JUST a few weeks before the second season of Bergerac is due to air, Jersey’s Economic Development Minister has revealed that negotiations are already taking place “with a view to committing to series three”.
Deputy Kirsten Morel said he thought it was “really important that we do at least three series”.
His comments come as it emerged that one in ten Jersey holidaymakers last year cited Bergerac as having influenced their decision to come to the Island – the majority of whom were also visiting for the first time.
The figure was contained within the government’s Better Business Support Package 2025 Delivery Report.
Published this week, the Economy Department document included a breakdown of how a £2 million “destination marketing grant” was utilised by Visit Jersey for specific campaigns and activities intended to increase tourism demand and spending.
In addition to supporting additional campaigns and partnerships, as well as the delivery of route marketing for new connectivity to mainland Europe, this was also used to back the development and promotion of Bergerac – which accounted for £1,423,000 of the grant money spent.
The first series of the revamped detective drama, which was launched in February 2025, drew in 2.4 million viewers across U and U&DRAMA.
Filming for a second series, which will air later this month, concluded in October.
The show has achieved notable global sales, including a more recently announced deal that will see it launched on PBS in the United States.
Deputy Morel said: “We are negotiating with a view to committing to series three.
“Our commitment for series one was about £800,000, series two was around £1m and series three is going to be slightly more.”
He continued: “However, we plan for that to be recouped, so we are expecting to be able to reuse the money from previous series to pay for the third series.
“I think it is really important that we do at least three series, because then you’ve got a package that you can sell to other nations – it makes it even more valuable.”
The Economy Department report highlighted that: “In 2025, 9% of holiday visitors (c.42,000 visitors) said Bergerac played a role in their choosing to visit Jersey.
“Of those respondents, 70% were first-time visitors to the Island.”
It also stated that 23% of visitors in 2025 had watched the first series.
Executive producer Brian Constantine said the data was “incredibly encouraging”.
He added: “We are only at the very beginning of the potential exposure Bergerac can deliver for Jersey.
“What we’re seeing now is just the first wave of impact. As the series continues to reach wider international audiences, that visibility will grow significantly, and so too will its influence on people choosing Jersey as a destination.”
The report also notes that production for series one and two generated a combined £1.568 million in on-Island spending “benefiting tourism and hospitality businesses”.
Mr Constantine described the figure as “an important reflection of the reality of modern television production”.
He said: “High-end drama is expensive to make, and that’s precisely why support is so valuable, it enables productions like Bergerac to happen here rather than elsewhere.
“That investment translates directly into tangible benefits for the Island. From over 1,000 hotel nights, to the employment of local security, catering teams, drivers, and crew, over 200 local supporting artists, and 16 local trainees now enjoying gainful employment in the industry, alongside significant travel and logistics costs, all of that money is being spent within Jersey’s economy.”
Mr Constantine continued: “Crucially, it’s also taxed locally, meaning the return is far broader than just tourism uplift.
“This isn’t simply an investment in promotion or future visitor numbers, it’s delivering real, immediate economic value to the Island and supporting local jobs and businesses in a meaningful way.
“Ultimately, the fact that all of this comes alongside creating something audiences genuinely enjoy, something that showcases Jersey on screen in such a compelling way is the icing on the cake.”
Deputy Morel said that Bergerac carried the Island’s brand and “puts us on the map in lots of countries”.
“Ultimately, the big reason for it is the tourism benefit.”
Visit Jersey told the JEP that the Bergerac visitor statistics were garnered as part of a visitor experience survey, which is conducted year-round in addition to a visitor volume survey.
The organisation explained that the visitor experience survey is a “more detailed questionnaire that collects information about visitor motivations, experiences, satisfaction, and expenditure”.
“The survey is conducted face-to-face by an independent research company, with statistical sampling systems in place to ensure a robust, representative data set,” it continued.
“As a standard practice, the visitor experience survey asks visitors what factors influenced their decision to come to Jersey.
“Last year Bergerac was added as an option for visitors to select.”
It noted that there were a range of ‘factors’ to choose from, such as visiting friends and relatives, the beaches and scenery, reading about Jersey in a magazine or newspaper, watching or participating in a sporting event, and more.
