Latest news with #Bergerac
Metro
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
I adored Jersey — it's a crying shame that tourists aren't visiting
This year's Bergerac reboot sparked hopes of a return to halcyon days for Jersey, the largest of the Channel Islands, just a 40-minute flight from London. It was always a popular holiday destination for UK travellers, but it wasn't until the John Nettles detective drama hit screens more than 30 years ago that visitor numbers really started to soar. The enthusiasm endured long after filming wrapped, but tourism dwindled over the past decade. A revival was on the cards when the reimagined BBC classic aired on U&Drama in March. However, new figures have revealed a significant drop in Jersey's visitor numbers compared with 2024. Latest statistics show a 24% drop across May, with only 53,000 people travelling to the island — 17,000 fewer than the same period last year. Tim Crowley, from the Jersey Chamber of Commerce, says the trend is troubling. It's a pity, as there is so much to explore in this destination that's so close to home. Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. Metro's senior showbiz reporter and resident TV expert Pierra Willix visited in March to coincide with the Bergerac release. She loved it, so let's recap on everything she saw and did. Years after the original ended, fans still call Bergerac 'timeless' and 'one of the best crime shows in UK history'. While reviews for the reboot have been mixed, many older residents are keen to chat about the impact the original series had. Over the decade that the original series filmed on the island, dozens of locals took part, including my taxi driver, Gary. Years ago on a whim, he moved to Jersey without ever being there before. While working as a barman, Gary was asked to make an appearance in the show, serving drinks to Bergerac and his father-in-law Charlie Hungerford (Terence Alexander). Although it wasn't a speaking role, he relished the chance to play a part in the series, which attracted 15 million viewers a week in its heyday. It's a story I hear several times over; people here are clearly proud of the show's legacy. Gabby Mason, co-owner of Driftwood Café and Jade S-Fisheries, was raised on the island because of the series – her parents relocated from the United Kingdom after being entranced by the place they saw on screen. This time around the production team again turned to locals to bolster the cast. Around 300 Jersey residents appear in the reimagined series. Filmed on the island in the summer of 2024, the show features spectacular scenery and landmarks including La Rocco, a beachside tower at the expansive St Ouen's Bay, a favourite among surfers who rush to take advantage of the Atlantic swell on the west side of the island. Embroidered along the shore are cafes and restaurants serving up fresh seafood, including Le Braye Bistro, which offers quintessential British seaside fare with a Mediterranean twist (the prawn tacos are a standout). Food is big business in Jersey; more than 500 restaurants are spread across the nine-by-five-mile territory that has a population of 100,000. Unsurprisingly the seafood is a highlight, with menus overflowing with everything from prawns and sea bream to scallops and crab. With a large Madeiran community, Jersey also has a wealth of Portuguese cafes and restaurants run by the people who know the cuisine best. The passion for local produce is evident everywhere, and everyone tells me not to leave without trying the island's famous royal potatoes, butter and ice cream. Culinary highlights include Brassiere Colmar, Sangria Tapas and Restaurant and The Moorings, which has an oyster happy hour that regularly attracted Bergerac stars during days off filming. Around 70% of the island's tourists come from the UK. These are people looking for a 'little slice of the UK with a French twist', I'm told. Over the years many have come to the island to find the locations they saw on Bergerac. Among the most quaint is Bouley Bay, a picturesque swimming spot popular with snorkellers and scuba divers, Archirondel and St. Brelade's Bay, where shops, cafes and restaurants are dotted along the promenade. In summer the beach is packed with families soaking up the sunshine, but in the cooler months locals enjoy sunset walks while the area is quiet. Today, Jersey is all saccharine scenery and chocolate box villages. But its beauty belies a dark past. Following the witch hunts of the 16th and 17th-century, the Channel Islands got the dubious title of Europe's'witch-hunting capital'. Some 65 islanders were put on trial, and 33 of them were executed between 1560 and 1660. Superstitious islanders erected 'witches' stones' – flat stones jutting out of their chimneys – on their homes. They believed they were providing flying witches a place to rest, in the hopes of avoiding their wrath. Another reminder of Jersey's troubled history are the War Tunnels built during the five-year Nazi occupation from 1940 until liberation in 1945, an event still celebrated with an annual bank holiday. Under Hitler's orders, around 1,000 metres of tunnels were built across the island by 6,000 forced workers from Russia, Spain, France and Poland. The vast network was created to allow the occupying German forces to withstand Allied air raids and bombardment in the event of an invasion, and many bunkers and tunnels are still intact today. Jersey also lays claim to one of the 10 oldest buildings in the world, La Hougue Bie, a Neolithic passage grave where visitors can stand inside the chamber of the sacred space. Although Jersey has historically been seen as a holiday destination for older people, there's plenty to see and do that will keep visitors of all ages engaged, from Mount Orgueil Castle and Elizabeth Castle to the Jersey Zoo. Although Irish-born Bergerac star Damien Molony only watched the original after being cast, he quickly fell in love with the island the show has always called home. Speaking to Metro, Damien Molony said locals approached him during filming to share their excitement about the reboot, as well as their memories of the original. 'I think so many people from Jersey have either played a supporting part in the original series or had come across John Nettles at some point. 'I mean, the number of times I got into the back of a cab and the driver would say, 'let me tell you about the time I had John Nettles here' and wonderful memories, and I think everyone was just so thrilled to have it back,' he said. Damien admitted it was difficult when he told people he was filming a project in Jersey. 'Jersey equals Bergerac and Bergerac equals Jersey. More Trending 'When I got the job, I wasn't allowed to tell people what I was doing, but people were asking, 'what are you guys doing for the summer holidays?' And I said, 'I'm actually going to Jersey to do some work'. And you could see them kind of putting two and two together a lightbulb moment because they're so synonymous with each other.' Although he only got one day off during filming, the actor has returned three times since filming wrapped – including with his wife and two young children, who cried when they had to leave. 'Jersey is obviously incredibly beautiful. It's as beautiful at 2 degrees as it is at 32 degrees, you know. And I think, particularly in the depths of winter, audiences want to be transported to beautiful locations,' he said. How to get to Jersey Part of the Common Travel Area, visitors can fly or take a ferry to Jersey from the UK or Ireland. There are over 20 airports that fly to Jersey, including London, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Dublin, with most flights taking around an hour or less. You can also travel by car, bike or foot on ferries from Poole or Portsmouth – with overnight cabin crossing and faster daytime boats available. Where to stay in Jersey There is no shortage of places to stay in Jersey, from budget-friendly accommodation options to luxurious retreats. Overlooking St. Helier, rooms at Hotel De France start at £144 per night. Over in Gorey, a room at The Moorings is around £145 a night. Meanwhile rooms at St Brelade's Bay Hotel are around £130/ night. Things to know Like many of the UK's coastal towns and cities, Jersey attracts many visitors in its summer months, where the average temperature sitting around 17 degrees. In the winter, Jersey's average temperature is 6 degrees, however the island can face storms, fog and strong winds. UK citizens also don't need a visa to enter Jersey but most airlines and ferry operators require some for of Government ID. This article was originally published on 1 March 2025 and has been updated. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: I visited Prague's 'narrowest street' to see if it lives up to the TikTok hype MORE: 'Hidden gem' crowned the UK's top budget-friendly beach to visit this summer MORE: This street in Europe is just 50cm wide and has traffic lights so tourists don't get stuck
The Irish Sun
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
2nd Harry Potter star BANNED from driving minutes after Emma Watson had her licence pulled for 4th offence in 2 years
HARRY Potter actress Zoe Wanamaker has been disqualified from driving – minutes after her co-star Emma Watson got the same sentence. The 77-year-old, who featured in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, totted up 12 points on her licence after being flashed by speed cameras four times in 11 months. Advertisement 6 Zoe Wannamaker as Madame Hooch in Harry Potter, 2001 Credit: Alamy 6 Zoe Wanamaker, who featured in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, totted up 12 points on her licence Credit: Warner Bros 6 Zoe Wanamaker attends AUDI sponsored performance of 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Ballet' at The Royal Opera House on March 10, 2011 Credit: Getty 6 Emma admitted going 38mph in a 30mph zone on July 31 last year, court records show Credit: Getty Her hearing at High Wycombe magistrates' court today came minutes after Zoe, who also featured in Bergerac and Dr Who, drove at 46 miles per hour in a section of the M4 motorway which was under a 40mph speed restriction. She must pay a £660 fine and £364 in costs and surcharges. Her solicitor, Duncan Jones, told the court: 'She's not seeking any special treatment. Advertisement Read more 'She accepts she will be disqualified from driving.' District Judge Arvind Sharma said: 'Ms Wanamaker is disqualified as of today for six months.' The fine must be paid within 28 days. Ms Wanamaker played flying broom instructor Madam Rolanda Hooch – who featured in the JK Rowling-inspired series' first film. Advertisement Most read in Showbiz The actress featured in 114 episodes of the BBC sitcom My Family as Susan Harper, alongside Kris Marshall. Her sentencing came only moments after Emma Watson, who played Hermione Granger in the Hogwarts film franchise, was given the exact same penalty for speeding in her £30,000 Audi S3. It comes after the actress, 35, did not attend a short hearing at High Wycombe magistrates' court this morning but accepted a £1,000 fine. We first revealed how the actress had requested the hearing after Advertisement The court heard today how Watson had three previous offences on her record with a total of nine points. She triggered the flash late at night on July 31 last year on the busy Banbury Road in Oxford. Watson had been The three added points mean she is now banned from driving until January next year after totting up too many tickets. Advertisement Prosecutor Adrian Wilson said: 'The offence occurred at 22.44 on the 31st July 2024. 'There was a recorded speed of 38 miles per hour. 'Ms Watson had nine points on her licence for three previous speeding offences on 8/10/23, 26/11/23 and 29/1/24.' The star's lawyer, Mark Haslam, said the Hollywood star, said to be worth £60million, was not earning a salary but was 'in a position to pay' the fine. Advertisement He added the film star would not try and mitigate the fine despite her applying for a sentencing hearing. 6 Harry Potter actress Zoe Wanamaker has been disqualified from driving Credit: Getty - Contributor 6 Emma Watson, 35, was handed an identical sentence for the same driving offence Credit: Getty
The Sun
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
2nd Harry Potter star BANNED from driving minutes after Emma Watson had her licence pulled for 4th offence in 2 years
HARRY Potter actress Zoe Wanamaker has been disqualified from driving – minutes after her co-star Emma Watson got the same sentence. The 77-year-old, who featured in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, totted up 12 points on her licence after being flashed by speed cameras four times in 11 months. 6 6 6 6 Her hearing at High Wycombe magistrates' court today came minutes after Emma Watson, 35, was handed an identical sentence for the same driving offence. Zoe, who also featured in Bergerac and Dr Who, drove at 46 miles per hour in a section of the M4 motorway which was under a 40mph speed restriction. She must pay a £660 fine and £364 in costs and surcharges. Her solicitor, Duncan Jones, told the court: 'She's not seeking any special treatment. 'She accepts she will be disqualified from driving.' District Judge Arvind Sharma said: 'Ms Wanamaker is disqualified as of today for six months.' The fine must be paid within 28 days. Ms Wanamaker played flying broom instructor Madam Rolanda Hooch – who featured in the JK Rowling-inspired series' first film. The actress featured in 114 episodes of the BBC sitcom My Family as Susan Harper, alongside Kris Marshall. Her sentencing came only moments after Emma Watson, who played Hermione Granger in the Hogwarts film franchise, was given the exact same penalty for speeding in her £30,000 Audi S3. It comes after the Hermione Granger actress, 35, did not attend a short hearing at High Wycombe magistrates' court this morning but accepted a £1,000 fine. We first revealed how the actress had requested the hearing after speeding through a 30-mile-per-hour automatic camera in her £30,000 Audi S3 at 38 mph. The court heard today how Watson had three previous offences on her record with a total of nine points. She triggered the flash late at night on July 31 last year on the busy Banbury Road in Oxford. Watson had been studying creative writing at the city's university. The three added points mean she is now banned from driving until January next year after totting up too many tickets. Prosecutor Adrian Wilson said: 'The offence occurred at 22.44 on the 31st July 2024. 'There was a recorded speed of 38 miles per hour. 'Ms Watson had nine points on her licence for three previous speeding offences on 8/10/23, 26/11/23 and 29/1/24.' The star's lawyer, Mark Haslam, said the Hollywood star, said to be worth £60million, was not earning a salary but was 'in a position to pay' the fine. He added the film star would not try and mitigate the fine despite her applying for a sentencing hearing. 6 6
Irish Times
12-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Four great wines from lesser-known parts of France
For many consumers, France is wine . The country vies with Italy and Spain to be the largest producer in the world. It has a lot of the best-known names, including Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne, as well as most of the most popular grapes such as the cabernet sauvignon, merlot, pinot noir, sauvignon and chardonnay. These days, it no longer enjoys the dominant position it once had (in Ireland it lags behind Chile, Spain and Australia in volume), but France is still the point of reference for most wine lovers and producers around the world. One of the great pleasures of French wine is its sheer range and diversity. Every region seems to have its own set of specialities and grape varieties, often only known locally. You are more likely to find value for money here, although quality wines from small producers will always cost a little more. As a pre-celebration of Bastille Day on July 14th, this week we have four wines from lesser-known parts of France. READ MORE The Roussillon, usually lumped in with the Languedoc, is the Catalan part of France, adjacent to the border with Spain. It the best known for fortified wines as well as some rich, full-bodied, fruit-filled reds. Bergerac lies next door to Bordeaux. This picturesque region, which is well worth a visit, produces red and white wines using the Bordelais grapes. They can offer great value. Another area worth visiting is the Savoie, in the French Alps. White wines dominate here – usually aromatic and fresh. I am a big fan. Château de Jau 2022, Côtes du Roussillon Villages, Organic 14.5%, €14.95 (down from €19.95) New to O'Briens, a lovely big, rich and supple red with a sprinkling of black pepper. Perfect with roast, grilled or barbecued red meats and Mediterranean vegetables. From O'Briens Parcelles Pinot Gris 2023, Val de Loire, Rethore Davy 13%, €17.50 Lightly aromatic with succulent, fresh red apple and apricot fruits. This would be great with Asian seafood or mixed summer salads. From Wicklow Wine Co, Wicklow; Blackrock Cellar, Blackrock, Co Dublin; Red Island, Skerries, Co Dublin; Morton's, Dublin 6 Château Le Payral 2022, Bergerac 12.5%, €18.50 A classic merlot/cabernet blend with cool, concentrated plum and blackcurrant fruits and light tannins on the finish. With grilled or roast red meats. From Green Man, Dublin 6; McCurtain, Cork; Ennis Butcher, Dublin 8; Kari Stores, Dublin 8 Roussette de Savoie 2023, Domaine Lupin 12.5%, €23.40 A delightful light wine with luscious pear fruits, hazelnuts and honey. A lovely aperitif, with fruits de mer, or local cheeses. From: Blackrock Cellars; Delgany Wine Cottage, Co Wicklow; The Drinks Store, Dublin 7; The Corkscrew, Dublin 2; ; MacCurtain, Cork; Pop Crowley's, Macroom, Co Cork; Seagull Bakery, Waterford; 64 Wine, Glasthule
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Jersey Pearl shop celebrates 40th anniversary
Jewellery business Jersey Pearl is celebrating its 40th anniversary this summer. Founded in 1985 by Fred Scragg, Jersey Pearl offers handcrafted pearl jewellery and a café overlooking the bay. The company is still run by the founding family, now into its fourth generation and has shops in the UK and Spain. To mark the milestone, the company has launched a series of 1980s-themed displays across its St Ouen, King Street, and Gorey stores. Director John Taylor said: "Some of my best memories are when we had ladies queuing around the building to spot John Nettles in our showroom during Bergerac's '80s heyday, it's been an incredible journey." More news stories for Jersey Listen to the latest news for Jersey Follow BBC Jersey on X and Facebook. Send your story ideas to Jersey Pearl New ferry firm needs to be consistent - businesses Jersey launches tourist bus route How has Bergerac's island changed since the 1980s?
