Vera's Kevin Whately has 'forgotten' TV past with Brenda Blethyn ...

HE's a man who knows a thing or two about having a hit drama of his own, having led the cast of Peak Practice in the 90s and on Wednesday night, Vera fans will get to see Kevin Whately appear in the first episode of Vera's final series.

Best known for playing Nev in hit Geordie comedy Auf Wiedersehen Pet, Kevin went onto appear in Peak Practice for ITV three decades ago and has now joined the cast of Vera, as the much loved show bows out this week, after 14 series and 14 years on screen. Kevin, now 73, takes a starring role in Inside, the first of two new episodes, with him playing a retired detective who Brenda Blethyn's DCI Stanhope goes to se, having been given a very tough decision to make it work.

Fans who attended a special Vera screening in London at the start of November got to see Kevin in action for the first time, after his guest star role was kept under wraps. While the likes of Brenda and co-stars like David Leon and Jon Morrison were seen on set as filming took place for Vera series 14 over the summer, Kevin and Brenda's scene was shot away fro prying eyes, meaning nobody knew he was going to be in the show, until it was announced by ITV.

And, Vera isn't actually the first programme that Kevin and Brenda have starred in together. Back in 2004, they appeared as husband and wife in TV film Belonging, with Brenda playing Jess a pillar of her local community who gave up her job as a librarian to care for elderly relatives who live with her another half. Kevin played her apparently devoted on-screen husband who left her for a younger woman.

Belonging has re-surfaced in recent months, thanks to a post in a Vera fan group on Facebook, with a picture of Brenda and Kevin their roles being shared, as one fan replied: "Loved this movie but very sad" and another wrote: "Two of my favourite actors, Brenda looks so young"

Kevin isn't the only famous face from a big ITV show to be a guest star in the final series of Vera, with ex Coronation Street actress Shobna Gulati joining the ranks to play Superintendent Khalon.