In her floppy fishing tackle shop hat, sturdy boots and dowdy mac, no-nonsense detective Vera Stanhope is an unlikely heroine.
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But actress Brenda Blethyn has no doubt that her character’s down-to-earth manner is part of what regularly attracts more than six million viewers to the show.
“She’s so ordinary; she’s not reliant on lipstick or fashion – she’s not come off the catwalk,” Brenda explains.
“I think women like the fact that she’s in charge of all those men, looking the way she does, and knowing that their husbands are enjoying it as well and not lusting after her!
“The setting is so appealing, too – the beautiful countryside and seascapes – and the stories are intriguing; there’s such a lot of affection for the character and the programme.”
Such is the show’s popularity that, when the cast and crew are filming out on location, crowds regularly turn up to watch.