TV programmes set on Guernsey

Guernsey has been the star of many TV shows, from Enemy at the Door and Island at War, to Howards’ Way and Treasure Hunt.

The Channel Islands also have their own regional television station, Channel Television, although its on-screen presence has become less obvious since it was swallowed up in the larger ITV network.

From comedy, to horror, to quiz shows, the various islands of the Bailiwick have enjoyed more than their fair amount of screen time. Click the links below to find out more about TV shows featuring Guernsey. Also check out our run-down of the top films set on Guernsey.

Guernsey on TV

Guernsey has been the setting for several TV shows, and many Guernsey-born actors have starred on television over the years.

Game of Thrones’ Roy Dotrice

Roy Dotrice, who played Hallyne the Pyromancer in Game of Thrones, was born on Guernsey in May 1923. He also played the part of Mozart in Amadeus, and narrated the Game of Thrones audiobooks, for which he earned himself a Guinness World Record.

Puffin’s Pla(i)ce

Puffin’s Pla(i)ce was Channel Television’s birthday corner, in which presenters – accompanied by Oscar Puffin – read out birthday cards that had been sent in for local children. It ran for 50 years from 1963 until 2013, making Oscar Puffin the longest-serving mascot on the whole of the ITV network.

Enemy at the Door

ITV’s drama serial about life in occupied Guernsey came to the end of its run in March 1980, after 26 episodes. Although set on Guernsey it was actually filmed on Jersey by London Weekend Television. It was the first TV series to feature Anthony Head of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Island at War on ITV

Island at War was set on the fictional island of St Gregory, which was a stand-in for Guernsey and Jersey. It told the story of several families during the occupation of the Second World War. Starring Philip Glenister and Joanne Froggatt, it only ran for a single series. It was not recommissioned.

Mr Pye

Channel 4 broadcast a four-part adaptation of Mervyn Peake’s short story, Mr Pye, which was set on Sark. It starred Derek Jacobi in the title role, who in the very first scene was shown taking the ferry to Sark from St Peter Port.

Doctor Who on Guernsey

Time Lord Doctor Who travelled to Guernsey, at least in print, in a book called Just War, which saw him pop up in the middle of the occupation, just as the Germans were perfecting their own Stealth Bomber.

This is Jinsy

The island of Jinsy was a stand-in for Guernsey in this comedy devised by Guernsey-born writers Chris Bran and Justin Chubb. It was piloted on BBC3 and found a home on Sky Atlantic. Stephen Fry, David Tenant, Jennifer Saunders, Olivia Colman and more guest-starred in various episodes.

Channel 4 Treasure Hunt on Guernsey

Channel 4’s helicopter-based gameshow broadcast an episode set on both Herm and Guernsey in 1984. The first shot showed presenter Anneka Rice standing beside Brehon Tower in Little Russell.

Songs of Praise from Guernsey

The long-running religious music programme was broadcast from Guernsey in 2017 in the run-up to that year’s Liberation Day celebrations.

Howards’ Way on Guernsey

The BBC’s glamorous 1980s business, boats and fashion series, Howards’ Way, featured several Guernsey-set episodes in 1988, revolving around the development of the ‘Langcrest Marina’. It also featured footage from the Guernsey World Powerboat Championships.

BBC broadcasts from Sark

The BBC made history with a series of ambitious broadcasts from the Channel Islands in 1956. The broadcast from Sark on 25 July featured an interview with Dame Sibyl Hathaway.

Category: Guernsey | Other events tagged broadcasting, media, television, tv