Dutch courage

Marc Warren is back in Amsterdam as dogged detective Piet Van Der Valk

- TESS LAMACRAFT

NEW CRIME DRAMA

Van Der Valk

Sunday, 8pm, ITV

ITV's new version of classic cop drama Van Der Valk was a big hit with viewers when it debuted in 2020, and this week Marc Warren returns as Commissaris Piet Van Der Valk to tackle three more cases.

The rebooted drama, based on the original series starring Barry Foster, is set amid the canal-lined streets of Amsterdam, where the maverick, houseboat-dwelling Van Der Valk is assisted by his gutsy right-hand woman, Inspector Lucienne Hassell (Maimie McCoy).

Also helping out is affable sergeant Brad de Vries (Luke Allen-Gale), diligent junior officer Job Cloovers (Elliot BarnesWorrell), and jazz-loving, hard-drinking pathologist Hendrik Davie (Darrell D'Silva).

As three new feature-length episodes get under way, we caught up with Warren, 55, during a break from filming in the Dutch city, to hear what's in store...

Filming was delayed by a year because of the pandemic. How did it feel to finally be back?

I'd spent loads of time isolating, so it was great to get going. I really love working abroad and some of the locations we've been to are the most beautiful and idyllic places I've ever seen. There's something really alluring about the water and the pace of life in Amsterdam.

We hear there's a new love interest for Van Der Valk. What can you tell us?