UKTV releasesd first look images captured in Jersey for the upcoming re-imagined series of Bergerac (6×60’) for U and U&DRAMA.
The six-part U&Original series is produced by BlackLight TV, part of Banijay UK, Jersey based Westward Studios and supported by Visit Jersey. Bergerac will air in early 2025.
Taking the leading role of Jim Bergerac is Damien Molony (The Split, Brassic, Crashing), alongside Zoë Wanamaker (My Family, Shadow and Bone, Black Ops) as Jim’s mother-in-law Charlie Hungerford, and Philip Glenister (Steeltown Murders, Life on Mars) as Arthur Wakefield.
Further cast include Pippa Haywood (Green Wing, Bodyguard) as Margaret Heaton, Robert Gilbert (Big Boys, Killing Eve) as Barney Crozier, Sasha Behar (Unforgotten, Casualty) as Uma Dalal, Tim Renouf (A Very British Scandal) as Julien Wakefield and Celine Arden (Us or Them) as Kara.
The series is written by Toby Whithouse (The Red King, Being Human), alongside Brian Fillis (Trust, Sirens), Catherine Tregenna (The One That Got Away, Three Pines) and Polly Buckle (Love Rat, A Discovery of Witches). Banijay Rights will handle international distribution for the series.
Bergerac is based on the original series created by Robert Banks Stewart, which starred John Nettles and ran for nine series on the BBC between 1981 and 1991. The modern re-imagining will honour the iconic detective drama, but with a contemporary twist. Unlike the original hit from the 80s, the new series will see one character-led murder mystery run across all six episodes, in place of a new storyline each episode.
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.
Bergerac has been commissioned by Hilary Rosen, director of commissioning for UKTV, and ordered by Paula Fitzgerald, head of digital content for streaming service U, and Emma Ayech, channel director for U&Drama. Executive producers for BlackLight TV are Ben Bickerton, Philip Trethowan and Toby Whithouse. Brian Constantine is executive producer for Westward Studios. Helen Perry, head of drama, will be executive producer for UKTV. The series is directed by Colm McCarthy (The Bastard Son & the Devil Himself, Peaky Blinders)and Sean Spencer (The Lazarus Project, A Town Called Malice) and produced by Clare Alan (Resistance, Rebellion).
Bergerac is a brand-new U&Original series and will air on U&DRAMA and U in 2025.
Jon Creamer
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