Former partner fell for a ‘beautiful’ neighbour

As Vera returns this weekend, albeit with a repeat episode (June 22), fans will have the chance to enjoy Brenda Blethyn‘s titular character back in action once more.

One person who probably won’t be tuning in, though, is her cheating ex-husband…

The cosy crime drama – which Brenda announced she was stepping back from last year – was once the jewel in ITV’s crown. But the road to stardom wasn’t exactly paved with gold for Brenda.

Brenda Blethyn was ‘devastated’ when her first marriage broke down (Credit: This Morning YouTube

‘I was devastated’

Brenda, 79, had her heart broken when her marriage with her first husband, Alan, broke down. They married in 1964. However, the pair divorced almost a decade later, in 1973.

The star revealed he had “befriended a beautiful neighbour” who “announced one night in the pub that she was in love with my husband”. The actress told the Daily Mail in 2013 she “didn’t immediately take her comment seriously”.

Brenda continued: “But I asked her over and said: ‘If I wasn’t around would you and Alan be together?’ She answered: ‘Yes.’ I was devastated.”

The beloved thesp explained she moved in with her brother and his wife. She added that despite the devastation, Alan gave her the proceeds of the house the couple shared so she could go to drama school.

Brenda was the star of the show at Guildford School of Acting. She went on to be nominated for awards aplenty including an Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe.

Vera actress Brenda Blethyn as DCI Vera Stanhope (Credit: ITV)

Lucky break

Looking back at her illustrious career, the actress recalled the time it all began. Her big break came when she was asked if she could play the maid in an am-dram production when she was working at British Rail.

“I often think back to that day at Euston. If I hadn’t done that good turn I might not be doing this today,” she mused.

Brenda Blethyn with her second husband (Credit: Splash News)

Who is Brenda Blethyn’s current husband?

Brenda met her partner National Theatre art director Michael Mayhew in 1975. The couple married in 2010.

The actress previously joked she didn’t know why they were together. She quipped they had “nothing in common” apart from their sense of humour.

The couple were engaged for 35 years before tying the knot in 2010, a year before Brenda landed the role of DCI Vera Stanhope.

Speaking about the pair’s decision to marry after so many years, the actress admitted that while it was spurred by “pragmatism” it did “feel nice to be married”.