GOVERNMENT funding will be provided for a remake of Bergerac – but only through retrospective grants if specific targets are met, the Economic Development Minister has said.
Deputy Kirsten Morel told the States Assembly that a “letter of intent” about financial support had been sent to the company which would be filming the reboot of the detective drama.
And Deputy Morel revealed that a film commission could be set up to deal with future projects similar to success stories in Northern Ireland.
Based on the original detective drama by Robert Banks Stewart, which starred John Nettles and ran on the BBC between 1981 and 1991, a contemporary iteration of Bergerac has been commissioned by UKTV, which is part of BBC Studios.
It will stream free of charge on UKTV Play and is expected to air on Drama in 2025.
Speaking during question time yesterday in response to a question from Deputy Jonathan Renouf, Deputy Morel said that ministers intended to learn from the problems experienced by previous governments.
In 2011, a £200,000 Economic Development grant was given to Canbedone Productions towards pre-production work for Jersey-based film Knights of Impossingworth, however the project never materialised.
Deputy Morel said that no funding would be provided in advance, and that any payments would be dependent on meeting agreed targets.
The goals he outlined included the need for independently-audited evidence of the amount spent with Jersey businesses during filming, the successful training of local apprentices who might then go on to careers in television, and the extent of worldwide distribution for the series.
The funding could be drawn from a variety of sources, he said, including the government’s commitment to support arts, heritage and culture, other Economic Development budgets and from Visit Jersey.
As a result of the contract for the funding not being signed, Deputy Farnham said he did not wish to disclose the potential total sum involved. He also pointed out to States Members that any potential benefits for visitor numbers to the Island could take up to three years to materialise.
He added that the suggested film commission would make it more straightforward to deal with future projects, referring to the “incredible success” achieved by a similar body set up in Northern Ireland.
“We are trying to learn from previous funding experience, which cast a long shadow – it’s time to come out from that long shadow, and we won’t fall into the same traps [as before],” he said.
