A JERSEY actor has landed a role in the long-awaited Bergerac reboot.
There has been much debate about whether the programme will be a home-grown production, but Timothy Renouf is certainly a Jerseyman.
The 33-year-old is playing Julien Wakefield in the six-episode series which is commissioned by BBC-owned broadcaster UKTV and directed by Peaky Blinders director Colm McCarthy.
Mr Renouf found out two weeks ago that he would be stepping into the role, which will see him appear in scenes alongside Philip Glenister (Life on Mars), who plays his father Arthur Wakefield, as members of the renowned fictional Jersey family.
Mr Renouf, from Grouville, is a former Victoria College and St George’s pupil who currently lives and works in London as an actor.
He joins Irish actor Damien Molony who takes up the leading role, which John Nettles played in the 1980s show created by Robert Banks Stewart.
Filming for the series, which offers a “contemporary twist” on the iconic detective drama, is due to begin this summer at locations in Jersey and the UK.
Other cast members announced on Sunday include Zoe Wanamaker (My Family), who will play the role of Charlie Hungerford, now reimagined as Bergerac’s mother-in-law.
Mr Renouf, speaking to the JEP in between rehearsals for Bergerac, said: “I always heard rumours about a reboot floating around, but this was a chance thing which came out of the blue from my agent.”
He said his audition and meeting with the director was a “really good time” but “when you go into auditions, you never know whether you’ll hear anything back”.
“This version is very different from the style and feel of the original 80s show,” he said. “It’s a bit more like a modern crime drama, and set in present day, which I think is good, because it’s difficult to recreate the heyday of Jersey in the 80s.
“Colm, the producers, and the writers have created something that has its own identity.”
“When I was growing up, and people always said that you never know… if they ever do a reboot of Bergerac, maybe you could be in it.
“It’s such a surreal situation. It’s really exciting, and I’m so grateful to come back home and work.”
After attending the University of Exeter to study acting, Mr Renouf embarked on a career which has included most recently a role in BBC’s A Very British Scandal opposite Claire Foy and Paul Bettany.
Bergerac is being produced by BlackLight TV, part of Banijay UK, and Jersey-based Westward Studios with support from Visit Jersey. The series is being written by Toby Whithouse – whose portfolio includes writing for Doctor Who – alongside Brian Fillis, Catherine Tregenna and Polly Buckle.
The show will be available on free to air channel U&DRAMA and free streaming service U next year.
Those involved with the show earlier this week said Islanders will have an opportunity to put themselves forward for potential “background” appearances, and more news would follow in the coming weeks.
Filming is due to start this month in the UK and Jersey. Economic Development Minister Kirsten Morel said this week that “principal filming, external filming, is in Jersey”.
