BBC detective drama series Bergerac is getting a reboot with a brand new star taking on the mantle of troubled sleuth Jim Bergerac, originally portrayed by John Nettles.

The new six-part series will launch on the free streaming service U today (Thursday, February 27) for crime fans to get their teeth stuck into.

Bergerac follows the eponymous detective working on a disturbing murder as he tries to get his life back on track following the death of his wife and battling his inner demons.

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Irish actor Damien Molony takes on the title role with the actor best known for his parts in Ripper Street, Suspects and Brassic.

The role reunites the star, 41, with writer Toby Whithouse after the pair previously worked together on Being Human.

Other cast members include Pippa Haywood, Philip Glenister, Sarah Behar, Zoë Wanamaker, Chloé Sweetlove and Robert Gilbert.

The show promises to be a gripping watch with the action again set on the island of Jersey. However, one crucial difference in the new series: there’s only a single case rather than episodic crime-solving.

Bergerac was filmed last year in various locations, including Jersey and Devon with the shoot starting in July 2024.

Filming took place in two blocs with the first half seeing the cast and crew on location in Devon between July and August, before moving to Jersey for the second half. There was then a brief return back to Devon for some additional filming.

Some of the Jersey locations included La Pulente which stood in for The Jersey Club in the drama, Bouley Bay, St Ouen’s Bay on the west coast of the island, St Brelade’s Bay, Gorey Pier, the Driftwood Café on Archirondel Beach, Royal Square in St Helier and Victoria College.

In an exclusive interview with , actress Pippa Haywood opened up about working on the show and the filming locations.

The 63-year-old star said audiences had the “gloriousness of Jersey” as the backdrop with Bergerac evoking something of a Scandi Noir feel to it.

“It’s not quite Bradford or those northern crime dramas where it’s all pretty grey and gritty, you’ve got these complex stories, but in this glorious island that makes it a little bit exotic and a little bit quite close to home but a bit off-set,” she said.

“So, I think Jersey - and we shot some of it in Devon to look like Jersey - but they are glorious locations. So, I think it’s almost like another character in the piece, like his car is another character, the sets and the locations give it a richness that will be enjoyable for people to watch alongside just a fantastic, gripping story.”

Haywood revealed how she coincidentally landed the part in Bergerac not long after holidaying in Devon.

“It was very nice to be able to do a day’s work and then go for a swim, you don’t get that option very often. It was very lovely,” she said.

The Green Wing and Bridgerton star shared how fellow actor and Jersey-born Timothy Renouf, who plays Julien Wakefield in Bergerac, would give the cast tours of the island on their days off.

Despite the scenic, Nordic Noir aesthetic of the show, Haywood admitted there were some challenging moments on set with one climactic scene proving tricky to shoot with the wind scuppering multiple takes.

“The rehearsal was brilliant and then my hair was all over the shop with the wind,” she said. Thankfully, they were able to get the money shot when the wind “just calmed” with Haywood saying they “just knew it was the take”.

Bergerac is available to watch on UKTV’s U and U&DRAMA from today