Although we adored John Nettles on Bergerac as the Jersey-based detective sergeant, the 81-year-old star has conceded the role in the new reboot to The Split star Damien Molony, who is also known for his roles in Crashing, Derry Girls and Say Nothing.
Chatting to Metro, the actor revealed that he had met John, who is also very well known for playing Tom Barnaby in Midsomer Murders, and admitted he felt "too old" to appear on the show again but gave his blessing to Damien over lunch.
Damien explained: "I had lunch with him last week, and he was just so lovely, and he said so many nice things about the first episode too.
John Nettles: 5 top facts
© Photo: ITV1. Adopted at birth
John Nettles was adopted at birth in 1943 by carpenter Eric and his wife, Elsie. His biological mother was an Irish nurse who came to work in the UK during World War II, and his father remains unidentified.
2. Career change
After leaving Midsomer Murders in 2009, John focused on his work as a historian. He produced a three-part documentary called The Channel Islands At War about the Nazi occupation of Jersey and Guernsey during World War II. In 2012, he published a book called Jewels and Jackboots on the same topic.
3. 80s heartthrob
At the peak of Begerac's popularity, John became a reluctant heartthrob. News Of The World once ran a headline titled ''All The Girls Want To Grasp Nettles'' and he allegedly received numerous fan letters.
4. Father-daughter bond
John has one daughter, Emma Martin, with his first wife, Joyce Middleton whom he divorced in 1979. He still has a close bond with his daughter, who lives in Jersey (where Bergerac was filmed) with her husband and two children.
5. Royal Shakespeare Company
After Bergerac ended in 1991, John did five seasons with the Royal Shakespeare Company performing, The Winter's Tale, The Merry Wives of Windsor, and Julius Caesar.
"He finished our lunch saying, ‘Bergerac has been so good to me and my career, and I really hope it does the same for you,’ which I just thought was a really lovely sentiment, and it just goes to show how much of a good guy he is."
© ShutterstockThe original show, which aired from 1981 to 1991, followed John as a detective who returns to work after struggling with alcoholism and a badly broken leg. Meanwhile, the new series will take place following Bergerac's wife's death, which will also see him as a "broken man."
The synopsis reads: "With a troublesome convict resurfacing from his past, Bergerac is required to call on his sharp investigative instincts and past successes to navigate the intricate family dynamics and watchful eyes of the police force in order to solve the case."
© Joss BarrattThe series has an incredibly starry cast, including Zoe Wanamaker, Philip Glenister, Sasha Behar, and Pippa Haywood.
© UKTVSpeaking about bringing back the show as a reboot, Damien asked: "Why not? It’s been more than 30 years since we were introduced to this world, this character, and it is such a classic, so it feels really exciting to be introducing a whole new audience to Jim Bergerac, his struggles, his desires, and his thirst for justice." Sign us up!
Bergerac is streaming from 27 February on U and U&DRAMA
