Brenda Blethyn says she is delighted to see women taking on commanding television roles once routinely given to men
The former Vera star highlighted Vicky McClure’s bomb-disposal officer in Trigger Point, arguing the part would likely have gone to a male actor a decade ago
Blethyn, who left ITV’s crime drama in 2024, also stressed the value of representing middle-aged and older women
She remains proud that Vera Stanhope was celebrated for her detective work, rather than glamour, romance or a fashionable wardrobe.