)
Channel: BBC
​Richard Osman's Festive House of Games
Richard Osman hosts a week of festive special of hit game show House of Games.
Air date: 9th-13th December
Channel: BBC Two
Bargain Hunt Christmas Special
The Bargain Hunt team will take part in a special festive episode this year.
Air date: 16th December (12.15pm)
Channel: BBC
The Young Offenders Christmas special
Conor and Jock set off on a chaotic adventure to give Mairead, who has been ill in hospital, the white Christmas she has always dreamed of.
Air date: 16th December (9pm)
Channel: BBC Three and BBC iPlayer
Stacey Solomon’s Crafty Christmas
Stacey Solomon is back this year with a little help from her family! Stacey shows us crafty ways to create beautiful decorations and gifts that are sure to spread some home-made cheer this Christmas time.
Air date: 18th December (9pm)
Channel: BBC
The Good Ship Murder Christmas Special
As well as being renewed for two more series, Channel 5 bosses have confirmed that drama series The Good Ship Murder will have a Christmas special this year. Catherine Tyldesley and Shayne Ward will reprise their roles as First Officer Kate Woods and Jack Grayling.
Air date: 18th December (9pm)
Channel: Channel 5
The Great British Sewing Bee: Celebrity Christmas Special 2024
Ian "H" Watkins, EastEnder Kellie Bright, comedian Fatiha El-Ghorri and TV personality Charlotte Crosby put their sewing skills to the test in this year's Christmas special.
Air date: 19th December (9pm)
Channel: BBC One
For the Love of Dogs Christmas Special
Ahead of the new series in 2025, Alison Hammond returns to Battersea Dogs & Cats Home for a heartwarming Christmas special this year.
Air date: 19th December (8.30pm)
Channel: ITV/STV
Casualty Christmas special
Ahead of the new series starting later in December, the cast of Casualty have filmed an emotional Christmas episode which is called All I Want for Christmas.
Air date: 21st December (9.15pm)
Channel: BBC One
Antiques Roadshow at Christmas
The Antiques Roadshow marks the festive season with a look back at some of the year's highlights and updates about items that have appeared on the series.
Air date: 22nd December (7.30pm)
Channel: BBC One
Would I Lie to You? at Christmas
Laura Smyth, David Mitchell, Jimmy Carr, Rob Brydon, Lee Mack, Lenny Rush and Rustie Lee take part in the 2024 Would I Lie to You? Christmas special.
Air date: 23rd December (7pm)
Channel: BBC One
Royal Carols : Together At Christmas
Their Royal Highnesses The Prince and Princess of Wales, alongside other members of the Royal Family, attend a carol service at Westminster Abbey.
Air date: 24th December (7.30pm)
Channel: ITV/STV
The Great Christmas Bake Off
Just like past years, Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood are back in the Bake Off tent for this year's Christmas special, with hosts Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding. This year, soap stars Dean Gaffney, Sheree Murphy, Shobna Gulati MBE, Natalie Cassidy and Chris Bisson will take part.
Air date: 24th December (8pm)
Channel: Channel 4
Gogglebox - Best of 2024
Channel 4 are showing a round-up of the best moments from Gogglebox 2024, featuring cast members such as Giles and Mary, The Malones, and Ellie and Izzy.
Air date: 24th December (9.15pm)
Channel: Channel 4
The Weakest Link Christmas Special
Romesh Ranganathan hosts as a number of celebs try to win money for charity on The Weakest Link's Christmas special.
Air date: 25th December (3.15pm)
Channel: BBC One
Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special
Comedian Josh Widdicombe, RuPaul's Drag Race UK star Tayce, presenter Vogue Williams, Gladiator Nitro, actress Tamzin Outhwaite and motor racing driver Billy Monger will take part in the 2024 Christmas special.
Air date: 25th December (3.55pm)
Channel: BBC
Doctor Who: Joy to the World
Following on from last year's Christmas special, Ncuti Gatwa returns as Doctor Who, with actress Nicola Coughlan joining the cast as Joy.
Air date: 25th December (5.10pm)
Channel: BBC One
The Piano: Christmas Special
Claudia Winkleman, Mika and Lang Lang kickstart the festive season with an array of live music performances and treats inside Turbine Hall for The Piano Christmas special.
Air date: 25th December (5.10pm)
Channel: Channel 4
Call the Midwife
Unlike previous years, this year's Call the Midwife Christmas special will be split into two parts! The 2024 special consists of two 60-minute episodes – complete with a Christmas cliffhanger!
Air date: (Part One) 25th December (7.55pm) and (Part Two) 26th December (8.15pm)
Channel: BBC One
Gavin and Stacey
Five years after THAT cliffhanger on the last Christmas special, the Gavin and Stacey gang are back for the final ever episode of the sitcom this year! Will we finally get answers about Smithy and Nessa?!
Air date: 25th December (9pm)
Channel: BBC
Mrs. Brown’s Boys Christmas
Despite the show's controversy over the years, Mrs. Brown's Boys has become somewhat of staple on Christmas Day! The show is back for a Christmas and New Year's special in 2024.
Air date: 25th December (11.05pm)
Channel: BBC One
Blankety Blank Christmas Special
Bradley Walsh is back with a Christmas special of Saturday night entertainment show Blankety Blank.
Air date: 26th December (7.35pm)
Channel: BBC One
Outnumbered
Gavin and Stacey isn't the only show getting a revival this Christmas, sitcom Outnumbered is also making a return to our screens, featuring all of the original cast!
Air date: 26th December (9.15pm)
Channel: BBC
The Masked Singer Christmas Special
Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders join Mo Gilligan, Jonathan Ross, and Davina McCall on The Masked Singer panel for the 2024 Christmas special. This year's characters include Star, Turkey Crown, Nutcracker, and Christmas Cracker.
Air date: 26th December (7.30pm)
Channel: ITV/STV
The 1% Club Christmas Special
Lee Mack hosts a festive special of the quiz with all the Christmas themed questions! 100 contestants hope to make the holiday season even more special by winning up to £100,000.
Air date: 26th December (9pm)
Channel: ITV/STV
The Repair Shop Christmas
The team are back for another Christmas special this year
Air date: 27th December (1.25pm)
Channel: BBC One
Beyond Paradise Christmas special
It wouldn't be Christmas without a Beyond Paradise Christmas special!
Air date: 27th December (8.30pm)
Channel: BBC One
Wheel of Fortune Christmas Special
Ahead of the new series, Graham Norton will host a Christmas special episode of gameshow Wheel of Fortune.
Air date: 28th December (7pm)
Channel: ITV/STV
The Split Barcelona
Popular BBC drama The Split will return this Christmas for a two-part special, set out in Barcelona. Set two years on from series three, the show will see the likes of Nicola Walker, Stephen Mangan, Fiona Button, Annabel Scholey and Deborah Findlay all feature.
Air date: 29th and 30th December (9pm)
Channel: BBC One
Who Wants to be a Millionaire? Celebrity Special
Jeremy Clarkson will welcome a number of celebrity guests for this year's Who Wants to be a Millionaire? special.
Air date: 29th December (8pm)
Channel: ITV/STV
Vera series 14
Brenda Blethyn is back as Detective Chief Inspector Vera Stanhope for the final time as Vera series 14 airs this Christmas.
Air date: 1st and 2nd January (8pm)
Channel: ITV/STV
Gladiators: Celebrity Special
Ahead of the new series in early 2025, there will be a celebrity special of Gladiators airing this Christmas! Rob Beckett, Joel Dommett, Ellie Taylor and Louise Minchin will take part.
Air date: 1st January (6pm)
Channel: BBC One
The Great New Year Bake Off
Returning bakers from past series of Bake Off will appear on this year's New Year Bake Off, including Kevin, Norman, Nicky, James, Lea and Peter.
Air date: 3rd January (7.40pm)
Channel: Channel 4
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