Brenda Blethyn addresses retirement plans and reveals she turned down a major BBC show as Vera officially ends

BRENDA Blethyn has addressed her retirement plans as Vera officially comes to an end – and revealed the hit BBC show she turned down.

The Bafta award-winning actress will officially bow out from her role as DCI Vera Stanhope tonight.

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ITV

Fans will watch her final scenes in a 90-minute finale on ITV1 followed by a special documentary charting the show’s history and success.

But as Brenda hangs up her hat and mac for one last time, the 78-year-old has no plans to retire.

Asked if it was on her mind, she told The Sun: “No, no. So I’m just calling time on this role and just taking it a bit easier.”

Brenda added: “The other film I did was literally within days of finishing. I was asked to step in because somebody had stepped out.”

While she remained tight-lipped about that project, Brenda did reveal she turned down Strictly Come Dancing.

Beeb bosses asked her one year to be part of the show’s annual Christmas special – though filming commitments meant she had to say no.

She explained: I was asked to do a Christmas special but I was in Northumberland so I couldn’t and I don’t think they’d ask me anymore.

“I was just suddenly thinking wouldn’t it be nice to learn a dance?

“No, they’d make me do it with that hat and coat on, dancing to Singing in the Rain or something.”

Meanwhile, last night Vera fans were left reeling after the gripping episode featured a dramatic cliffside showdown, culminating in a character’s shocking fall.

An epic showdown took place on the edge of a cliff as Vera confronted who she believed to be Zac’s murderer.

Vera cornered Mr Lucas Corbridge and his daughter Amelia after she believed he killed Zac after he reported his wife to the police.

Lucas charged towards Vera with a rock in his hand ready to whack her head.