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The Jersey Government is planning to provide financial support to the upcoming reboot of Bergerac on condition that local benefits are delivered in what is hoped will become a “catalyst” for creating Jersey’s very own screen commission, it has been revealed.
Economic Development Minister Kirsten Morel said this morning that a letter of intent to provide a grant had been signed, but did not disclose the expected sum.
He said releasing funds would tied to an obligation that production would support Jersey’s economy and that local apprentices would be involved, and that the island would be able to reap benefits from worldwide distribution “in perpetuity”.
The question of whether the Government might support it has been in play since BBC-owned UKTV confirmed that it had commissioned a reboot of the “beloved and iconic” detective drama which ran between 1981 and 1991 back in April.
While some – including Visit Jersey CEO Tricia Warwick – have thrown their support behind the idea, others have expressed concerns about what returns taxpayers will see for their investment. Some critics have recalled The Knights of Impossingworth scandal – when a £200,000 Economic Development grant was given to Canbeone Productions to go towards a film which never materialised.
But Deputy Morel assured States Members this morning that the outcome would not be the same, and also expressed hopes that it might lead to the creation of a local screen or film commission – similar to those that have been “incredibly successful in other jurisdictions”, such as Northern Ireland.
“We have tried to learn from previous problems with film funding,” Deputy Morel said. “One of the things I would say is quite sad is that the problems we had… have really cast a long shadow and I think it's time for us to come out from that shadow. Because films being – not just films, TV series, etc – being created in Jersey, I think, will have a huge beneficial impact to the economy in many different ways, including the visitor economy, but also providing careers for young people, alternative careers, which I think is absolutely vital.”
The money, he said, would come from both his own department and Visit Jersey and would be paid “after production, and only against independently audited accounts, which show that spend in Jersey – precisely in hotels, local retailers, many different businesses, maybe electrical businesses, carpentry businesses, involved as well. What we are trying to do is ensure that we do not fall into the traps that were falling into [previously].”
Pictured: John Nettles became so iconic as Jim Bergerac that he even met HM Queen Elizabeth II in Jersey on Liberation Day.
Deputy Morel said he was unable to share a cost-benefit analysis over concerns that it may contain “commercially sensitive” information, but added that there was a hope the Bergerac production would lead to an “increase in the visitor economy”.
The script for the Bergerac reboot has been put together by Doctor Who’s Toby Whitehouse, who said that, “just like his predecessor, our Bergerac [will be] complex, driven, brilliant and flawed” – but the individual taking on the lead role is yet to be confirmed.
While he has previously stated he would be open to a cameo, the original star, John Nettles, recently described himself as “miffed” to have not been contacted by the production team.
TV stars David Tennant, Aidan Turner and James Norton are all rumoured to have been considered – though Nettles said: “To be honest, I can’t imagine anyone playing him but me.”
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