Vera: Brenda Blethyn stars in series 10 trailer in January
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Returning to viewers’ screens this month, Vera star Brenda Blethyn, 75, opened up on the sad news that her side project Kate and Koji has been delayed. Brenda spoke to ITV about the struggles and criticism faced filming the sitcom whilst speaking about the new series of Vera. Brenda plays Kate, a working-class woman who runs an old-fashioned café, where she develops a strong relationship with customer Koji (played by Jimmy Akingbola) in the comedy series.
Brenda was asked: “Are there plans to film more of Kate and Koji with Jimmy Akingbola?”
“We were all geared up to do another series. I finished Vera just before Christmas 2020, and they had already started some of the outside broadcast filming,” she began explaining.
“I was due to start Kate and Koji in the studio in January 2021, but there were too many challenges, you couldn’t have a studio audience.
“I’m playing a character who is serving tea and sandwiches all day long, and because of Covid protocol, I wouldn’t have been able to pass anything to anyone else,” she said.
“And of course, we had to stay two metres apart. So, the producer has delayed it until after I’ve finished work on Vera later this year.”
She continued: “Kate and Koji was designed as one of those old-fashioned comedies with a studio audience, and they did so enjoy it.
“We were accused by one newspaper of having canned laughter, but we didn’t, it was real people laughing in the studio.
“In fact, they actually had to take some of the laughter out because it made the episodes too long!!” she told ITV.
Upon hearing the news about the comedy series being side-lined, fans discussed on social media their thoughts about the show not coming back anytime soon.
One fan wrote: “I’m gutted that Kate and Koji won’t be returning anytime soon! It’s such a chilled and funny show that I can just binge!”
Another added: “Can they hurry up and finish filming Vera please, I want Kate and Koji back on my screens ASAP!”
“Although many didn’t like Kate and Koji, Brenda and Jimmy on screen together is just TV gold, I cant wait for them to get filming again!”
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Brenda will be returning to screens as DCI Vera Stanhope on August 29 on ITV, for the 11th season of Vera.
The long-running series centres on the scruffy, Northumberland-based detective who is unconventional in her methods but consistent in her results, always catching the criminal.
Filming for season 11 was reportedly meant to have started in April 2020, but like many projects, it was stalled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Brenda had previously announced series 11 at the Winter TCA Press Tour and explained: “We’re going to start working this year and you’ll see it next year.”
Fans of the show will see the returns of Kenny Doughty as Detective Sergeant Aiden Healy who worked hard to prove himself as DCI Stanhope’s trustworthy partner.
A teaser trailer was released showing Vera making a difficult visit to a young couple as she’s forced to break the news that the man’s father had been found dead.
John Paul (Micky McGregor) arrives but seems hostile about the idea of Vera and her longtime colleague DS Aiden Healy (Kenny Doughty) entering the property – forcing Vera to break the news while still standing on their doorstep.
“There’s no easy way to say this. I’m afraid we’ve found a body, sir. And we believe it to be that of your father,” she says.
But fans will have to wait until Sunday evening to see exactly what drama will ensue for the fan-favourite detective.
Vera returns to ITV on Sunday, August 29 at 8pm
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