Fans of an 80s crime drama have now been given a first look at the reboot (Picture: BBC Picture Archives)

An Irish actor who’s starred in Being Human, Ripper Street, Suspects and Brassic has been seen in character as an 80s TV icon for the first time.

Earlier this year it was announced that 33 years after it ended, the beloved detective drama Bergerac was coming back.

Running for a decade between 1981 and 1991, the BBC crime drama was set in Jersey and starred John Nettles as Jim Bergerac.

Initially a detective sergeant in Le Bureau des Étrangers (‘The Foreigners’ Office’, a fictional department dealing with non-Jersey residents), within the States of Jersey Police, Jim later left the force and became a private investigator.

It was then revealed the six-part series would star Irish actor Damien Molony as Jim Bergerac, with the first look at the actor in character now being released.

In the image, released by UKTV, Jim is seen sitting in his iconic Triumph Roadster, which is parked by a cliff alongside the beach.

Damien Molony as Jim Bergerac, sat in a classic red Triumph Roadster near some cliffs at the beach
Bergerac is returning, with Damien Molony at the helm (Picture: UKTV)

‘When people talk about Bergerac, two things immediately spring to mind: Jersey, and the car,’ Damien said.

‘We couldn’t have re-imagined this series without paying homage to the original, and the car beautifully bridges the two. I can’t wait to share it with the fans.’

Fans also shared their excitement ahead of the show hitting screens.

‘Damien will be an Amazing Bergerac,’ Dawn commented on Instagram.

John Nettles and Cecile Paoli on location during filming of Bergerac in 1981, stood against a classic car with the sea in the distance
The original series, which ran from 1981 until 1991, starred John Nettles (Picture: Larry Ellis Collection/ Getty Images)

‘Really looking forward to seeing this,’ Eleanor added.

The series, which recently wrapped filming, also stars Zoë Wanamaker and Philip Glenister.

Damien has said he was ‘incredibly excited to be stepping into the role’.

‘John Nettles has left an incredible legacy with big shoes to fill, and I hope I can bring a fresh take on this iconic character,’ he added.

Joe Gilgun and Damien Molony in Brassic, dressed in casual clothing and standing in a garage
Damien has previously starred in shows including Brassic (Picture: Sky/ Matt Squire)

Instead of each episode having a new storyline, this time around a ‘contemporary twist’ will see one mystery run across the season.

It’s been teased that viewers will meet Jim as a ‘broken man, grappling with grief and alcoholism following his wife’s recent death’.

When a woman from a wealthy Jersey family is murdered, he must then ‘fight through his personal struggles to become the formidable investigator he once was’.

Bergerac was a major success when it aired on the BBC, regularly attracting 15 million viewers.

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