Actor Damien Molony knew there was going to be a positive reaction to him landing the role of Jim Bergerac, even before he mentioned the iconic TV character's name. The 40-year-old had to keep quiet about landing the role which sees a much loved character back on our screens this month, but people guessed anyway. "Well, when I was first cast as Bergerac, I wasn't allowed to tell anyone I was playing Jim or even that there was a re-imagined series in the works," he explains.
"People would ask me what I was doing for the summer holidays, and I’d say ‘well, I’m actually going to Jersey to do some work’. You could see their brains putting two and two together and lots of people commented that I would be like a young version of Bergerac. I found it funny that even at the very mention of Jersey, people were already thinking about the series. "It really does go to show how synonymous it is with the island. Safe to say that there was a lot of excitement when it was revealed that I would be stepping into the iconic role. And when friends and family found out, they all wanted to know about the car!".
Damien, who has starred in Derry Girls, Brassic and The Split, is carrying a hefty weight of expectation on his shoulders for the return of iconic crime drama Bergerac. It will be based on the original series created by Robert Banks Stewart, which starred John Nettles, and ran for nine series on the BBC between 1981 and 1991. But the new version written by Toby Whithouse sees one big case investigated over six episodes. Jim is a broken man, grappling with grief and alcoholism following his wife’s recent death.
On bringing Bergerac back, Damien says simply: "Why not? It’s been more than 30 years since we were introduced to this world, this character, and it is such a classic, so it feels really exciting to be introducing a whole new audience to Jim Bergerac, his struggles, his desires and his thirst for justice. "Early in the series we find out that his daughter Kim wants to move out and live with her grandmother instead of him, which is a massive blow. When he then finds out someone has been murdered on the island, he figures returning to work will prove he’s back on the straight and narrow, and he can convince his daughter to move home. But is he ready to go back to work? So, a shaky foundation to begin with, and then a criminal from his past resurfaces and it’s a massive distraction for him.".
The plot is described as "a knotty whodunnit" after a member of one of Jersey’s wealthiest families is murdered which causes Jim to return to the job. As well as the old character coming back, the location for the show is also returning, meaning the series was filmed in Jersey. It seems to have an important link to the show and the cast loved filming there. "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," he says. "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 very first scene we filmed there was at 4:00am in Bouley Bay, which had the most stunning sunrise. We were actually using it as a sunset, and it was so beautiful, the early wake-up call was worth it! We also went to St Ouen’s Bay, which is on the west coast of the island and that’s a huge, windy beach that is home to lots of surfers. It was a perfect backdrop to a moment in episode one 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. I loved filming in the gorgeous St Brelade’s Bay, where we lucked out with some lovely August weather, and we could swim at lunchtime and have ice-cream. We had another great day on Gorey pier, and in the Driftwood Café on Archirondel Beach, I loved that place. We had a quick sprint through Royal Square in St Helier and filmed in the vast grounds of Victoria College.".
So the locations and storyline all seem to be in place, as well as a return of the much loved Bergerac car. Father-of-two Damien hopes that returning fans will love it as well as attracting a new generation of Bergerac viewers. He says: "I think fans of the original series will love seeing Jersey back on their screens. "I’d only seen the very first episode of the original Bergerac and remember the iconic moment when he flies into Jersey airport with amazing aerial shots of the island. Jersey looked incredible. Then, when I first touched down in Jersey, it felt like I was reliving that scene from the very first episode… that was a massive moment for me, like ‘wow, this is really happening’.
"Fans will also get the chance to see the Triumph Roadster again and I’m looking forward to them seeing this wonderfully difficult relationship between Jim Bergerac and Charlie Hungerford. It’s brilliant to have Zoë Wanamaker playing this part. She’s so witty and such a wonderful foil for Jim. She drives him up the wall and he does the same to her, and that’s a wonderful thing that we’ve inherited from the original series.
