Producers have warned Jersey must introduce tax incentives and a film commission if it wants to attract and retain major television and film productions. Brian Constantine, executive producer on the revived series of Bergerac, said the island’s current arrangements make shoots more expensive and would be “almost impossible” to sell to large production companies without a competitive fiscal edge.
Direct cost penalties for filming on the island
Constantine told producers and local stakeholders that filming in Jersey carries additional costs because equipment and crew must be brought in for each production. He pointed to accommodation and catering outlays for large teams as factors that drive budgets up compared with mainland locations.
He highlighted how tax reliefs elsewhere reduce net spend for productions. “If you had filmed the entire show in the UK, over 20% of [costs] you'd be getting back with your tax credit. But come to Jersey, and that money's not involved in that deal,” he said, warning the absence of comparable support makes persuading financiers and studios to choose Jersey very difficult.
"If you had filmed the entire show in the UK, over 20% of [costs] you'd be getting back with your tax credit. But come to Jersey, and that money's not involved in that deal."
Calls for a film commission and clearer coordination
Constantine described it as “very strange” that Jersey does not have a film commission to advise producers, coordinate permits and oversee funding, services that many other jurisdictions provide to streamline shoots and reduce red tape. He said Visit Jersey had supported the Bergerac production, but without fiscal incentives the island struggled to compete.
The producer argued that a combination of practical support and tax relief would give Jersey an “edge” against other territories that already offer attractive packages to filmmakers, and would help the island develop into a sustainable film and TV hub.
What producers say Jersey needs
- Competitive tax reliefs comparable to UK film and TV tax credits
- A dedicated film commission to handle permissions, logistics and funding coordination
- Streamlined local support to offset transport, accommodation and equipment import costs
| Issue | Impact on productions |
|---|---|
| Absence of tax incentives | Higher net costs compared with UK shoots; reduces appeal to studios |
| No film commission | Lack of central coordination for permits, funding and advice |
| Logistical expenses | Additional travel, accommodation and kit import costs |
Producers have pointed to the broader economic benefits that screen productions can bring — including local employment, hotel bookings and tourism promotion — as reasons for Jersey to consider a more proactive policy. Bergerac, the series associated with the island that has recently returned for a new series, was cited as an example of a production that could provide wider gains if cost barriers were addressed.
While Visit Jersey has been involved in supporting shoots, producers say fiscal measures and a formal industry body would make the island significantly more attractive. Without such changes, they warn, Jersey risks missing out as other jurisdictions continue to court film and TV investment with both tax breaks and on-the-ground production services.
Any decision to introduce tax reliefs or establish a dedicated commission would fall to Jersey’s government, which would need to weigh the potential long-term economic returns from a growing screen sector against the immediate fiscal costs of incentives.
The debate on how best to develop Jersey’s creative economy is likely to intensify if more high-profile productions consider the island as a location. Producers argue that with targeted support and better coordination, Jersey could become a credible regional centre for filming — but that, for now, it must level the financial playing field with rival locations.
