User reviews

I'm old enough to remember watching the original Bergerac and always enjoyed it. A lot of time has passed since then and the people I watched it with have long since passed away. As a bit of a detective buff I wondered what was that I enjoyed about the original series so I watched a few d episodes ahead of watching the new one. I'm glad I did because there it was straight from the opening credits, the sheer beauty of Jersey itself! The new series could literally have been filmed anywhere and is all the weaker for it. Unfortunately the more I watch the more I realise that Bergerac 2025 is inferior in virtually every aspect. Damien Moloney is a decent actor but lacks the charm of John Nettles, the support cast are all lesser versions of the originals and Zoe Wanamaker is completely wasted here.

The long form story could have been an upgrade but 2 three part episodes or even 3 two parters would have been preferable as the story was fairly basic and stretching it over 6 episodes made for dull viewing at many stages which made the lack of use of the beautiful surroundings even more difficult to understand.

Mention must be made of the excellent Phillip Glenister who stands head and shoulders above all others involved and left me wondering if he wouldn't have been better suited to the titular lead role.

All in all not terrible and probably better for those who have never seen the original but it could have been so much better.

I'm a fan of Damien Molony.

I'm a fan of the original Bergerac (albeit I was a tiny kid when it was on our TVs).

I love the Channel Islands.

What's not to love?

It was OK.

It just needs to be more succinct.

Faster paced.

Each case could and should be completed in two episodes - just like "Silent Witness" or "Unforgotten".

This dragged on at a snails pace.

It was missing something - I cannot put my finger on "what". Possibly just pace and story arc. I hope it's renewed for a second season taking viewer feedback on board.

I was looking forward to the new Bergerac. I'm left slightly disappointed.

Kate Wakefield is killed inside her home, DCI Jim Bergerac is off on the sick following the death of his wife and a problem with alcohol. Bergerac pleases with his boss to be allowed to operate as a special advisor.

I'm struggling to associate this show with some of the negative reviews I've read, this was a very good first series, very watchable, very consistent, a cut above most things I've seen recently.

I really liked the mystery, I liked the pacing, the characters and the production, the location work was terrific, I couldn't reply find a lot to criticise, even at six episodes long it worked.

I thought Damien Molony was very well cast as Bergerac, I definitely got the impression of a troubled man, trying his best, but failing. I grew up watching John Nettles, but I'm more than happy with Molony.

Very good performances from the likes of Pippa Haywood, Stephen Wight and Philip Glenister, I thought Aidan McArdle was terrific.

More please.

8/10.

Firstly, opening titles and music: complete mess, a weedy irritating noise with the original sound track muffled.

Which suits most of the script: Well over half was incoherent mumbling, not helped by the bloke bashing with the hammer in the next studio. The acting was not so much "wooden" as "concrete". The cast appointed by the United Nations. The police station appears to be a disused block of flats. Apart from some of the cast sounding as if they were reading their lines, many were sitting around for no reason at all, not contributing to the (lack of) action. Not a hint of humour, character, personality from anybody, as if it was all filmed in flat grey.

Dub it with american accents, rename it "Cop Guys" or somesuch. We watched an old copy of "Heartbeat" recently, and would advise Jason Durr as Bergerac, and Mark Jordon as Crozier. Oh, and good though she normally is, poor Zoe Wanamaker as "Charlie Hungerford" just does not cut it. Total drearyness, best avoided without anti-depressants. Waste of money. Ivor Macadam.

Those expecting the "old" Bergerac will likely be disappointed. Gone is the pleasant John Nettles persona replaced by a darker, more troubled characterisation of the titular character, by the excellent, Damien Molony.

There are neat nods to the original series - the classic Triumph car, the wonderful Jersey scenery and the troubled detective and several other (reinvented) characters.

A strong supporting and guest cast including Zoe Wanamaker, Philip Glenister and Pippa Haywood add wonderfully to a narrative full of intriguing plot twists.

The story arc, told over six episodes, was a promising start and one from which the producers can build a new, but more nuanced, but still entertaining, Bergerac dynasty.

Bergerac, like All Creatures Great And Small and less like Van Der Valk, is a much loved show which starred housewives favourite John Nettles.

Surely, there was no need for a remake. Jersey had its time in the sun 40 odd years ago. It would be like bringing back Doc Martin in 20 years time just when the tourists will have left Port Isaac for good.

There is a cast full of familiar faces here I have to admit, I remembered Kim bergerac from thd Crow Girl better than Jim Bergerac from Unforgotten both of which I watched recently. I am sure Stephen Wight us a lovely bloke but to simultaneously have him playing a weasel in this and The Bay at the same time us most unfortunate to say the least. Let's hope Screw returns for another series soon.

Philip Glenister plays his usual pompous self and Charlie Hungerford is no longer an old bloke but that woman from My Family.

The story goes on a big lasting thd full 6 episodes rather than maybe a single episode story or a two parter might have been enough but it does allow time for the characters to develop but it's obvious that he will win the day above his exasperated number 2.

A nice bit of sunshine and lovely scenic shots with a nod to the original theme tune in the titles but did it really need to be brought back? Now that it has, I suspect a series 2 in the offing.

Full disclosure: I really like Jersey, and am a frequent visitor. I love the place - its ambience and history. I'll watch anything featuring the island! My view is that it would be terrible if someone made a film or series featuring Jersey that turned out to be rubbish. (Heads up - the film "Another Mother's Son" is a huge disappointment. Also reviewed by me here)

This mini-series is a sort of rehash of the long-running 1980's BBC classic "Bergerac" which ran to 9 series, 87 episodes and 6 Christmas Specials. It was very popular. But this "rehash" is generally better than the original (the original is frequently cheesy...), even if it sticks rather too closely to the formula.

So, how does "Bergerac" (2025) stand up then? Well - it's not that good.

Damien Molony has big boots to fill as Detective Bergerac. He's pretty good: edgy and troubled. Zöe Wanamaker is there for substance - but I found her role/script annoying. Not her fault, she didn't write it. Philip Glenister also adds substance, and he's quite good. Other roles/players OK. It's not especially well written.

I liked the longer storylines style, but that didn't make it any less predictable. This is fairly basic run-of-the-mill detective stuff. Could have been noir - but it wasn't. Could have showcased the wonderful island setting of Jersey more - but it didn't. In short, "Bergerac" (2025) is full of missed opportunities. This story could have been told anywhere: Norwich, Newcastle, Nottingham. There was nothing distinctively "Jersey" about it, and that's a real shame because Jersey is beautiful.

Maybe there will be a second series? I hope so - and hopefully the story will be stronger and use the island more effectively.

Postscript: I had to downgrade this from 7 to 6. Bergerac is sub-standard really.

I loved the performances of all the major actors. It is nice to see Damien Moliny in a lead role. He does a brilliant job. Philip Glenister was terrific too. It was a great blend of drama and humour. It wasn't just the storyline of the criminal investigation but the relationships between Bergerac and his daughter, and, in particular, his mother in law, played by the marvelous Zoe Wanamaker. The twists and turns in the plotline were also interesting. My Dad was a huge fan of the original Bergerac series although I have no recollection of it. I am sure he would have enjoyed this new version. Jersey looks fantastic too.

Top marks!

Only a few episodes in but enjoying it. The lead actor seemed an odd choice at first, but it's just a different spin I guess and he's very good at being a more intense, hyper JB than the original.

Main point of writing this though was to say that, although I'm usually quite wary of gender-swapped characters, Zoe Wanamaker as Charlie Hungerford is a stroke of genius! Not only is she a fantastic actress, it lends a new and much richer dynamic to the relationship.

Supporting cast all seem solid - although the Hamlet quote from one in the first episode (I think) was delivered with all the style and panache of a block of wood ;) The actor's not that bad actually, maybe he just had an off-day.

Hope it continues and develops in the same vein.

If it was announced that Prime Suspect was to be brought back, and the first series had Dawn French as DCI Tennison investigating the village gossip's murder by trebuchet, all the while chucking in funny asides and double entendres, there would rightly be an outcry from fans of the original series. This, of course, will never happen, but when it comes to hugely popular 'cosy' series, which producers and directors obviously look down on, anything goes. Thus we get a 'brought up to date' Bergerac, which of course means lots of troubled souls, dark lighting, mumbled lines, convoluted plots, and last but not least a damaged lead. It's almost impossible to like this Jim Bergerac, an awesomely irritating individual who spends half his time contemplating his navel, the other half ignoring his superiors, work colleagues, and of course his daughter. Why did it have to be a remake? Call it Dubois, and set it on Guernsey, just leave the originals alone. Blimey, what a load of boring old twaddle.

I have fond memories of the original with the gorgeous John Nettles (before he moved to Midsomer), so there is always a bit of anxiety regarding a remake. However, this Bergerac, with the mesmerising Damien Moloney is a different deal altogether. The general feel is much darker and less of a glossy travelogue for Jersey. Making Charlie into mother in law instead of father in law also works well and gives an interesting layered relationship. Philip Glenister is, as always, terrific, he exudes menace in a solid performance, showing the dark side of the super rich and the corruption they take for granted. (Then again, I have never seen a bad performance from him!)

Have just binged this and can't wait for the next season!

For a reimagining this has been an enjoyable watch. There were more twists and turns than Wickerman at Alton Towers.

The old 80s/90s format was a crime an episode which was solved in 1hr. This format is one crime (plus some) solved across six episodes.

Added to that was an introduction to a new Bergerac plus his 'in-law', a mother in-law this time. The supporting characters were all lightly played on the most part with the Jersey police colleagues giving a heavy dose of love and admiration for Bergerac. The villainous subjects of the investigation were all a bit exaggerated but still gave decent performances.

The main star of the show is the island of Jersey which was as moody as the titular Bergerac.

I hope there will be a second series as I will definitely watch.

The plot was a bit predictable, with the culprits being too obvious, which made me suspect that someone else was responsible. And that's exactly what happened: the unlikely culprit, who appeared out of nowhere, was chosen as the guilty party. The same thing happened in a couple of other places, where the events were predictable in places. Still, it was worth watching.

One was in the new Bergerac. I thought it was a pretty good detective story, compared to other detective stories. But it wasn't Bergerac. A familiar car at the end and an alcoholic cop are not enough; we've seen these before. The difference from the old one was that it had humor and style. Maybe it's because when series are made digitally instead of on film, they convey a similar atmosphere.

The new Bergerac was boring in terms of characters and had no sense of humor. Somehow, it was a bleak series compared to the original. The actors were good, but it was probably the script's fault that the characters were boring.

It made me wonder if the creators had even watched the original Bergerac. It was so difTerence Alexanderferent. Although there was a lot of criticism, in the end it was a pretty good first season. The original one with John Nettles and Terence Alexander was just so overwhelmingly good.

As far as detective shows goes it is a reasonable attempt, but you can't help feeling it should have been more.

The reality is this is detective mystery which wears Bergerac's clothes. It could easily have been any other detective show that picked up the story. Bergerac's strength aside from the quick pace (lacking in the reboot), the likeable nature of John Nettle's character (sadly missing at times in the reboot) was the island and how it impacted the stories. This four, dingy at times, version could have been set anywhere.

You also have to question why they tried to stretch action (or lack of action) across 6 episodes. By episode 4 I really had to question whether I wanted to spend another 2 episodes meandering towards the conclusion. It really felt like a 2 episode story slowed down to fit 6. There should have been 3 stories, each of 2 episodes to keep the viewing momentum going.

Overall, not a huge miss, but still a miss. I would watch a second season if the 6 episode arc was dropped to make way for faster paced episodes and they rediscovered the beauty and light of the islands.

Let me say at the outset, I have never seen the original Bergerac so I'm coming to this series from a fresh, unbiased viewpoint. Apart from the first (overlong) twenty minutes or so which was endeavouring to show the depth to which Bergerac had sunk, I really enjoyed the series. I'm glad I stayed with it.

Yes, it was a bit predictable but that doesn't bother me. The highlight was the wonderful Philip Glenister who's brilliant in whatever he does.

I would have liked to see more of the scenery as I had a holiday on Jersey some years ago and it was superb.

Given the general tone of some of the other reviewers, I may be in a minority group but each to their own.

It's good to see Damien Maloney in a lead role. I enjoyed the series - better than the original series. I look forward to the development of all the characters including the location, and its role in keeping the rich rich. Great casting and nice filming - v good to see Zoe Wanamaker have a meaty role in the series - better than the awful cigar smoking Charlie in the original series. I look forward to a second series and some risks taken that deviate even more from the original Bergerac. I like that this male lead is vulnerable, fragile, and trying to keep it all together - the flawed character works.

Let's get the obvious out of the way I remember the original and this has absolutely nothing in common with it

This version has all the currently fashionable ingredients:

Policeman with rocky career - check Past he cannot face - check Dis functional family - check Broken relationship with rebellious teenager - check A man with a great future behind him - check

Any other "seen it before 100 times" - check

If you enjoy watching glacial erosion then you will find the pace about right

Personally I found all the characters were in the "couldn't care less" category

Last, but most importantly...

Whispering the dialogue is NOT the same as acting.

Loved it. Bergerac is a great character and the actors are all well rounded. Haven't seen the original but judged on its own it's a fantastic free to air crime drama. Hope there is a follow up season. So much more to develop with some of the sideline characters. Not perfect but it holds up as a great binge. It's incredibly frustrating that reviews need to be 600 words or cannot be published. Means people just add words and detail not required for users to take a quick scan through the reviews to see if they relate. Other shows I've loved: Kin, Blue Lights, Broadchurch and Line of Duty. TLDR - give it a go.

As a fan of John Nettles I was looking forward to this new series. I loved the old format with Bergerac's back story feeding into different crime cases. This new offering is just another slow burn unthriller that for some reason has become a popular writing medium ever since the likes of Broadchurch turned up to bore us to death. I switched off this latest offering after 4 episodes. Yawn.

I'm not opposed to a story over several episodes if it's engaging but this and other storylines rarely are and could easily be solved in a week or two. On the plus side, I had death in Paradise and the Marlow murder club to watch.

I'll start by saying I never watched the original series, so had no preconceived notions of what it would be like on the Isle of Jersey. I vaguely remember John Nettles played the lead in it. I thoroughly enjoyed this series. I'm not familiar with the lead actor playing Bergerac, but there were a few other familiar faces in it. It has a good story line, and really good acting. I think It's one of the best new shows I've seen over the past year. Can't wait for the next season (which thankfully, has been given the go-ahead already). I'm a fan for sure and will be waiting on season 2 to hit our screens.

I love Damien Maloney and Philip Glennister and you can imagine my excitement when I got to see both of them in the same program. Never having seen the original Bergerac I didnt know what to expect and was pleasantly surprised how each episode managed to draw me in. Had an idea of who the original murderer was from their first appearance but the complexity of the adjoining crimes kept me involved. Maloney is an emotional, slighty psychotic character, who thinks ahead of his peers and I loved his reasoning method. Phillip however, I would have preferred to have accompanied him on the force as there is no greater crime drama than Life on Mars. All in all a very pleasant afternoon of binging.

With Phillip Glenister as one of the main characters, who is a brilliant actor may I add. His dialogue, his scripting and his acting in this has been totally wooden. Did he just not feel the script and saw it as a payday?!

The 6 episodes, are dire, slow and to be honestly totally mind numbing.

One murder and an abduction attempt. Every episode has just ended with a can I be bothered to find out who did this?!

This is supposed to be a murder mystery, so where is the suspense?! The intrigue?! No where.

Characters who I can't give a s*** about, they are ignorant, condescending, quiet and whispering at times. A DI who makes me wince.

Give me the John Nettles version over this!

Not sure why everyone else is comparing this to the original so closely. The two are not really comparable due to the length of time between the old and the new. I was engaged by the story and the characters developed well across the episodes. The plot developed nicely and there was just enough suspense without there being that often idiotic leap at the end of Somalia's genre programmes that delivers a villain that was not conceivable until 5 minutes before the reveal. Believable character good acting and nicely set up characters. I binge watched all six episodes and it would be disappointing if that was all there was to be.