Classic 1980s series Bergerace to be 'reimagined' for modern audience

Cecile Paoli and John Nettles in Bergerac

‘Bergerac’ is being reimagined for a “modern-day” audience.

The classic mystery series starred John Nettles in the title role of detective Jim Bergerac and ran on the BBC from 1981 until 1991 but now screenwriter Tony Parsons is determined to “respect the original work” of creator Robert Banks Stewart when his version premieres on UKTV Play at some point in 2025.

He said: “It’s a rare honour to bring back a show as beloved and iconic as ‘Bergerac’. Our mission was always to respect the show’s history and legacy, while making it impactful and relevant for a modern-day audience.

“We’ll be bringing back other beloved supporting characters, as well as introducing new friends and foes. Just like his predecessor, our Bergerac is complex, driven, brilliant and flawed.”

Casting is yet to be announced for the revival series and filming will take place this summer, with bosses noting that there is a “keen appetite” for original British dramas following the success of ‘The Marlow Murder Club’ earlier this year.

Commissioner Hilary Rosen said: “We are delighted to be working with BlackLight TV and Banijay on this re-imagining of a much-loved classic British drama. There is a keen appetite for UKTV Original dramas, as seen by the stellar performance of ‘The Marlow Murder Club’, and Bergerac will help us to build off the back of such a successful start to our commissioning journey for Drama and UKTV Play.”

Head of Digital Content Paula Fitzgerald added: “It’s an incredibly exciting time for UKTV Play, as we gear up for the launch of our masterbrand ‘U’ in the summer. Drama content is a key driver for audiences of our free streaming service, so I can’t wait to add this brilliant new series to our content offering.”