A devoted fan of Vera has met Brenda Blethyn after travelling to the North East from Australia. Christine Bennett, known as Chris, lives in Essendon in the state of Victoria and describes herself as "an avid Australian fan of the series". When the 70-year-old heard the long-running crime drama was coming to an end, she decided to fly over to what she calls "Vera-land".
Read more: Gateshead College unveils bronze statue of former lioness Jill Scott Keep up to date with all the latest breaking news and top stories from the North East with our free newsletter Chris arrived in the region earlier this month in the hope of watching some of the last ever filming for the ITV series. She discovered Brenda would be opening a summer fete at at Charlotte Straker House in Corbridge , Northumberland , on Saturday and decided to go along. Chris was among hundreds of fans who turned out to see Brenda, 78, signal the opening of the event by blowing a police whistle.
She was thrilled when she got to meet the actress. Chris told Chronicle Live: "It was absolutely beautiful. Brenda's so friendly and so lovely to talk to and we do have a lot in common - apart from her being an actress and I'm a nobody! "It was absolutely thrilling to meet her.
(I've come) all the way from Australia. She's got so many fans over there that all love her and love Vera and love all the movies that Brenda's done as well." Chris made the decision to travel by herself to the UK earlier this year.
She had been trying to f.