Vera is based on the Vera Stanhope novels by British author Ann Cleeves, with several early episodes directly adapting specific novels, including 'Hidden Depths', 'Telling Tales', 'The Crow Trap' and 'Silent Voices'.

The series was filmed in Newcastle upon Tyne and across Northumberland, County Durham and North Yorkshire, with locations including Hartlepool, Gateshead, South Shields, North Shields, Whitley Bay, Amble, Warkworth, Alnmouth, Bamburgh and Holy Island.

The exterior shots of Vera's farmhouse home were filmed at a real farmhouse located on the Snook, part of Holy Island.

The second series episode 'Sand Dancers', originally scheduled for broadcast on 13 May 2012, was pulled from the schedule because its storyline about a soldier's death in Afghanistan coincided with real news of two servicemen dying there.

David Leon, who played DS Joe Ashworth, left the show after series 4, and Kenny Doughty was cast as his replacement, DS Aiden Healy, starting with series 5.

Cush Jumbo, who later became a main cast member as DC Bethany Whelan from series 5, had originally appeared in a two-episode guest stint back in series 2.

The third episode of series 6 was announced as an adaptation of Ann Cleeves' novel 'The Moth Catcher', which was itself scheduled for publication in September 2015, meaning the TV adaptation was developed alongside the book's release.

Vera ran for 14 years on ITV, from 1 May 2011 to 2 January 2025, with its final series comprising just two episodes.