Vera star Brenda Blethyn opens up on unusual living situation with husband

Vera's Brenda Blethyn has shared that she and her husband have an unconventional living arrangement, residing in separate flats.

The actress, famed for her role as DCI Vera Stanhope in the popular ITV drama, has been married to Michael Mayhew for 15 years, having first become a couple in the 70s. The pair, who tied the knot in 2010, have devised a unique living situation which Brenda told The Telegraph "works brilliantly" for them.

She elaborated: "My husband lives upstairs. We moved into this very nice flat in Ramsgate. And I'd be saying, 'Can I open a window, it's very hot in here?' And he'd say, 'No, it's freezing.' And after a while, I said, 'Is that flat downstairs still vacant?'"

"So I moved downstairs," she continued. "It works brilliantly. We eat together. We go out together. We live together, but in different apartments."

The 79-year-old star further explained that their living arrangement has "a lot to say for itself", providing them with their own space and the liberty to decide when to entertain guests or what to watch on television or listen to on the radio, reports Wales Online.

Brenda was previously married to graphic designer Alan James Blethyn from 1964 until their went their separate ways in 1973.

She then began a relationship with art director Michael in 1975, and they eventually exchanged vows 35 years later, in June 2010.

The actress is a familiar face to TV audiences due to her long-standing role in Vera, having starred in the hit ITV crime drama since 2011.

The programme concluded in January following 14 series and a special, with the final episode seeing the detective investigating the disappearance of a young girl and a student whose remains were discovered near a location from her own childhood.

Brenda revealed to The Telegraph that she "loved" portraying the sharp-minded detective.

"I was proud of it and I felt like I had a command of the character," the star added.

Vera is available to stream on ITVX.