Bergerac star John Nettles turns down remake role

John Nettles, who is 80, said he was "too old" to take a cameo role in the Bergerac remake

The lead actor in the original detective series Bergerac has said he was offered a cameo role but turned it down.

John Nettles, who is 80, said he was "too old" for the role.

The original BBC series, which was based in and depicted Jersey and aired from 1981 to 1991, featured Nettles as Detective Sergeant Jim Bergerac.

Broadcaster UKTV said the "modern re-imagining" of the show would have a six episode release in 2025.

John Nettles said the island was "beautiful"

Mr Nettles said: "I’m not going to do it because I can’t do it - I’m too old and I’d just get in the way.

"But I mean it was very lovely to be reminded of that and it's a brave project."

He said he received a letter from the producers outlining what they were doing and believed they had got "a lot of talent involved in the production".

Writer Toby Whithouse said they would be bringing back "beloved supporting characters" and "introducing new friends and foes".

"Just like his predecessor, our Bergerac is complex, driven, brilliant and flawed," he said.

BBC Jersey understands the majority of the filming will take place in Devon and is scheduled to begin next week.

The BBC has contacted the production company Backlight TV for comment.

Nettles said he thought all the filming should take place in Jersey

Three conditions

Nettles said he thought all the filming should take place in Jersey because the island was central to the original 1980s series.

He described the island as "beautiful".

The new series producers have asked Jersey’s government to contribute £1.8m towards the cost of production.

Deputy Kirsten Morel, Economic Development Minister, said his department would invest on three conditions - the company must spend a significant amount of money in the island, it must train young Jersey people as apprentices and it must give long-term benefit to the island when the series was sold around the world.

Jersey’s Highlands College said it had been contacted about traineeships on the programme.