ITV have confirmed what will go into Vera's Sunday night time slot, after the new series of the hit ITV show came to an end at the weekend.
Just as they were getting used to having DCi Stanhope back in their lives again, after a year long's wait for new episodes, Vera fans are now having to come to terms with the fact that she'll be missing in action again now, following the broadcast of series finale The Darkest Evening on Sunday.
The dramatic two hour episode saw Brenda Blethyn's lead character caught up in a wild storm, before she found a baby abandoned in a car. Things took a sinister turn when the child's mother was then found dead, with viewers then left holding their breath as shots were fired and Vera fell to the floor with blooding pouring from head.
As it happened, Vera had actually just hit her head on a wall of a house she was snooping around, but fans faced an anxious three minute wait to find out her fate, as the show hastily cut to an ad break.
READ MORE: Brenda Blethyn confirms Vera return for 'special' episode that's already been filmed
The Darkest Evening was the sixth new episode of Vera to air this year and the fourth of series 12. But now lovers of the long-running drama are facing an uncertain wait for more, although lead actress Brenda has confirmed that another episode - The Rising Tide has already been filmed..
Now Vera has vacated its usual 8pm Sunday night slot, the void will be filled by the new series of Endeavour. Like Vera, the ITV drama, a spin-off of famous programme Inspector Morse, has earned itself a ;loyal following over the last few years and a preview for the first episode of its third series teases: "A murder in a college garden leads Morse and Thursday to investigate a celebrated Oxford orchestra, but when a second tragedy hits the detectives discover a story the ensemble would sooner forget."
It adds :"Meanwhile, grisly London business turns up in Oxford when a criminal from the capital is brutally murdered in a derelict warehouse."
While the latest run of Endeavour is sure to be a ratings hit for ITV, Vera fans are already wanting Vera back, with one taking to Twitter to write: "What am I meant to do with my Sunday evenings now! Hoping the next series comes ASAP."
A second tweeted "You had all better be back next year for series 13 (this is over too soon"
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