Crime drama reboot Bergerac, which sees Damien Molony taking on the role made famous by John Nettles in the ’80s, first debuted in 2025, with a second season arriving earlier this year.
However, season 1 is now coming to new audiences, with the episodes arriving on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer, having previously aired on U&Drama and U.
As with the original series, this new version of Bergerac is defined by its location, behind set on the island of Jersey, which in many ways is a character in its own right.
But where was the series actually filmed and what has been said by the cast and crew about the locations used in the show?
Read more:
- Damien Molony: “I wasn’t trying to copy John Nettles’s Bergerac”
- Bergerac star Damien Molony got John Nettles’ blessing for “darker” reboot
Read on for everything you need to know about the Bergerac reboot filming locations.
Bergerac filming locations
It simply wouldn’t be Bergerac without the beautiful Jersey backdrop, so that’s exactly where the cast and crew pitched up.
“Jersey and Bergerac are utterly indivisible, so if you were setting it anywhere else it would have to be a different show,” said writer Toby Whithouse.
Director Colm McCarthy echoed those comments: “Jersey, both as a location and a character in the story, are a big part of what gives Bergerac its distinctive feel. Taking that story away from there would make it a different show.
“It’s what I see when I watch the show and when I read the scripts.”
Whithouse went on to describe Jersey as 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,” he added.
“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.”
Much of Molony’s enthusiasm for this particular job stemmed from working in Jersey.
“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, so I can’t wait for fans to see it.”
The actor recalled enjoying “the most stunning sunrise” while filming a scene in Bouley Bay at 4am.
“The early wake-up call was worth it!” he added.
Other locations that feature in the series include “St Ouen’s Bay, which is on “the west coast of the island”.
“That’s a huge, windy beach that is home to lots of surfers,” he continued. “It was a perfect backdrop to a moment in episode 1 where Jim decides to give up alcohol and properly focus on getting back to work. So it’s a very dark and brooding scene and the weather was perfect.”
The cast and crew also filmed in the following locations:
- St Brelade’s Bay.
- Gorey pier.
- Driftwood Café on Archirondel Beach.
- Royal Square in St Helier.
- Victoria College grounds.
- La Pulente restaurant, which doubled for the The Jersey Club.
- St Ouen’s Bay and La Rocco Tower.
- Central Market.
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It was the first time that Philip Glenister, who plays businessman Arthur Wakefield, whose daughter-in-law is murdered, had returned to Jersey after filming a single episode of the original series in the early ’90s.
“It was quite interesting doing scenes around the public while they’re going about their day, whether that was a wedding, hen party or anything in between,” he said.
“The locals seemed really pleased that we were there, and I had some nice chats with people in between takes.”
Glenister also said that he understands why the show’s creator Robert Banks Stewart wanted to set the story in Jersey.
“First and foremost, 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.
“During the war it was occupied by the Nazis, which was the case for many islands at the time. So, you can see that there was already a lot of light and dark shades about it, and that’s great for storytelling.
“Without a doubt, Jersey is the second lead in the series.”
Bergerac season 1 is available to stream now on BBC iPlayer, and will air on BBC Two from 9pm on Friday 24 July. Seasons 1 and 2 are both available to watch now on U.
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