Bergerac reboot star Philip Glenister on 'nostalgic' connection to original show

Bergerac is set to make a triumphant return after more than three decades, with an actor who featured in the final episode of the original John Nettles' series stepping into a pivotal role.

Philip Glenister, known for his role in Life on Mars, will portray Arthur Wakefield, the father of the murder victim in the six-part reboot on U.

The revamped series sees Irish actor Damien Molony taking on the iconic role of troubled Jersey detective Jim Bergerac.

In this revival by showrunner Toby Whithouse, each season set on the picturesque island will follow a single case while the investigator grapples with his alcoholism and strained relationships with his daughter, Kim (played by Chloe Sweetlove) and mother-in-law Charlie Hungerford (Zoë Wanamaker).

Filming took place around Jersey in 2024, bringing Glenister back to the island over three decades after his minor role in the original drama's finale, All for Love in 1991. "I got paid more this time," he quipped at the series' premiere in London.

"I can tell you that much. My agent gave me that one, actually.

"It was one of my first ever jobs," he continued to recall. "I left drama school in 1990 so it would have been literally one of my first jobs", reports the Mirror.

"I just remember having two weeks in Jersey and having a good time, to be honest."

For TV viewers who might not be old enough to have tuned into the original Bergerac, there were plenty more famous faces who could entice them to seek it out.

Some of the most recognisable guest stars included Ray Winstone, Connie Booth, EastEnders icon Steve McFadden and even James Bond legend Charles Gray, who famously portrayed Blofeld in Diamonds Are Forever. "I was in it with Bill Nighy," Glenister reminisced.

"Don't know what happened to him... And Simon Williams.

"And John was absolutely lovely. I remember he took us out for this very posh meal at this very posh restaurant on the other side of Jersey."

Glenister then humorously recounted his first encounter with lobster at a dinner where he accidentally spilled it all over Nighy due to his unfamiliarity with seafood crackers.

"It was very, very happy," he fondly reflected on those days, noting, "It was a nice start to my career."

Having returned to the series recently with a more prominent role, the actor, who appeared in the ITV thriller After the Flood alongside Sophie Rundle, expressed his affection for the show, saying, "I've got a bit of a soft spot for Bergerac," because of his personal link to the Channel Islands.

Glenister shared cherished memories from his youth, stating, "I've been going there since the mid-70s as a teenager. My best friend's mother, who's 94, is still living there, so obviously the air is good. We used to spend the summer holidays in Alderney."

He mentioned the tradition of watching Bergerac as autumn approached, it serving as a nostalgic reminder of summer, "And then when you get to September and the summer's over, that's when they would start the season of Bergerac on a Sunday night. So it was a nice memory to have of the summer and of the Channel Islands, was my feeling.

"It's a nice gently walking to autumn but still a reminder of summer and the Channel Islands."

The 2020s reboot of the classic detective series by U promises to retain its picturesque charm while delivering a gripping murder mystery and riveting family drama for contemporary audiences.

Bergerac will premiere on Thursday, 27th February on U and U&Drama.