Islanders will have the chance to meet Bergerac cast members at the Jersey première of the reimagined detective series next week – where the real star of the show might just be the island itself.
The red carpet event at Cineworld will start at 15:30 on Monday 24 February, ahead of the series launch on BBC-owned broadcaster UKTV’s channels U and U&DRAMA on 27 February.
Taking on the lead role of Jim Bergerac is Irish actor Damien Molony – who is expected to be among the cast members attending the local première.
Directed by Peaky Blinders director Colm McCarthy, the new six-episode series is set to offer a “contemporary twist” on the popular detective drama created by Robert Banks Stewart, which starred John Nettles and ran on the BBC between 1981 and 1991.
Unlike the original series, which featured weekly mysteries, the new Bergerac focuses on one complex murder investigation spread across all six episodes.
“Bergerac equals Jersey”
Filming in Jersey proved vital to the show’s identity, as Express found out, with cast and crew highlighting how the island shaped the story throughout production.
Bouley Bay, La Pulente, the Royal Square and the Central Market were among the locations used during filming in the summer.
Damien Molony said: “If you think about Bergerac, then Jersey immediately springs to mind. Bergerac equals Jersey.
“It’s such an integral part of the story, it’s a character in its own right.
“There are huge, vast, windswept beaches that, on a rainy day, look dark, brooding, foreboding and dangerous.
“Then, over the hill on the same day, you have this gorgeous family-friendly bay with golden sand and ice cream.
“Within a 20-minute drive, you can be in the city or an immense countryside full of natural beauty. It’s incredible.
“And as well as being compact, it creates natural tension by being surrounded by the sea… catch the killer before they can get off the island.”
“Jersey is really a character in the story”
Director Colm McCarthy also discussed Jersey’s role in shaping the story.
“Jersey is really a character in the story, as much as Jim Bergerac or Charlie Hungerford,” he said.
“The character that Jersey plays is one that is full of duality, darkness and light. It’s both a prison and has this aspirational, paradise-like quality to it. You know, the beaches can be lush and beautiful, but there’s also no escaping the island.
“The island really plays a multitude of roles. Jersey is a very unique place.”
Colm also described how he feels that Jersey’s unique geography and history made it an ideal location for the show.
“In many ways, Bergerac is a little bit like a Western in that they are usually defined by the way the landscape informs the drama of the storytelling,” he explained.
“Nostalgic nods” to the original series
Filming in Jersey also gave Damien the opportunity to connect with original fans of the show.
“One of the things I loved about filming in Jersey was fans of the original series coming up to us to say how excited they were about the show returning to the island,” he said.
“I think a lot of locals were supporting artists in the original series, so it shows how much of an incredible connection they all have with Bergerac.
“We wanted to make sure that there were some wonderful nostalgic nods and references that pay homage to the original.”
Damien also shared some memorable moments from filming at various Jersey locations.
“The very first scene we filmed there was at 4:00am in Bouley Bay, which had the most stunning sunrise,” he explained.
“We were actually using it as a sunset, and it was so beautiful, the early wake-up call was worth it!
“We also went to St Ouen’s Bay, which is on the west coast of the island, and that’s a huge, windy beach that is home to lots of surfers.
“It was a perfect backdrop to a moment in episode one where Jim decides to give up alcohol and properly focus on getting back to work.”
“I can see why people love it in Jersey”
Zoë Wanamaker, who plays Charlie Hungerford, also spoke about the charm of Jersey’s architecture and landscapes.
“The buildings are gorgeous, and I found out that a lot of them were constructed in the same way as Devon was built on hills in the 1800s,” she said.
“I also got to visit St Brelade’s Bay Hotel, which is right next to another stunning beach.
It was a busy summer’s day when we were there, and I loved seeing so many families spending time in the sun. There’s a different energy there.”
Zoë added: “We filmed on this beautiful sunny day for The Jersey Club scenes.
“The location was called La Pulente, and it overlooked one of the beautiful beaches on the island.
“The sea has this wonderful tide because it goes so far out. I can see why people love it in Jersey, but it’s also fascinating.”
“Jersey is the second lead in the series”
Philip Glenister, who plays Arthur Wakefield, also spoke about Jersey’s role in the series.
“The island is very easy on the eye,” he said.
“The coastal areas are beautiful, and it’s also got a history of some darkness about it.
“Without a doubt, Jersey is the second lead in the series.”
Philip, who previously filmed in Jersey for the original Bergerac in the early 1990s, said that the island’s history also played a key role.
“During the war, it was occupied by the Nazis, which was the case for many islands at the time,” he explained.
“So, you can see that there was already a lot of light and dark shades about it, and that’s great for storytelling.”
A “proudly idiosyncratic” island
Writer Toby Whithouse said that Jersey and Bergerac are “utterly indivisible”.
“If you were setting it anywhere else, it would have to be a different show,” he said.
“What is interesting about it is that it’s a fascinating, strange, incredibly beautiful and very welcoming island. It’s proudly idiosyncratic.
“But it’s also this peculiar satellite state, in some ways, that is not quite the UK and has no desire to be as well. Jersey has its own customs, its own laws and rules.
“It has a unique history as well, so we had to be mindful of all those things, as we wanted to utilise and ultimately influence the story we were telling.”
Toby also pointed out Jersey’s influence on the characters and story.
“One of the key characteristics of Jersey is that there can be a very high regard for status and for hierarchies,” he said.
“In the story, we’ve got the Wakefield family, a very influential, powerful and wealthy family, and that brings them a lot of status on the island.
“And with that status, there is an expectation that they will be treated slightly differently, so with our version of Jim Bergerac, that’s something he finds incredibly difficult to abide by.
“This gives us a very interesting flavour to his journey through the series because there are times when a degree of subtlety and nuance and politicking would be very useful and would benefit him.”
What will the first episode be about?
The synopsis teases: “Viewers will meet Jim Bergerac (Molony) as a broken man, grappling with grief and alcoholism following his wife’s recent death.
“His mother-in-law, Charlie (Wanamaker), is concerned Jim isn’t putting his daughter Kim first and, when a woman from a wealthy Jersey family is murdered, Jim must fight through his personal struggles to become the formidable investigator he once was.
“With a troublesome convict resurfacing from his past, Bergerac is required to call on his sharp investigative instincts and past successes to navigate the intricate family dynamics, and watchful eyes of the police force, in order to solve the case.”
The series will air on 27 February 2025 on U and U&DRAMA.