If you’re on the hunt for your next crime drama obsession, look no further than Van der Valk, which has been described by fans as the best TV reboot in years - and we don't disagree with them. Having first launched on ITV in the 70s, the series returned in 2020 with Marc Warren taking on the titular role as the street smart but unapologetic Dutch detective tracking down Amsterdam’s murderers - and it was every bit as good as the original (if you ask us!).
Now, the tenacious detective is returning once again for series 4 and it seems ITV has given the show something of a shake-up. Maime McCoy who plays Van der Valk’s sidekick Lucienne Hassell has promised the new series will be “elevated”, while Marc has said it's “gone up a level”. With cases ranging from the murder of a scientist on the verge of a major cancer treatment breakthrough to doubts cast over the disappearance of a famous singer, we've no doubt it's going to be an absolute corker.
With the new series arriving on our screens imminently, here's everything you need to know about Van der Valk series 4, including the plot, cast and release date.
What is Van der Valk about?
Based on the eponymous series of crime thriller novels by Nicolas Freeling, Van der Valk was first adapted for TV in 1972 and ran for three series until 1992 on ITV, with the late Barry Foster in the titular role. The series was rebooted by ITV nearly three decades later with a new cast of characters and fresh storylines.
Like the original series, however, the reboot is set in present-day Amsterdam and sees Commissioner Pet van der Valk (Marc Warren) investigate challenging cases with his colleagues in the National Police Force’s major crimes division. His investigations have included the grisly and theatrical murder of a solicitor, a cellist who's the victim of an acid attack and the death of a participant in a "magic" ritual.
What will happen in Van der Valk series 4?
Series 4 will see Warren and his team taking on quite the variety of cases. For starters, he's tasked with protecting a whistleblower to ensure they make it to court to bring down a criminal empire after the first was murdered. However, he’s rattled when he discovers their police protection officer is an ex.
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Next, he's puzzled when the identity of a murderer could be a famous singer who went missing and was presumed dead. But will they be the real culprit behind the killing of an environmental campaigner? In the third and final episode, Van der Valk finds himself reluctantly reunited with his former flame to tack down the killer of a scientist who had been researching a potential breakthrough in cancer treatment.
Marc has shared a teaser of what to expect from Van der Valk series 4, saying: “It felt like a bigger show. It seemed like we had more crew and there was more going on. In episode 1 in particular it was quite an intricate show, lots of cars and explosions and stunts, and it felt like the whole show had gone up a level…. There’s a lot of reference to family in the scripts. That’s repeated quite a few times - I’d go as far as to say it’s integral to the storyline this year…It’s not a team, it’s a family - and Piet as a character prioritises that family above everything else.”
Maimie, who returns as Van der Valk’s sidekick Lucienne Hassell, also shared her insight into the new series: “The whole [series] has a totally different feel to it. It feels like it’s been elevated. As all the characters are developing, the scope, scale, and ambition has gone up another notch… The strength of the show has always been Chris and Maria creating these stories, and the elements, the characters that are woven in, the red herrings, the paths you go down, all of these twists and turns. They were always very strong, but I think they’ve taken it to another level.”
Who’s in the cast of Van der Valk series 4?
The cast of Van der Valk series 4 incudes:
- Marc Warren as Commissaris Piet van der Valk
- Maimie McCoy as Lucienne Hassell
- Emma Fielding as Julia Dahlman
- Darrell D’Silva as Hendrik Davie
- Azan Ahmed as Eddie Suleman
- Kim Riedle as Kalie Tenkers
Is Van der Valk any good?
Yes - it ticks all the crime drama boxes, including an enigmatic detective, twisty crimes and plenty of tension. It's also set against the stunning backdrop of Amsterdam, which makes for excellent viewing.
How can I watch Van der Valk series 4?
Van der Valk sreies 4 will premiere on ITV1 and ITVX on Sunday 2nd August at 8pm. In the meantime, you can catch up on series 1-3 now on ITVX.
What other crime dramas can I watch now?
Hailed as “the best police drama of 2022”, Karen Pirie is a great option. The series follows titular detective Karen (Lauren Lyle), who battles against the institutional sexism in the force while cracking cold cases. You can catch up on the first two series now on ITVX. We’d also recommend slow-burn mystery The Loch, which is available to stream on Netflix. A classic whodunnit set around the eerie body of water, the show sees officers, played by Happy Valley’s Siobhan Finneran and Laura Fraser, team up to solve the murder of a local music teacher. But they soon discover he’s not the only victim – and that a serial killer is at large. The Loch is available to watch now on ITVX.
