JERSEY’s government is yet to recoup any direct income from international sales of the Bergerac reboot following reported “strong demand” for the first series, it has emerged – but Visit Jersey has confirmed an agreement remains in place.
Executive producer Brian Constantine said those behind the revamped detective drama were “incredibly pleased with the success of Bergerac so early in the sales cycle”.
Commissioned by BBC-owned broadcaster UKTV, the first series of the long-anticipated reboot – which stars Irish actor Damien Molony in the lead role of Jim Bergerac – launched in February on U and U&DRAMA.
Jersey’s government gave a grant of more than £700,000 to Visit Jersey to support the production of the series.
In April, UKTV revealed that the new six-part series has become the second highest rating programme on U&DRAMA, with 1.8 million consolidated viewers tuning in.
It also saw success with international sales to a raft of broadcasters, including NPO in the Netherlands, VRT in Belgium, SVT in Sweden, YLE in Finland, NRK in Norway, DR in Denmark, BBC First in Poland, TVNZ in New Zealand and ABC in Australia.
The acquisition deals were negotiated by the Banijay Rights global sales team.
In a letter to the Economic and International Affairs Scrutiny last year, Economic Development Minister Kirsten Morel said that: “Government and Visit Jersey have agreed a recoupment of international sales and a percentage of net profits on international sales in perpetuity.”
A recent response to a request under the Freedom of Information Law revealed that: “As of 13 August 2025, the Government of Jersey has not received any direct income from Series 1 of Bergerac that was released 27 February 2025.”
Following questions from the JEP, a spokesperson for Visit Jersey confirmed that the terms agreed for series one “remain in place”, including the point regarding “a recoupment from international sales”.
They also noted that international sales and distribution was “still underway” via Banijay.
Executive producer Brian Constantine said: “We are incredibly pleased with the success of Bergerac so early in the sales cycle,” adding that the show had been met with “strong demand”.
