JERSEY? SURE!

Superb beaches, fascinating history and Royal potatoes – what’s not to love about this island nation?

- Paul Critcher

Bom, bom, bom… duh, duh, duh, duuuh… I imagine it’s a generational thing, but every time someone mentions Jersey, I can’t help but hear the opening bars of the Bergerac theme tune. Such was the popularity of the 1980s detective series and its strong association with the Channel Islands.

Bergerac was a showcase for the archipelago, which lies just off the Normandy coast and is made up of the islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark and Herm, along with a number of smaller islands.

The self-governing bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey are not part of the UK, but are Crown Dependencies, and although largely influenced by Britain, they have their own distinct character and laws.

Jersey even has its own language, Jèrriais, a dialect related to Norman French, somewhat in decline today.

Driving around the island feels like stepping back into the England of the 50s and 60s (or at least how I imagine it), a rural idyll of cottages and villages.

They are apparently remaking Bergerac and filming is taking place this summer, with actor Damien Molony in the leading role.

Which reminds me of an Alan Partridge sketch, in which Alan confuses Jim Bergerac with Cyrano de Bergerac and utters the immortal line: “I don’t like what they did with the idea, they set it in the 17th century, gave him a long nose, maybe it made it a bit funnier… but for the British, Bergerac is John Nettles…”

Aside from the famous detective, my knowledge of Jersey was pretty much limited to: ‘Island off France, has funny money, was occupied during the war and grows tasty potatoes.’ I don’t think Visit Jersey will be using that as a strapline anytime soon, though!

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