Brenda Blethyn has officially bowed out of the role as DCI Vera Stanhope after 14 series.

But while fans watched as the character decided to hang up her mac and coat, their attention was drawn elsewhere.

During the 90-minute finale Derek Thompson returned to TV for a cameo, as he and his wife were left concerned for their troublesome granddaughter Chloe.

The 76-year-old is best known for his role as Charlie Fairhead in BBC hospital drama Casualty, which he played for 38 years.

Elsewhere, Graeme Hawley’s character Will was given a grilling by Vera under caution after a dead body appeared.

Graeme, 51, is best known for playing sinister John Stape in Coronation Street.

He portrayed the twisted school teacher until his death in 2011, after four years on the cobbles.

Meanwhile, near the end of the episode, Vera seemingly left her long-time team behind for good.

She visited Chief Superintendent Khalon (Shobna Gulati), who had offered her a promotion.Spotting an envelope in Vera’s hands, Chief Superintendent Khalon remarked: “Could this finally be your formal acceptance of your promotion?”

Vera replied: “Well, it’s more about making way, m’am.

“And letting others fly.”

This referenced her earlier remark to Joe Ashworth (David Leon) about him “spreading his wings”.