Silver Spring, MD – Debuting May 2011 to rave reviews in the U.K. and already commissioned for a second series, Vera debuts in the U.S. on DVD from Acorn Media on August 30, 2011. Based on the award-winning novels by Ann Cleeves, the ITV series stars two-time Oscar® nominee Brenda Blethyn (Pride & Prejudice, Secrets & Lies) as cantankerous but brilliant detective DCI Vera Stanhope. Imbuing the character with “a monumental intelligence” (The Guardian), Blethyn leads a stand-out cast in four feature-length mysteries that explore the untamed evil that lurks below the surface and exposes the demons that plague even those who dedicate their lives to good (DVD 4-Disc Set, $59.99, www.AcornOnline.com).

Filmed in the Northumberland villages of the original books, Vera follows a solitary, obsessed, cantankerous investigator—who happens to be pure genius at her job. Always proficient but occasionally cruel, DCI Vera Stanhope solves unthinkable crimes aided by her long-suffering team: right-hand man Sergeant Joe Ashworth (David Leon, RocknRolla), young DC Holly Lawson (Wunmi Mosaku, 32 Brinkburn Street), and forensic pathologist Billy Cartwright (Paul Ritter, The Eagle). In the end, the solutions are rarely neat, and no one comes out blameless.

Guest stars include BAFTA winner Gina McKee (The Forsyte Saga, Notting Hill), Hugo Speer (The Full Monty), Kerry Fox (Bright Star), and John Lynch (Sliding Doors).

Episodes: Hidden Depths, Telling Tales, The Crow Trap, Little Lazarus

Street: August 30, 2011
SRP: $59.99
DVD 4-Disc Set: Approx. 355 min. – 4 episodes – British mystery - SDH subtitles
Contains disturbing images

Headquartered in suburban Washington, D.C., Acorn Media U.S. distributes distinctive home video releases to the North American market with a special focus on the best of British television. 2011 releases include Upstairs, Downstairs: 40th Anniversary Edition; hit BBC series New Tricks; U.S. debuts of new series Garrow’s Law, Reggie Perrin, Wired, Identity, and Single-Handed; more episodes from Doc Martin, Murphy’s Law, Marple, Poirot, George Gently, Murdoch Mysteries, Midsomer Murders; as well as the Blu-ray of Brideshead Revisited: 30th Anniversary Edition; and acclaimed documentaries from our Athena line. Acorn’s DVD sets are available from select retailers, catalog companies, and direct from Acorn Media at (888) 870-8047 or www.acornonline.com.

Vera is distributed by ITV STUDIOS Global Entertainment; one of the world’s leading international TV distribution, home-entertainment and merchandising & licensing businesses.