Thirty years after Jim Bergerac last patrolled the windswept shores of Jersey, UKTV’s bold reimagining of the 1980s classic brings the beloved detective into the 21st century—with all the grit, wit, and intrigue that defined the original. This time, the Channel Islands’ sun-drenched vistas hide darker secrets: crypto scams, influencer disappearances, and a tidal wave of old-money corruption. Damien Molony (Brassic, Being Human) steps into the iconic role of Jim Bergerac, now a disgraced Met detective returning to Jersey to rebuild his life… and solve the island’s most twisted crimes. Joined by a sharp, diverse ensemble, including Zoë Wanamaker as a reimagined Charlie Hungerford and Philip Glenister as a scheming tycoon, this Bergerac blends nostalgic nods with razor-sharp social commentary.
Created by BAFTA winner Robert Thorogood (Death in Paradise), the series trades the original’s leisurely pacing for breakneck twists, anchored by Jersey’s stunning yet sinister beauty. From yacht heists gone wrong to TikTok-fueled cold cases, Jim’s investigations expose the rot beneath the island’s millionaire playground veneer.
Meet the Cast of Bergerac
– Damien Molony as Jim Bergerac
Damien Molony (born February 21, 1985), acclaimed for his roles in Being Human and Brassic, redefines Jim Bergerac as a brooding, tech-savvy outsider battling PTSD and a gambling addiction. Molony’s ability to balance vulnerability and intensity—honed in Suspect (2022) and The Split—shines as this flawed, modern Jim. His version trades the original’s Triumph Roadster for a Tesla, but keeps the trademark moral ambiguity.
Molony trained with Jersey’s police force and shadowed cybercrime units for authenticity. “Jim’s not a hero—he’s a man chasing redemption in a world that’s moved on,” he says. Off-screen, Molony advocates for mental health awareness, infusing Jim’s struggles with raw honesty.
– Ayesha Antoine as DS Chloe Lefevre
Ayesha Antoine (born August 23, 1984), Death in Paradise and Holby City star, steals scenes as Chloe, Jim’s sharp-tongued partner and Jersey’s first Black female detective. Antoine’s comedic roots (Two Pints of Lager) temper Chloe’s no-nonsense exterior, while her dramatic chops (I May Destroy You) anchor the character’s fight against institutional bias.
Antoine, a vocal advocate for diversity in policing, consulted real female detectives for the role. “Chloe’s the truth-teller in a world of polished lies,” she says.
– Philip Glenister as Arthur Wakefield
Philip Glenister (born February 10, 1963), Life on Mars icon, oozes menace as Arthur, a property magnate turned crypto kingpin. Glenister’s knack for charming villains (Outcast, Belgravia) makes Arthur a magnetic foil for Jim—a man who “buys islands the way others buy socks.”
Glenister based Arthur on real offshore financiers. “He’s not evil—he’s just allergic to consequences,” he quips. Off-screen, Glenister’s passion for classic cars nods to the original Bergerac’s iconic rides.
– Zoë Wanamaker as Charlie Hungerford
Zoë Wanamaker (born May 13, 1949), a legend of stage and screen (Harry Potter, My Week with Marilyn), reprises the Hungerford name as Charlie, the cunning matriarch of Jersey’s art world and Jim’s estranged aunt. Wanamaker’s four-time Olivier Award-winning gravitas adds layers to Charlie, now a gallerist laundering secrets alongside Picassos.
A nod to the original’s Diane Hungerford (played by Celia Imrie), Wanamaker’s Charlie is “less eccentric, more lethal.” The actor, a staunch Remain activist, parallels Charlie’s Brexit-era pragmatism: “She’d sell the island if it turned a profit.”
– Robert Gilbert as Barney Crozier
Robert Gilbert (born 1991), Call the Midwife and The Crown alum, charms as Barney, Jim’s tech-whiz nephew and reluctant sidekick. Gilbert’s theater background (The Inheritance) informs Barney’s arc from awkward coder to unlikely hero.
Gilbert, who has cerebral palsy, worked with writers to ensure Barney’s disability was portrayed authentically. “He’s not inspirational—he’s just a genius with a VPN,” he says.
– Pippa Haywood as Margaret Heaton
Pippa Haywood (born May 19, 1961), Green Wing’s icy Sue White, terrifies as Margaret, Jersey’s power-broking Chief Minister. Haywood’s knack for bureaucratic villainy (Bodyguard, The Thick of It) turns Margaret into a masterclass in political ruthlessness.
“She’s the lovechild of Thatcher and a Bond villain,” Haywood laughs. Off-screen, she mentors young actors through the National Youth Theatre.
– Stephen Wight as John Blakely
Stephen Wight (born February 19, 1986), I Hate Suzie and Press star, delivers a career-best performance as Blakely, a corrupt cop entangled with Arthur’s empire. Wight’s stage work (King Lear) fuels Blakely’s Shakespearean downfall.
Wight’s improvisation during interrogation scenes unnerved even the crew: “Blakely’s a man who’s forgotten his soul.”
– Chloé Sweetlove as Kim Bergerac
Chloé Sweetlove (rising star), known for Sex Education and The Witcher, shines as Kim, Jim’s Gen-Z daughter and a hacker activist. Sweetlove’s TikTok-famous comedy sketches inform Kim’s irreverent humor, while her dramatic turn in Chivalry (2023) grounds the character’s rage against Jersey’s elite.
“Kim’s the conscience her dad lost,” Sweetlove says. A climate activist off-screen, she pushed for Kim’s eco-storyline.
– Celine Arden as Kara Molloy
Celine Arden (born 1997), breakout star of The Sixth Commandment, stuns as Kara, a climate protester linked to Jim’s darkest case. Arden’s haunting stillness and stage work (The Crucible) make Kara a season-long enigma.
Arden, a Jersey native, insisted on filming at real protest sites from her youth. “Kara’s fight is personal,” she says.
– Timothy Renouf as Julien Wakefield
Timothy Renouf (Poldark, The Spanish Princess) smolders as Julien, Arthur’s closeted heir and Jim’s reluctant ally. Renouf’s aristocratic poise masks Julien’s simmering rebellion.
“He’s a grenade in a Savile Row suit,” Renouf says. The role marks his first openly queer character.
– Luke Nunn as Simon Calvert
Luke Nunn (The Responder, Peaky Blinders) chills as Simon, a true-crime podcaster dredging up Jim’s past. Nunn’s indie film grit (Boiling Point) turns Simon into a moral wild card.
“He’s not after truth—he’s after clicks,” Nunn warns.
Why Bergerac 2025 Stands Out
With its killer cast, Jersey noir aesthetic, and Thorogood’s signature mystery flair, Bergerac is more than a reboot—it’s a reinvention. Catch the premiere on UKTV, February 27, 2025. No fedora required.
