Damien Molony will head back to Jersey for a second series of Bergerac, written by Toby Whithouse alongside Ashley Sanders, Emilie Robson and Faebian Averies
Damien Molony as Jim Bergerac
- Daily Telegraph - ‘the quality of this six-part reimagining is undeniable’
- TV Times – 5*****
- The Times – 4****
- Daily Mail – 4****
- Sun TV Mag – 4****
- Heat – 4****
UKTV today announces that the re-imagined series of Bergerac will return for a second instalment, following the overwhelming success of the recent launch. The critically acclaimed drama, starring Damien Molony, will return to the free streaming service U, and U&DRAMA in 2026. The six-part U&Original series is produced by BlackLight TV, part of Banijay UK, in collaboration with Jersey-based Westward Studios and with support from Visit Jersey.
"My predecessor had solved six crimes in the time it’s taken for me to solve one, so I have a bit of catching up to do."
The first series of Bergerac, which launched on 27th February on U and U&DRAMA, has become the second highest rating programme on U&DRAMA ever, with record numbers of 1.8million consolidated viewers tuning in. The launch contributed to a record-breaking performance on U, helping to achieve the best week ever for the platform. This follows the success of The Marlow Murder Club as the top U&Original drama to launch on the free streaming service in 2025.
Damien Molony said: “I’m so excited to be returning for a second series and to be heading back to the beautiful island of Jersey. Bringing this iconic role back has been an incredible experience. My predecessor had solved six crimes in the time it’s taken for me to solve one, so I have a bit of catching up to do. I can’t wait to explore the character of Jim Bergerac further and see what case we crack next.”
Zoë Wanamaker will return as Charlie Hungerford and Robert Gilbert as Barney Crozier. Further cast will be confirmed in the coming months.
Bergerac is based on the original series created by Robert Banks Stewart, starring John Nettles and running for nine series on the BBC between 1981 and 1991, which is available on U. The modern re-imagining honours the iconic detective drama, but with a contemporary twist. Unlike the original hit from the 80s, the new series sees one character-led murder mystery run across all six episodes, in place of a new storyline each episode.
The second series will see Jim Bergerac (Molony) starting to put his life back together, while his mother-in-law Charlie Hungerford (Wanamaker) has a new man in her life. Jim’s even tentatively dating, with his daughter’s encouragement, although it’s a big step for him. But then he meets Nicola, a visitor to Jersey, and they connect. Could this be the start of something for Jim?
However, before the relationship even has time to blossom, Jim is pulled back into his next big case. When the groom at a wedding reception on the island is found murdered in his hotel room, the wedding party comes under intense suspicion and scrutiny. Jim will have to decipher the victim’s cryptic last words from his speech if he is ever going to bring the killer to justice. And when Jim starts to unravel old secrets, more skeletons come to light, making this his most intricate case yet.
The second series will be written by Toby Whithouse, alongside Ashley Sanders, Emilie Robson and Faebian Averies.
Helen Perry, head of drama, commissioning said, “I am so delighted we’re retuning to Jersey for a second series of Bergerac. Toby Whithouse and Blacklight TV have done a remarkable job, taking a much-loved classic and re-inventing it for today’s audience. Damien is mesmerising as Jim, and is matched by Zoëand Robert brilliantly. Viewers loved the first series, so we’re thrilled to be taking them back to the beautiful island of Jersey for another thrilling investigation that’s even more twisty than the first.”
BlackLight TV commented: "Bringing this iconic show back to life with Toby Whithouse has been a true honour. We have been thrilled with the response to series one and that we are able to continue the journey with our partners at UKTV, Visit Jersey, Banijay Rights and Westward Studios. We can’t wait for fans to enjoy Jim Bergerac’s thrilling new case, full of dark secrets, huge twists and unforgettable new characters that we know will keep the audience gripped to the end."
Tricia Warwick, chief executive of Visit Jersey, commented: “We are delighted that Bergerac will be returning to Jersey to film the second series this summer. The first series has significantly raised Jersey’s profile as a must-visit destination, and we are excited to see even more of our island’s stunning landscapes and unique locations featured in series two. The iconic connection between Bergerac and Jersey has long been cherished, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with UKTV, Banijay UK, and BlackLight TV to showcase the unique charm of both Jersey and Bergerac to audiences around the world."
Bergerac has been commissioned by Helen Perry, head of drama, commissioning, and ordered by Emma Tibbetts, director of programming, scripted. Executive producers for BlackLight TV are Ben Bickerton, Philip Trethowan and Toby Whithouse. Brian Constantine is executive producer for Westward Studios. Helen Perry will be executive producer for UKTV. Banijay Rights will handle international distribution for the series.
Bergerac is available to stream for free on U.
For more information, please contact:
Kelly Phelps, Publicity Manager, UKTV
About U&DRAMA
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Free-to-air channel U&DRAMA is passionate about bringing Britain the best quality drama. From period to contemporary, family to comedy, the channel is a treasure trove of well-loved classics and modern drama with stories for viewers to fully immerse themselves in.
With programmes including familiar favourites Call the Midwife, The Bill, New Tricks and Silent Witness, and brand new and exclusive hits Sister Boniface Mysteries, Whitstable Pearl and Signora Volpe, this is the channel where viewers can escape and indulge in a handpicked range of the nation's most celebrated TV dramas.
The channel’s offering has also expanded in recent years with a wealth of U&Original dramas, including the TV adaptation of Robert Thorogood’s hit novel The Marlow Murder Club, starring Samantha Bond as no-nonsense, crossword-setter and wild-swimmer, Judith Potts, alongside Jo Martin, Cara Horgan and Natalie Dew, and a re-imagined series of the iconic Bergerac, starring Damien Molony and Zoë Wanamaker. In June, viewers will be transported to the 1930s in Outrageous - the true story of the Mitford sisters who refuse to play by the rules, attracting scandal and notoriety at every turn. The series has a star-studded line-up including Bessie Carter, Joanna Vanderham, Anna Chancellor and James Purefoy.
About U
U is UKTV’s free streaming service, providing instant access to shows from UKTV's free-to-air channels – U&Dave, U&DRAMA, U&W and U&YESTERDAY. Viewers can browse 8,500 hours of programming – including exclusive content, award-winning originals, premiere acquisitions and iconic BBC programmes across drama, (Whitstable Pearl, Marlow Murder Club, Annika, Sister Boniface Mysteries, Sons of Anarchy, Mike, Madam Secretary, A Million Little Things, The Shield, The Bill, Classic EastEnders, Holby City plus upcoming series in 2025 such as Bergerac and Outrageous), comedy (Meet the Richardsons, Red Dwarf, Live at the Apollo, Mock the Week, We Are Not Alone, Rosie Jones’s Comedy Disability Extravaganza), entertainment (Battle in the Box, Big Zuu's Big Eats, David Mitchell's Outsiders, QI, Mel Giedroyc: Unforgivable, World's Most Dangerous Roads), and factual entertainment (Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over, MasterChef Australia, Katie Piper: Jailhouse Mums, Emma Willis: Delivering Babies, Secrets of the London Underground, Bangers & Cash, Orlanda Bloom: To The Edge). U is available through the U app via computer, tablet or smart phone, or on television with Freeview Play, Freely, Amazon Fire TV, YouView, Samsung TV, Apple TV, Freesat, Sky Glass, Sky Stream, NOW and Roku.
About UKTV
UKTV has been at the forefront of branded television for over 30 years, entertaining the nation with programmes they love. Its leading brands – U&Dave, U&DRAMA, U&W, U&YESTERDAY, U&eden, U&GOLD and U&alibi - span comedy, entertainment, natural history, factual and drama, and are delivered to UK viewers through free streaming service U, Sky, Virgin Media, NOW, Freeview, Freesat and Freely; and to Irish viewers through Sky, Virgin Media, Eir, Vodafone and NOW. Channel & content availability varies by platform. UKTV’s content is also available to UK viewers via dedicated FAST channels on Samsung TV Plus, Amazon Freevee, Pluto TV and Virgin Media. UKTV is a significant investor in British creativity and is committed to working with new and established writers, directors and programme-makers. The broadcaster is part of BBC Studios, the UK's most-awarded production company, a world-class distributor with international branded services, and a commercial subsidiary of the world's leading public service broadcaster, the BBC.
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About Banijay UK
Banijay UK is a collective of leading independent television producers from around the UK. Our companies are responsible for some of the biggest TV brands on television including the MasterChef, Big Brother, Peaky Blinders, Deal or No Deal, SAS Rogue Heroes, Pointless, Ambulance and many more. Banijay UK is part of media and entertainment powerhouse, Banijay, which is home to over 130 production companies across 21 territories, a multi-genre catalogue boasting over 180,000 hours of original standout programming, and a complementary live entertainment business – Banijay Events.
About BlackLight TV
BlackLight was formed in 2017 by Ben Bickerton and Philip Trethowan. Ben and Phil met when making the critically acclaimed film Ellen together and are backed by the Banijay Media Group. Ben and Phil both have over 20 years of experience making award-winning drama and film such as Being Human and The Curse of Steptoe. More recently BlackLight have made four series of the award-winning anthology On The Edge for Channel 4, which has been nominated for 11 BAFTA’s, winning one BAFTA Cymru as well as a host of other awards. They are currently in production for Cleddau/The One That Got Away, a new six-part drama series for S4C.
About Visit Jersey
Visit Jersey was established in March 2015, with the mission to promote tourism to and within Jersey in an innovative, economic, and efficient way. Under the leadership of CEO Tricia Warwick since April 2023, Visit Jersey brings a fresh approach to showcasing the island and repositioning Jersey as a destination in the minds of current and potential visitors internationally. The Visit Jersey team works collaboratively with the industry and government to drive growth and build a stronger, more sustainable visitor economy. For additional information visit Jersey.com or the Visit Jersey Travel Trade website.
About Westward Studios
Westward Studios is a Jersey-based production company instrumental in reviving the iconic 1980s detective series Bergerac. Led by CEO and executive producer Brian Constantine, the studio secured the rights to the show and partnered with Banijay UK's BlackLight TV to develop a contemporary reboot. Filmed on location in Jersey and Devon, the new six-episode series stars Damien Molony as Jim Bergerac, with the first series directed by Colm McCarthy and available to stream on U and U&DRAMA. The production not only revitalises a beloved television classic but also showcases Jersey's unique landscapes, reinforcing the island's cultural identity and boosting its profile as a filming destination.