The crime drama Bergerac – a massive BBC One hit in the 1980s, starring John Nettles – is being rebooted. Here are the details.
Bergerac is back. Created by Doctor Who writer Robert Banks Stewart, the original series starred John Nettles and ran for nine series between 1981 and 1991. It became one of the biggest hits on the BBC schedules, all set on the island of Jersey.
The new version will give the show a “contemporary twist, as Bergerac is thrown into a knotty, high-stakes police investigation and challenged to his very core. He will be forced to confront his demons, while trying to save his family and career”.
The six-part UKTV Original series will be produced by BlackLight TV, part of Banijay UK, and written by Being Human creator Toby Whithouse, alongside Brian Fillis, Catherine Tregenna and Polly Buckle.
In a departure from the original show, the writers will weave one murder mystery through all six episodes according to TV Zone.
Toby Whithouse said: “It’s a rare honour to bring back a show as beloved and iconic as Bergerac. Our mission was always to respect the show’s history and legacy, while making it impactful and relevant for a modern-day audience. We’ll be bringing back other beloved supporting characters, as well as introducing new friends and foes. Just like his predecessor, our Bergerac is complex, driven, brilliant and flawed”.
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UKTV’s Hilary Rosen said: “We are delighted to be working with BlackLight TV and Banijay on this re-imagining of a much-loved classic British drama. There is a keen appetite for UKTV Original dramas, as seen by the stellar performance of The Marlow Murder Club, and Bergerac will help us to build off the back of such a successful start to our commissioning journey for Drama and UKTV Play.”.
Filming will begin this summer, with locations including – of course – the Channel Island of Jersey. Casting will be announced in the coming months.
Bergerac will air on Drama and it will also be available to stream free on UKTV Play in 2025.
