Vera actor David Leon is proud of his rugged Northumbria homeland

“There’s a rugged and diverse landscape that hasn’t been seen on film before. It’s become a character in the show.”

Geordie David Leon says he’s thrilled Vera is showing off his home turf to millions of viewers even if he’s not seen much of it himself.

ITV’s hit cop drama, back this week for four new episodes, is shot in the north east.

But Newcastle lad David says that, while the city scenes are totally familiar, the Northumberland locations are as new to him as the show’s fans.

“The majority are places I’ve never been to and wouldn’t have cause to visit if it wasn’t for this,” David, who plays DS Joe Ashworth, sidekick to Brenda Blethyn’s no-nonsense copper, tells The Sunday Post.

“I’m really fortunate and don’t take it for granted. I have to pinch myself sometimes and I’m so proud to be part of a show that portrays the area in such a positive light.

“There’s a rugged and diverse landscape that hasn’t been seen on film before. It’s become a character in the show.”

David is an acclaimed filmmaker as well as highly regarded actor. And he’s so proud of the area where he grew up he’s taken two productions to film there.

Orthodox, with Stephen Graham, was the first and next is Driven. That has an even more impressive cast, including Damian Lewis, new Doctor Who, Peter Capaldi, and Downton Abbey’s Jessica Brown-Findlay.

“When you’re making a film costing around the million pound mark actors like those are taking a vastly reduced hit in terms of their normal rate,” admits David.

“So it’s incredibly flattering and is testimony to the strength of the script. And you get a much bigger bang for your buck in the north east than down south.”

David’s used to rubbing shoulders with big names, having made his big screen debut alongside Colin Farrell, Val Kilmer and Anthony Hopkins in Alexander.

“I’ve got to learn from a lot of people, like Kevin Spacey, who are really at the top of their game,” confides David.

“And I’d certainly put Brenda into that category. She sets the tone for the cast and crew. She’s the hardest working on the set and in every scene.

“It’s very much her show and on her shoulders but she makes it a very happy set. I’ve seen it where the opposite is true and I know it doesn’t always work that way. So you really appreciate it.”

After the previous series was shot in the winter, filming for these episodes started in stunning summer sunshine.

“We were on the beach in Alnmouth and you could have been in a different country,” adds David.