Bergerac’s never coming back… ever!

Tuesday 02 October 2018

Well-known actor John Nettles has lived up to his name with a stinging refusal to play the much-loved Jersey crime solver Jim Bergerac ever again.

Despite a constant flurry of requests to revive the role in various spin-off programmes of the Channel Island-based show, Mr Nettles has said that he will never play the Jersey detective again.

In an interview with magazine TV Years, the 74-year-old reported that he was not tempted to revive the role, saying that “the good thing is to know your time has passed.” 

The TV show, based in Jersey, ran for just over a decade from 1981 to 1991. At its most popular, the show attracted viewing figures in excess of 13 million per week.

The seasoned TV star, who is also much celebrated for his portrayal of Chief Inspector John Barnaby on ‘Midsomer Murders’, said “there was talk of the daughter of Bergerac. The son of Bergerac! The story was extraordinary."

Pictured: John Nettles often returns to the island, but has vowed that he will never play Jim Bergerac again. (ZDF/Alex Berkel)

“When Jim had been in France, he’d had an affair with someone who’d had a son he didn’t know about. The opening: there’s a knock on his door, and in comes this young man.”

But, unfortunately for some, Mr Nettles wasn’t tempted by this storyline, describing it as “ludicrous."

Despite his firm line on never playing the detective again, Mr Nettles has not cut all ties with the island. He often returns to Jersey for visits or in his capacity as a historian - making documentaries about World War Two.

While a TV revival is not be on the cards, Bergerac's theme got brought into the modern day with a remix from electro musician Youngr released this summer.

Video: Bergerac Remastered was released earlier this summer.

A collaboration with VisitJersey, ‘Bergerac Remastered’ saw Youngr turn the original BAFTA award-winning soundtrack into a synthy modern instrumental – with strong beats and a ripping summer base.

In an accompanying video, the artist also celebrates Jersey’s soundscape in locations filmed across the island. He is seen playing on top of Gorey Castle, on a bunker in St. Ouen's bay, inside the caves at Plémont, by Corbière and even in a field surrounded by Jersey cows.

Lead photo: John Nettles as detective Jim Bergerac. (Youtube/Titusbramble555)