Vera: Construction worker gets hit by a lorry

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Production for series 11 was put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic, and the cast were unsure about whether filming would go ahead at all. Due to filming delays, the ITV episodes were spread out over the course of a year, with two airing in 2021 and another two episodes being shown in January. However, fans were left disappointed when they realised, they had to wait until later this year to see the final episodes of the latest season.

Fans may be waiting for the remaining episodes of series 11, although, in an exclusive interview with Express.co.uk, Riley has given an update on series 12.

The actor couldn’t confirm the future of the ITV show, but he teased when filming may resume.

“It’s way above my pay grade but I’m sure the discussions [about series 12] are in the works, but I wouldn’t find out until probably you do as well,” the 33-year-old began.

“I’m sure that they’re already talking about it, but we usually find out probably two weeks before we’re due to start, which will probably be next spring.”

He continued: “So, fingers crossed because I can’t see why they wouldn’t want to do it again because everyone’s still enjoying it after 11 years.”

Riley has played DC Mark Edwards since series one where he made a guest appearance as a uniformed officer.

He was later made a permanent fixture and promoted to a detective working with leading lady DCI Stanhope (played by Brenda Blethyn) and Aiden Healy (Kenny Doughty).

Recalling how he landed the part and working with Brenda, Riley simply said: “I was very lucky. “

“I think it was a combination of being in the right place at the right time and just working hard and being productive,” the actor went on to admit.

“I had that one scene [with Brenda] and we filmed it at about one o’clock or two o’clock in the morning.

“I had finished and production said ‘great we’ll get you home’. It was freezing cold, I think it was like February or March time and I just said ‘Do you mind if I hang around and just watch?’

“They were doing the scene where the little boy is dragged out of the river and had this dummy to look like the boy, and it was just all really interesting. So I just went around and I watched and I was chatting to people and I was trying to learn.”

When asked about whether he plans to stay on the drama, Riley simply replied: “Yeah.”

“With the added uncertainty of the pandemic there’s always that thing of to be working is really important and that it always has been. But now you’ve got this added uncertainty.

“Because we have seen this character come from that first scene as a PC in uniform.

“And it’s the kind of the excitement of being able to really develop a character and get the opportunity to explore and expand on that small role.”

“So, yeah I’m happy to be there for as long as the show runs really,” he admitted.

Riley went on to add if other acting jobs were offered to him, he would try to work around the Vera filming schedule.

“I am not going to turn work down,” he admitted. “But when it’s a choice of like one or the other then that becomes a lot more difficult.

“It would be very difficult to say no to Vera because it’s such a big part of my life and it would feel weird for it to be filming and me not being involved with it.”

Vera is expected to air on ITV later this year.

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