Inside Vera star Kenny Doughty's love life from romance rumours to secret wedding to Shetland star

TV icon Brenda Blethyn has returned to our screens as the titular detective, DCI Vera Stanhope in the new series of ITV's Vera, but off screen has a huge family.The drama series returned on Sunday, January 7, much to the delight of Vera fans as series 13 kicked off with more complex crimes needing to be solved in Northumberland. Brenda, 77, has played the leading role of DCI Vera since the show launched in 2011 and has delighted fans ever since. But away from the cameras, what else do we know about the leading lady? From growing up with eight siblings to being introduced to film by her parents.

Vera star Brenda Blethyn has revealed she nearly didn't agree to star in a new series of the ITV drama.

Ranvir Singh gave a rare insight into her new relationship with Luis Church, 28, who is 18 years younger than the Good Morning Britain star who revealed the couple has taken the next step and moved in together.

David Leon has reprised his role as DS Joe Ashworth in ITV's Vera after a decade away from the series, but he also starred in a forgotten TV role and had a football career. The actor, 43, who first starred in the ITV drama from 2011 to 2014, returned to his role with a bang on Sunday, January 7, much to the delight of Vera fans as series 13 kicked off.The new series also welcomed back Brenda Blethyn playing the titular detective, DCI Vera Stanhope, while Kenny Doughty, who played Aiden Healy and Ibinabo Jack, who portrayed DC Jacqueline Williams have not returned for this series.

Stephen Mulhern is set to host the Dancing on Ice alongside his long term pal Holly Willoughby as the new series kicks off this weekend.

With ITV drama Grantchester back on our screens on Thursday 11 January, viewers will see detective duo DI Geordie Keating and Reverend Will Davenport attempt to solve a new bunch of murders. But alongside the two leads, played by Robson Green and Tom Brittney, a host of familiar faces from previous seasons will be returning. Among those is Charlotte Ritchie, who is known for playing Bonnie Evans.The niece of Cathy Keating, Bonnie was a widow and single mum to little Ernie, though tied the knot in series seven after meeting Will and the couple are now expecting their first child together.

New “Star Wars” films are on the table, new “Superman,” “Supergirl,” and even “28 Days Later” franchise films? Hell, why not throw new “Star Trek” movies into the mix.

Demi Jones made it to the final of Winter Love Island back in 2020 and now she's returning to the popular dating show for the highly anticipated spin-off, Love Island: All-Stars.

Love Island’s Casa Amor has been axed from the upcoming All Stars series - with the promise of brand new twists to shake the series on its head.The secret second villa has been a staple of the ITV2 show since 2017. However, ITV bosses have pulled the plug to spring alternative surprises on this year’s stars who are returning for a second shot at finding love.

Brenda Blethyn has discussed the possibility of a new season of her detective series Vera.

In Fast Love, DCI Vera Stanhope (played by Brenda Blethyn) is called to a quiet country lane where a young man has been found dead following a collision with a car. On closer inspection, it becomes clear that this is not an accident and is way more than a hit and run. Vera discovers that our victim is a popular market trader so heads down to his pitch to start to put together an idea of who our man is and ascertain why anyone would want him dead.

Vera star David Leon, who plays Joe Ashworth, has addressed the future of the ITV drama.The actor played Joe in the first four seasons of Vera, before Kenny Doughty's Aiden Healy stepped in to fill his place. But after Doughty decided to leave the show after almost a decade in 2023, Vera's leading star Brenda Blethyn admitted she wanted to quit as well. It seems that Leon's return might have kept Brenda on board, however, as he agreed to return for the 13th series.

Stephen McGann, who plays the beloved Dr Patrick Turner in the BBC One drama Call the Midwife, has been a fan favourite since the show first aired in 2012.The actor, now 60, portrays the heroic doctor who cares for the residents of Poplar during the 1950s and 60s. Dr Turner is a hero in the East End community, saving lives, delivering babies, and melting viewers' hearts with every episode. Fans were overjoyed when his character found love with Sheelagh Mannion after becoming a widower at a young age, reports My London.

Brenda Blethyn has been on our screens for years, having enjoyed a successful and fruitful career as an actor. Starting out way back in the 1980s, the 77 year old didn't experience her breakthrough moment until 1996, when she starred as Cynthia Purley in the drama Secrets & Lies.This role really put her on the map and earned her multiple awards, including Best Actress at Cannes Film Festival, a BAFTA, and a Golden Globe. Plus, she also received an Oscar nomination for Best Actress.

Michelle Keegan first landed on our screens way back in 2008 when she was cast as Tina McIntyre in the ITV soap, Coronation Street. Since then, the 36 year old has become a national treasure, starring in a slew of successful dramas and TV shows, not to mention growing her social media following and becoming a major influencer. Most recently, she's starring in the new Netflix thriller series, Fool Me Once, an eight episode show about a widowed mum called Maya (Michelle Keegan) who is "disturbed by an image of her late husband captured on her toddler's nanny cam." However, while Michelle has been in the spotlight heavily over the last 15 years thanks to her blossoming acting career - which right now is the press surrounding Fool Me Once - she's also lived out her personal life in the public eye.

Graham Norton - the multi talented Irish comedian, actor, author, and television host - has been on our screens for years. Having presented his own chat show, The Graham Norton Show since 2007, plus offering his witty commentary on the Eurovision Song Contest year after year, the 60 year old has also starred in an array of films, TV productions, and presented on the radio.

Loose Women's Jane McDonald is heading off on a new adventure across the Canary Islands and we take a look back at her heartbreaking love life.The 60 year old has achieved huge successes in her career as a television star, but has sadly been much less fortunate in her love life away from the cameras. In March 2021, Jane's childhood sweetheart and partner of 13 years, Walter 'Eddie' Rothe, tragically passed away at the age of 67, after being diagnosed with lung cancer.The couple first met in 1980 when Jane worked part-time in a pub in West Yorkshire, and Eddie's pop band Liquid Gold played a gig there. Of their early romance, Jane told the Mirror back in 2012: "I couldn't believe it when the owner said the drummer had taken a fancy to me.

Since meeting on MasterChef in 2010, John Torode and wife Lisa Faulkner have become one of the best known couples on TV.

EastEnders star Max Bowden, who plays Ben Mitchell, has had quite the love life off-screen with links to a co-star and Love Island contestant. Max, 28, has played the role of Ben on EastEnders since 2019 but will soon be waving goodbye to Albert Square as BBC confirmed his departure. His final scenes are thought to air in the coming weeks with his departure this year reportedly leaving the show's bosses unsure whether to keep the character of Ben Mitchell in the soap at all.

Andy Cohen will be onstage with New Year’s Eve Live cohost Anderson Cooper when the clock strikes midnight, but you might want to know if there’s anyone he could be kissing in the first moments of 2024.