THE Island’s government should invest in the Bergerac reboot to ensure it is filmed here, according to the chief executive of Visit Jersey, who revealed the organisation had not received confirmation that “any of it” would be shot locally.
Speaking at a Chamber of Commerce lunch event yesterday, Tricia Warwick stressed that the so-called “set-jetting” trend of travellers flocking to locations used in movies and television shows was “real”.
She quoted research by Expedia, which estimated that if someone saw a destination on television, they were around 40% more likely to book a trip there.
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 air on Drama in 2025, with casting to be announced in the coming months and filming due to begin this summer.
Economic Development Minister Kirsten Morel has previously said that the government was considering a possible £1.8 million investment in the show, explaining that “part of the reason” for doing so would be to have it produced in Jersey.
Discussing the reboot during yesterday’s Chamber event, Ms Warwick said: “Set-jetting, which is a phenomenon in the travel industry at large, globally, is real.”
She continued: “I’ve done stuff with filming that’s really worked hard and it is bigger than the investment that you make in terms of the return, so that’s what I think about that type of activity.
“What do I think about Bergerac? I really think we should do it.”
Speaking to the JEP after the event, she added: “We haven’t had confirmation that any of it [Bergerac] is coming to Jersey, so in order for it to come to Jersey we need to invest and I believe we should invest. That is because I honestly believe the return on investment will be so much bigger than whatever we put in.”
She added that there would be other benefits, such as the ability for Islanders to play extras in the show.
“Also, part of the deal – if we sign up – is an apprenticeship scheme so that Islanders can get into the industry and work on the series while it’s here.”
She also noted that “the good thing about UKTV” was that it owns BBC iPlayer, suggesting that the show could “logically” end up on the platform.
