Kenny Doughty dropped a massive online clue he'd called time on his role in Vera, weeks before going public with the news that he'd quit the ITV drama.
Kenny, a real fan favourite thanks to his role as DCI Stanhope's on-screen sidekick DS Aiden Healy, took to Instagram on Monday evening to break the news that he''d left the show, with his announcement coming as a bitter blow to viewers, who've thoroughly enjoyed his near decade partnership with leading lady Brenda Blethyn.
Confirming his departure to his many social media followers, Kenny wrote: "After 8 years & 35 Vera films I’ve made the difficult decision of handing over DS Healy’s badge. I can confirm I am leaving Vera."
Moving onto pay tribute to the Vera cast and crew and singling out partner in crime Brenda, Kenny continued: "I want to thank everyone who’s made this amazing time so joyous, ITV, Silverprint, all the brilliant cast and crew BUT of course my buddy & inspiration Brenda Blethyn. The perfect leading star who I owe so much to. I feel lucky to have you as a friend, you make me howl with laughter & have been a rock for me over the years. I can’t thank you enough. Precious times."
As ITV viewers were left gutted by Kenny's big news, he also took the opportunity to thank them for their lasting support, but for many of them, the seeds has already been sown on his Vera exit by a post he made right at the start of the month.
Out of nowhere, the former Coronation Street took to Instagram to share a number of photos of himself and Vera co-stars, including Brenda, with a cryptic and rather ambiguous caption: 'thank you for the memories.'
As soon as the post went live, viewers feared the worst, with lovers of Ann Cleeves' famous tales pleased with him to elaborate on what that meant for the future of the show, only to be greeted by silence from Kenny.
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