My mother is obsessed with Vera and I can't understand why. I would rather smash my own face in with a brick than hear this programme whittle on in the background any more. Vera's voice has the same effect as nails on a chalkboard. I would also like to know why each episode is longer than the average film? If you're going to fill the TV listings up with garbage, at least make them bitesized chunks. That way people don't feel like they've been plunged into the seventh circle of hell.