Inside Damien Molony’s private life as Bergerac star takes on iconic 80s detective role
Damien Molony has taken over the role of 80s detective Bergerac in the upcoming reboot (Picture: Joss Barratt/ UK TV) Decades after the character was introduced to viewers, Irish actor Damien Molony will step into the shoes of beloved detective Bergerac. Last year it was announced the 1980s detective drama was returning to screens after 33 years. Running for a decade between 1981 and 1991, the BBC crime drama was set in Jersey and starred John Nettles as the title character Jim Bergerac. The lead was 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, before leaving the force and becoming a private investigator. The upcoming six-part series will star Damien, who is best known for roles in Being Human, Ripper Street and Brassic. Here’s everything we know about the actor before he takes on what could be his biggest role to date. Who is Damien Molony? Damien’s first acting credit came in 2012 when playing vampire Hal in the BBC Three series Being Human. The Irish actor’s first screen role came in Being Human in 2012 (Picture: BBC/ Touchpaper) He then went on to take on the role of Detective Constable Albert Flight in the second season of the BBC’s Ripper Street the following year. Subsequent riles included appearing in Suspects, Clean Break, Crashing and GameFace before being cast as Dylan in the Sky One comedy Brassic alongside Michelle Keegan and Joe Gilgun. He then appeared in Ripper Street (Picture: BBC/ Tiger Aspect) In recent years he’s also played Tyler Donaghue in The Split, Gabriel in Derry Girls and Nikolai Shostakich in The Great. He’s also appeared in several films, theatre productions and radio dramas. Why did he leave Brassic? At the conclusion of season 4 of Brassic, Damien left the series. In his final scene his character Dylan was brutally bundled into the boot of a car as hired goons kidnapped him. Damien is also known for starring alongside Joe Gilgun in Brassic (Picture: Sky UK Limited/ Matt Squire) Speaking to the Radio Times about his exit, the actor shared: ‘They were really exciting scenes to film, no doubt, but also emotional for me, because I’ve had four incredible years of, essentially, laughing and to suddenly shoot these scenes on my own, without the gang… there were a couple of moments that night where I was like, “This is the end…”.’ He added: ‘I will be devastated when the messages from the [cast] WhatsApp group start coming in, in the next few weeks, when people are saying, ‘Oh my God, do you remember when this happened on set?’ What do we know about his private life? It was while studying a degree in business and politics at Trinity College in Dublin that the now 40-year-old Damien became involved in the acting society and then moved to London to attend Drama Centre London. He is married with two children (Picture: Gareth Cattermole/ Getty Images) Although most of the posts he shares on social media are related to work projects, Damien is married with two children, however appears to have kept his family out of the spotlight. What has he said about Bergerac? When announced as the star of the reboot, Damien said he was ‘incredibly excited to be stepping into the role’. The six-part series will hit screens today (Picture: UKTV/ Joss Barratt) ‘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. The series also stars My Family and Harry Potter actress Zoe Wanamaker as Jim’s mother-in-law Charlie Hungerford and Life on Mars’ Philip Glenister as Arthur Wakefield. Although John previously said he ‘can’t imagine anyone playing him but me’, he later revealed he’d turned down a cameo role as he was ‘too old and would just get in the way’. Bergerac is streaming today on the free platform U and U&DRAMA. This article was originally published on December 18, 2024. Got a story? If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
Decades after the character was introduced to viewers, Irish actor Damien Molony will step into the shoes of beloved detective Bergerac.
Last year it was announced the 1980s detective drama was returning to screens after 33 years.
Running for a decade between 1981 and 1991, the BBC crime drama was set in Jersey and starred John Nettles as the title character Jim Bergerac.
The lead was 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, before leaving the force and becoming a private investigator.
The upcoming six-part series will star Damien, who is best known for roles in Being Human, Ripper Street and Brassic.
Here’s everything we know about the actor before he takes on what could be his biggest role to date.
Who is Damien Molony?Damien’s first acting credit came in 2012 when playing vampire Hal in the BBC Three series Being Human.
The Irish actor’s first screen role came in Being Human in 2012 (Picture: BBC/ Touchpaper)He then went on to take on the role of Detective Constable Albert Flight in the second season of the BBC’s Ripper Street the following year.
Subsequent riles included appearing in Suspects, Clean Break, Crashing and GameFace before being cast as Dylan in the Sky One comedy Brassic alongside Michelle Keegan and Joe Gilgun.
He then appeared in Ripper Street (Picture: BBC/ Tiger Aspect)In recent years he’s also played Tyler Donaghue in The Split, Gabriel in Derry Girls and Nikolai Shostakich in The Great.
He’s also appeared in several films, theatre productions and radio dramas.
Why did he leave Brassic?At the conclusion of season 4 of Brassic, Damien left the series. In his final scene his character Dylan was brutally bundled into the boot of a car as hired goons kidnapped him.
Damien is also known for starring alongside Joe Gilgun in Brassic (Picture: Sky UK Limited/ Matt Squire)Speaking to the Radio Times about his exit, the actor shared: ‘They were really exciting scenes to film, no doubt, but also emotional for me, because I’ve had four incredible years of, essentially, laughing and to suddenly shoot these scenes on my own, without the gang… there were a couple of moments that night where I was like, “This is the end…”.’
He added: ‘I will be devastated when the messages from the [cast] WhatsApp group start coming in, in the next few weeks, when people are saying, ‘Oh my God, do you remember when this happened on set?’
What do we know about his private life?It was while studying a degree in business and politics at Trinity College in Dublin that the now 40-year-old Damien became involved in the acting society and then moved to London to attend Drama Centre London.
He is married with two children (Picture: Gareth Cattermole/ Getty Images)Although most of the posts he shares on social media are related to work projects, Damien is married with two children, however appears to have kept his family out of the spotlight.
What has he said about Bergerac?When announced as the star of the reboot, Damien said he was ‘incredibly excited to be stepping into the role’.
The six-part series will hit screens today (Picture: UKTV/ Joss Barratt)‘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.
The series also stars My Family and Harry Potter actress Zoe Wanamaker as Jim’s mother-in-law Charlie Hungerford and Life on Mars’ Philip Glenister as Arthur Wakefield.
Although John previously said he ‘can’t imagine anyone playing him but me’, he later revealed he’d turned down a cameo role as he was ‘too old and would just get in the way’.
Bergerac is streaming today on the free platform U and U&DRAMA.
This article was originally published on December 18, 2024.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
