Bergerac returns: Damien Molony faces toughest case yet as romance blooms on Jersey

Key facts

• First series of rebooted Bergerac drew 2.4 million viewers in February 2025, becoming UKTV's highest-rated show that year.
• Second series premieres 16 April on U&Drama, with Damien Molony reprising the title role.
• Plot: Groom murdered at wedding reception; Jim Bergerac meets visitor Nicola (Camilla Beeput) while tentatively dating.
• a 70% increase in website visits after the first episode aired.
• Original series ran 87 episodes from 1981 to 1991 starring John Nettles, now 82.
• New series covers one crime per season, unlike the original's crime-per-episode format.
• Zoe Wanamaker returns as Charlie Hungerford; Adrian Edmondson joins as new love interest Nigel.
• No third season confirmed yet; if renewed, potential air date spring 2027.

A wedding murder and a tentative romance

Jim Bergerac is back on Jersey, and this spring he will face what producers call the most challenging case of his career. The second series of the rebooted detective drama opens with a groom found murdered in his hotel room after a wedding reception. The victim's final words may hold the key to the killer's identity, according to a UKTV spokesperson. Amid the investigation, Bergerac's personal life takes an unexpected turn. With encouragement from his daughter Kim (Chloe Sweetlove), he has tentatively started dating, though he still feels the loss of his wife. Privately, he holds out little hope of meeting someone special — until he encounters Nicola, a visitor to the island played by Camilla Beeput. The connection is immediate, but complications arise when Nicola may be linked to the case.

Damien Molony steps into a darker Jersey

Irish actor Damien Molony, who took over the iconic role from John Nettles, says returning for a second series brought a sense of confidence and pride. "Everyone worked so hard on the first series and it just felt like a lovely reward to get a chance to come back to Jersey and do it all again," he said in an interview. Molony, known for roles in Being Human and Brassic, is currently busy with a stage production of Michael Frayn's Copenhagen at the Hampstead Theatre in London and a new BBC thriller series, Two Weeks In August, due later this year. The reboot is notably darker in tone than the 1980s original, which ran for 87 episodes over a decade. While the original featured a new crime every episode, the new format devotes an entire season to a single case, allowing deeper character development and more intricate plotting.

A stellar supporting cast and new faces

The second series brings back Zoe Wanamaker as Bergerac's formidable mother-in-law, Charlie Hungerford, who this season finds romance with the effervescent Nigel, played by Adrian Edmondson. Robert Gilbert reprises his role as Barney Crozier. New cast members include Lesley Sharp, Charles Dale, Turlough Convery, Georgina Rich, and Jonathan Aris, adding depth to the ensemble. The show's producers have not yet confirmed a third season, but the first series' massive viewership — 2.4 million — makes renewal likely. If commissioned soon, filming could take place later this year, with a potential spring 2027 release following the pattern of the first two seasons.

Tourism boom: Jersey sees 70% surge in visitor interest

The reboot has had an "enormous" impact on Jersey tourism, chief executive of Visit Jersey. After the first episode aired in February 2025, the number of people visiting the island's tourism website increased by 70% compared to the previous month. Hotel bookings and trip reservations also rose significantly, Warwick said. "The first series has significantly raised Jersey's profile as a must-visit destination," she told the BBC. The show's picturesque Channel Island setting has become a character in its own right, drawing viewers to the real locations. Molony himself expressed his love for filming there: "I love any excuse to get back to Jersey. The fact that we were back in Jersey to shoot Bergerac series two makes it even better."

What lies ahead: season three hopes and scheduling

UKTV has not yet renewed Bergerac for a third season, but the show's popularity — it was the network's highest-rated programme in 2025 — suggests a strong chance. The first season premiered in February 2025 and was renewed just two months later in April. Filming for season two took place on Jersey from August to October 2025, and the new episodes air from 16 April on U&Drama. If a third season follows the same timeline, an announcement could come soon, with filming later this year and a potential spring 2027 release. Fans of the original series, which ran for 87 episodes, will hope the reboot enjoys similar longevity. For now, viewers can immerse themselves in the latest mystery, where romance and murder intertwine on the sun-drenched but dangerous island of Jersey.

The bottom line

• Bergerac season 2 premieres 16 April on U&Drama, with Damien Molony as Jim Bergerac facing a wedding murder and a potential love interest.
• First season drew 2.4 million viewers, making it UKTV's highest-rated show of 2025 and boosting Jersey tourism by 70%.
• The series covers one crime per season, a shift from the original's episodic format, allowing deeper storytelling.
• No third season confirmed yet; if renewed, it could air in spring 2027.
• New cast includes Adrian Edmondson as Nigel, while Zoe Wanamaker returns as Charlie Hungerford.
• The reboot's darker tone and scenic Jersey setting have been key to its success.