Bergerac (TV series)

Background

The series ran from 1981 to 1991. It was created by producer Robert Banks Stewart. The series begins with a man returning to work after a particularly bad period in his life: Eddie Shoestring from a nervous breakdown; Jim Bergerac from alcoholism and from a crushed and badly-broken leg.

The final episode filmed was the 1991 Christmas special titled "All for Love", set partly in Bath.

On 24 February 2014, the BBC started a rerun of the series on daytime afternoons on BBC Two. The repeats concluded with series 3, in order to avoid showing the Haut de la Garenne location, a former children's home which was the focus of an investigation into historic child abuse.

Episodes

Main article: List of Bergerac episodes

Cast and characters

Main

• John Nettles as Detective Sergeant Jim Bergerac
• Terence Alexander as Charlie Hungerford
• Sean Arnold as Chief Inspector/Superintendent Barney Crozier (series 1–8)
• Cécile Paoli as Francine Leland (series 1)
• Deborah Grant as Deborah Bergerac
• Annette Badland as Charlotte (series 1–3)
• Celia Imrie as Marianne Bellshade (series 2)
• Louise Jameson as Susan Young (series 4–8)
• Thérèse Liotard as Danielle Aubry (series 8–9)

Supporting

• Mela White as Diamante Lil (series 1–5)
• Lindsay Heath as Kim Bergerac (series 1–5)
• Geoffrey Leesley as Detective Constable Terry Wilson (series 1–5)
• Tony Melody as the Chief (series 1–3)
• Jonathan Adams as Dr. LeJeune (series 1–3)
• Liza Goddard as Philippa Vale (series 3–7)
• Nancy Mansfield as Peggy Masters (series 4–7)
• Jolyon Baker as DC Barry Goddard (series 4–5)
• John Telfer as DC Willy Pettit (series 6–9)
• Ben Kershaw as DC Ben Lomas (series 6–9)

Lead character and casting

According to a 2001 interview with Robert Banks Stewart, John Nettles was cast on his insistence. He said, "A programme like that would never get made today without having a household name, but back then I fought to have John Nettles play Bergerac because he was right for it." Bergerac drives a burgundy 1947 Triumph Roadster instead of an approved police vehicle.

Home media

In June 2021, the first two series became available on BritBox; series 3 to series 9 with all of the Christmas special episodes became available in October 2021. As of September 2021, seasons 1–3 and 5–9 were available to stream in the United States via Amazon Prime with a BritBox subscription.

Theme music

The original Bergerac theme music, composed by George Fenton, featured a reggae and accordion refrain. In 1982, Fenton won a BAFTA Best Original Television Music award for the music. In 2018, Youngr re-recorded the track, entitled "Bergerac Remastered", with a video shot in locations around Jersey.

Reboot

Main article: Bergerac (2025 TV series)

Writer Toby Whithouse oversaw a new six-episode Bergerac series which was aired in 2025. Damien Molony appeared in the title role, with filming taking place in Jersey and Plymouth for exterior and interior shots.

Co-stars include Zoë Wanamaker as a gender flipped Charlie Hungerford, and Robert Gilbert as Barney Crozier. New characters include Arthur Wakefield (Philip Glenister), Margaret Heaton (Pippa Haywood), Uma Dalal (Sasha Behar) and Kara (Celine Arden).

In popular culture

Portions of Bergerac's credits were featured in the Black Mirror episode "Loch Henry": in the episode's story, it is revealed that VHS recordings of Bergerac had been taped over with snuff films.

References

References

1. (7 February 2019). "Classic crime show Bergerac set to return". BBC News.
2. (18 April 2013). "Bergerac set for a come back 20 years on?". The Independent.
3. (18 April 2013). "BBC News – Bergerac return 'a boost'". BBC News.
4. Barnes, Georgina. (18 February 2025). "New series to pay homage to original, star says".
5. "Robert Banks Stewart on creating Charles Endell, Esquire". STV Entertainment.
6. (1 November 2014). "The 30 best TV detectives and sleuths – Telegraph". Telegraph.co.uk.
7. (28 February 2014). "BBC News – Bergerac rerun postponed owing to abuse inquiry". BBC News.
8. Jane Mathews. (3 March 2014). "John Nettles blasts BBC for pulling Bergerac reruns featuring Haut de la Garenne home". Express.co.uk.
9. Hodgkinson, Will. (27 October 2001). "The feelgood factory". The Guardian.
10. (30 October 2013). "Bergerac's car up for sale". Telegraph.co.uk.
11. "BritBox - S3".
12. "Amazon search result page".
13. "1982 Television Original Television Music".
14. (30 May 2018). "LISTEN: Bergerac gets an electro twist in new music mix". Bailiwick Express.
15. (13 April 2024). "Bergerac reboot to begin filming in Jersey this summer". [[BBC News Online.
16. (8 July 2024). "Damien Molony to play Bergerac in new series". BBC.
17. (7 July 2024). "Damien Molony set to star as Jim Bergerac in reimagined series of Bergerac for U&DRAMA and U". UKTV Corporate Site.
18. Collis, Clark. (17 June 2023). "'Bergerac' from 'Loch Henry' episode of 'Black Mirror' is a real show".
19. Mellor, Louisa. (16 June 2023). "1980s Detective Series Bergerac Was the Perfect Reference for Black Mirror's "Loch Henry"".