BERGERAC star John Nettles has revealed the brutally honest reason he’s not returning to play the classic character as he opened up about the new BBC series.

During an appearance on BBC Breakfast this morning, John, 80, revealed he had received “a lovely letter” asking him to return. 

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But he believes any appearance by him would “destroy” the whole idea of it being a reboot series – given that someone new will be playing his iconic role. 

Earlier this year, it was announced that the beloved BBC crime drama Bergerac was making a return and today BBC Breakfast aired a special segment giving viewers a behind-the-scenes glimpse of what is to come along with speaking to some of the cast.

They also spoke to Midsomer Murders star John and were quick to ask him whether he’d been asked to reprise his role in the upcoming reboot series.

“I got a lovely letter from them. They said will you come along and do a little cameo at the end?” John revealed, before explaining why he flatly refused.

He said: “I thought, no, because that would get in the way of the actual production. It would destroy, in some sense, the integrity of the production, I thought.

“In any case, I’m too old and I’ve retired. I’ve got to face up to that,” he added.

John starred as Detective Jim Bergerac on the classic series from 1981 to 1991. For a decade he dealt with crimes in picturesque Jersey, but then the series came to an abrupt end. 

The original cast alongside John included Terence Alexander as Charlie Hungerford, Sean Arnold as Chief Inspector/Superintendent Barney Crozier, Cécile Paoli as Francine Leland, Deborah Grant as Deborah Bergerac, Annette Badland as Charlotte, Celia Imrie as Marianne Bellshade, Louise Jameson as Susan Young and Thérèse Liotard as Danielle Aubry.

Bergerac fans were delighted earlier this year when it was confirmed the popular series was getting a reboot. But, although it’s based on John’s beloved series, fans should expect the reboot to be a very different show. 

John would rather leave his version of Bergerac in the past and let the series start again with fresh talent. 

So, the upcoming six-part series will see Brassic star Damien Molony take on the iconic role instead.

Tim Renouf, an actor in the upcoming series, touched on what people can expect to see in the reboot.

He said: “The framework of the story is the same in terms of it’s about Bergerac, it’s about him coming back to the force and getting back into investigating crime, so that’s the same.

“It’s still going to have that glamour that I think we remember and have fond memories of in the original, but it’s going to be grittier. The stories are probably a bit darker.”

BBC crime dramas

The BBC is reopening case files on an all-star line-up of crime dramas this summer.

Here’s a refresher on the popular programmes which span six decades.

• Campion: Aired from 1989 to 1990, this detective drama series was adapted from novels by Margery Allingham and stars Peter Davison.

• Dalziel And Pascoe: A gritty detective drama series about a mismatched pair of policemen, based on the award-winning books by Reginald Hill. Aired from 1996 to 2007.

• Death In Paradise: A misanthropic detective inspector is assigned to a Caribbean island against his will. Premiered in 2011 and is still on air to this day.

• Happy Valley: Created by Sally Wainwright, this northern noir follows Sarah Lancashire as Sgt Catherine Cawood – tough, defiant and facing her traumatic past.

• Hinterland: Welsh drama starring Richard Harrington. Brooding DCI Tom Mathias uncovers secrets – and links to his troubled past amid mountainous terrain and close-knit villages. Aired from 2013 to 2016.

• Inspector Lynley Mysteries: Based on the novels of Elizabeth George, this drama series is about upper-crust DI Thomas Lynley and working class DS Barbara Havers. Aired from 2001 to 2007.

• Jonathan Creek: Starring comedian Alan Davies, this comedy-drama series follows a inventor of magic tricks who is often called in to solve puzzling murders. Aired from 1997 to 2016.

• Law & Order: Originally broadcast in 1978, this four-part drama series is about the British judicial system. Stars include Peter Dean and Derek Martin.

• Life On Mars: Beguiling science-fiction police drama following a Manchester policeman who travels back to 1973 following a car accident. Stars John Simm and Philip Glenister. Aired from 2006 to 2007.

• Luther: Crime drama series starring Idris Elba as DCI John Luther. Aired from 2010 to 2019, with a follow-up film released in 2023.

• Shetland: Detective drama starring Douglas Henshall, Ashley Jensen and Alison O’Donnell, showcasing the dark side of one of the most beautiful places on earth. Premiered in 2013 and is still on air to this day.

• The Cops: Set in the fictional northern town of Stanton, this acclaimed, provocative police drama stars Katy Cavanagh, Rob Dixon and John Henshaw. Aired from 1998 to 2001.

• Waking The Dead: With a cast including Trevor Eve, Sue Johnston and Wil Johnson, this series follows a cold case team who unearths sleeping secrets, but sometimes the past is best left buried. Aired from 2000 to 2011.

• Wallander: Starring Sir Kenneth Branagh, Kurt Wallander is unable to unsee the dark crimes he’s tasked to investigate while Wallander’s job comes at a cost to his family and relationships. Aired from 2008 to 2016.

John has been replaced by Damien, who will take on the iconic role of Jim Bergerac in the reboot, with both new and returning characters entering the fray alongside him. 

He will be joined by Zoë Wanamaker as Charlie Hungerford, Philip Glenister as Arthur Wakefield, Pippa Haywood as Margaret Heaton, Robert Gilbert as Barney Crozier, Sasha Behar as Uma Dalal, Celine Arden as Kara and Timothy Renouf as Julian Wakefield.

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