As fans grow more and more impatient for any news on when Vera might return, its leading lady Brenda Blethyn will be back on TV in another show.
After just two episodes of Vera series 11 went out on ITV last year, anticipation was high for the new run to resume in January but, after five million viewers tuned in to get their DCI Stanhope fix with episodes three and four, ITV pulled the crime drama from their schedules once again.
Brenda and her co-stars were forced to make way for the new series of The Good Karma Hospital and the launch of Trigger Point and ITV still haven't gone on the record on when episodes five and six of Vera series 11 will be on screen.
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Lead actress Brenda did give fans cause for excitement when she revealed that filming would soon start on series 12 and now it's been confirmed that the BAFTA winner will be back on ITV next week in comedy Kate and Koji.
Right at the start of the Covid pandemic, just as the country went into lockdown, Brenda appeared in the new sitcom alongside Jimmy Akingbola.
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The series about a cafe owner’s new friendship with an asylum seeking doctor ran for six episodes and its second series will start on Wednesday, March 16 at 9pm.
There will be one big change for the new series. Jimmy wasn't unable to take part due to commitments with The Fresh Prince of Bel Air reboot in America, so Koji is now being played by Okorie Chukwu.
The news of Kate and Koji's start date was shared by a Vera fan account on Twitter and, filled with excitement, one of its followers wrote: "What a lovely surprise, so looking forward to catching up on the characters in my favourite Cafe."
Another replied: "I enjoyed the first series so am looking forward to the new one."
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