vivdunstan: Test card (tv)
vivdunstan ([personal profile] vivdunstan) wrote2023-11-19 12:19 pm

Rewatching Bergerac

I've been working through some of the old TV programmes on Britbox. Many still to watch, time and energy permitting. One I'm currently watching is Bergerac, a UK crime drama which ran from 1981-1991 and was a fixture on BBC TV throughout the 1980s. Set on Jersey, and starring John Nettles who would later go on to star in Midsomer Murders on ITV.

I initially started to watch Bergerac on Britbox from the beginning. Back in the 80s I started watching from series 3, so hadn't seen the very start. It has some charms, but I was really struggling with the acting by the initial love interest. So my strategy now is to cherry pick episodes throughout the whole run. Last night I was watching the first of the Philippa Vale ones, featuring recurring guest star Liza Goddard as a jewel thief. I will definitely watch all of those. Next I've got the first episode in series 4, which sees the introduction of Louise Jameson's long-running character Susan. And we'll see where I go beyond that. Though this web page will be a big help.

I have always loved the accordion-based theme music of Bergerac, written by George Fenton. More recently I did my own accordion arrangement of it, and enjoy playing it immensely. The TV version of the theme was tweaked over the years, but here is a nice early version. Note that isn't the full opening titles. But it's the best version I've found online of the original theme tune audio.

watervole: (Default)

[personal profile] watervole 2023-11-19 10:35 pm (UTC)(link)
I gather viewers in Jersey used to have great fun watching cars jump all round the island when supposedly driving from A to B!