Zoë Wanamaker and Phillip Glenister will also star in a contemporary version of the Jersey-based detective series.
Updated 18/09/24: First image from the re-imagined series.
With the show set to air in early 2025, U&DRAMA have released a first image from the new Bergerac.
The shot shows Damian Molony as the troubled detective Jim Bergerac, who solves crimes on the Channel Island of Jersey.
The show also stars Zoë Wanamaker and Phillip Glenister, and comes from writer Toby Whithouse (Being Human, The Red King, Doctor Who).
In comments to BBC Jersey, the drama has been described by actor Tim Renouf, who plays Julien Wakefield, as a different take on the material:
“It’s going to have a different feel to it. It’s going to be obviously modern, but darker. It’s still going to have that glamour…but it’s going to be grittier.”
Renouf also believes it will be good for the island too:
“People will be intrigued to come here, it’s going to be great for the island. The way they’ve shot it, the cinematography. Jersey is as much a key character in this as the leads are. It plays such a lead character in this.”
We’ll keep you posted.
Original article (of 08/07/24) continues…
Damien Molony is the new Jim Bergerac
In April, we heard that Toby Whithouse was behind a re-imagined Bergerac, the classic 80s crime series.
Now, the casting is in place, with Damien Molony taking on the title role of Jim Bergerac.
The Irish actor’s previous credits include playing Hal Yorke in Whithouse’s Being Human, as well as Brassic and The Split.
Damien Molony said:
“I’m incredibly excited to be stepping into the role of Jim Bergerac. John Nettles has left an incredible legacy with big shoes to fill, and I hope I can bring a fresh new take on this iconic character. I can’t wait for audiences to join me on this journey.”
The series promises a fresh take on Bergerac, as the long-running 80s/90s story-of-the-week series becomes a six-part drama character-led murder mystery.
Joining Molony are Zoë Wanamaker (Criminal Record) playing a gender-swapped Charlie Hungerford, Bergerac’s mother-in-law, and Phillip Glenister (Life on Mars) as Arthur Wakefield.
Also, Pippa Haywood (Bodyguard) as Margaret Heaton, Robert Gilbert (Killing Eve) as Barney Crozier, Sasha Behar (Unforgotten) as Uma Dalal and Celine Arden (Us or Them) as Kara.
UTKV say:
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.
Toby Whithouse leads a writing team which includes Brian Fillis, Catherine Tregenna and Polly Buckle. The director is Colm McCarthy (Peaky Blinders) and the producer is Clare Alan (Resistance).
The show comes from Blacklight TV and Westward Studios, in association with Visit Jersey, for UTKV.
The new Bergerac is coming to U&DRAMA, and the streamer U, in 2025. We’ll keep you posted.