11th October 1943
Bergerac actor John Nettles is born
Although he later achieved global fame as Inspector Barnaby in Midsomer Murders, John Nettles came to many television viewers’ attention when he took the title role in the BBC’s Jersey-set police series, Bergerac.
He was born in St Austell, Cornwall, on 11 October 1943, studied for a degree in history and philosophy, then joined the Royal Court Theatre.
Previous Channel Islands roles
His first connection with the Channel Islands was a March 1978 episode of Enemy at the Door called Officers of the Law which, although set in Guernsey, was filmed in Jersey, an island that he would come to know well when, in 1981, he was cast as a member of the fictional Bureau des Etrangers.
He appeared in 87 episodes of Bergerac throughout its decade-long run. The programmes found new audiences after their initial broadcast through frequent re-runs, and were the basis of a BBC Radio 4 comedy series, Will Smith Presents the Tao of Bergerac, presented by Jersey-born Will Smith.
Nettles took several roles following Bergerac on both screen and stage, and signed up to front Midsomer Murders for ITV in 1996. This time he stayed with the series even longer – 14 years – but as that run comprised 81 episodes, it didn’t beat his run as Jim Bergerac.
FREE Jersey history newsletter
Don't miss our weekly update on Jersey's fascinating history. We promise never to sell your data to anyone else, and there's a super-easy unsubscribe link on the bottom of each email so you can leave whenever you want.
Other events that occured in October
Fort Regent construction approved
- Construction of the leisure and entertainment centre at Fort Regent was authorised in 1961 but it would take several years to complete.
- Read more…
Spanish flu arrives in Jersey
- Jersey went into lockdown when it was struck by Spanish flu in 1918 in the aftermath of the First World War.
- Read more…
Jersey starts issuing its own stamps
- Jersey issued its first stamps on 1 October 1969 when the island's postal service gained independence from the mainland.
- Read more…
Jersey convict William Prynne dies
- Author and lawyer William Prynne was a strict puritan who shunned Christmas and any other frivolity, including public entertainment. In 1632 he published a book running to more than 1000 pages damning stage plays and those who acted in them, claiming that they were immoral, illegal and against scripture. It backfired spectacularly as its publication, […]
- Read more…