BlackLight TV Reimagining Bergerac for UKTV

BlackLight TV, part of Banijay UK, is reimagining the British crime drama Bergerac for UKTV’s free-to-air channel Drama and UKTV Play.

Based on the show that ran for nine seasons between 1981 and 1991, the new Bergerac will see the titular detective thrown into a high-stakes police investigation and forced to confront his own demons. Unlike the original hit, however, the new season will see one character-led murder mystery across all six parts, as opposed to a new storyline each episode.

The reimagining will be written by Toby Whithouse (The Red King, Being Human), alongside Brian Fillis (Trust, Sirens), Catherine Tregenna (The One That Got Away, Three Pines) and Polly Buckle (Love Rat, A Discovery of Witches). Casting will be revealed in the coming months.

Filming for the new Bergerac series is set to begin filming this summer, with locations including the Channel Island of Jersey. It is expected to debut in 2025.

Executive producers are Ben Bickerton, Philip Trethowan and Toby Whithouse for BlackLight TV; Brian Constantine for Westward Studios; and Helen Perry for UKTV.

Banijay Rights is handling international distribution for the series.

“It’s a rare honor to bring back a show as beloved and iconic as Bergerac,” Whithouse said. “Our mission was always to respect the show’s history and legacy, while making it impactful and relevant for a modern-day audience. We’ll be bringing back other beloved supporting characters, as well as introducing new friends and foes. Just like his predecessor, our Bergerac is complex, driven, brilliant and flawed.”

“We are delighted to be working with BlackLight TV and Banijay on this reimagining of a much-loved classic British drama,” commented Hilary Rosen, director of commissioning for UKTV. “There is a keen appetite for UKTV original dramas, as seen by the stellar performance of The Marlow Murder Club, and Bergerac will help us to build off the back of such a successful start to our commissioning journey for Drama and UKTV Play.”

Paula Fitzgerald, head of digital content for UKTV Play, added, “It’s an incredibly exciting time for UKTV Play, as we gear up for the launch of our masterbrand U in the summer. Drama content is a key driver for audiences of our free streaming service, so I can’t wait to add this brilliant new series to our content offering.”

“The Marlow Murder Club, our first UKTV Original commission for Drama, has been incredibly well received by our audience so I’m looking forward to adding this brilliant new series to our offering,” said Emma Ayech, channel director for Drama.

BlackLight TV representatives commented, “We are thrilled to be working with UKTV to bring Jim Bergerac back to the small screen where he belongs. Toby Whithouse has created a propulsive contemporary crime story that delves into Bergerac’s rich and complex character and will keep audiences guessing until the end. We’re sure it will delight old and new fans alike.”