Gregor Albers (Ruurt de Maesschalck), a former driver for mobster boss Bibi Franken (Anastasia Hille) and now waiting to testify in a preliminary court hearing, is killed in a police safehouse. When Commissaris Piet van der Valk (Marc Warren) arrives at the scene, he is surprised to find his ex-girlfriend Kalie Tenkers (Kim Riedle), a policewoman, there and tasked with protecting the witness.
Things have obviously not ended well between the pair as Van der Valk immediately suspects her of murdering her charge but soon the real killer is found. Jacko Gallas (Coen Bril) is known to be on Bibi Franken’s payroll but refuses to speak when Van der Valk and his right-hand woman Inspecteur Lucienne Hassell (Maimie McCoy) question him.
Daan (Ben Batt), Bibi’s son, is another witness and under police protection. Despite the circumstances, he is determined to go through with his testimony. Van der Valk is assigned to accompany Daan to the secure facility where the hearing will take place. Before leaving for Daan’s safehouse, Van der Valk decides to pay Bibi’s other son, Xavi Franken (Andrew Gower) a visit.
Xavi is the owner of vegan cafes, which are rumoured be have been started with Bibi’s blood money. Otherwise Xavi doesn’t seem to be involved in her criminal enterprises. Van der Valk needs to figure out how the unsolved death of a young woman named Sophie Lommel is connected to his case while several things go wrong.
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After a whistleblower is murdered under police protection, the team are called in to make sure the second whistleblower makes it to court to testify and take down a criminal empire. Van der Valk is conflicted when he finds out the protection officer in charge of the murdered whistleblower is a former flame of his.
The investigation continues after a whistleblower is murdered. The team are offered the chance to work with the head of the criminal empire to find the killer. Will Van der Valk take the opportunity, or go it alone?
What to Expect in Season 4
There don’t seem to be any release dates for other countries so far but we’ll let you know as soon as we find out more. #WatchThisSpace!
It doesn’t really come as a surprise but now we have confirmation: The Winter King has been officially cancelled after only one season. After the lack of news for months we’ve been suspecting this would happen.
A former TV queen and current TV king are both ending their short-lived reigns on MGM+. Neither Beacon 23 nor The Winter King will return to the streamer for additional seasons, TVLine has learned.
They’re expressing hope that “either or both series could ostensibly be shopped to other outlets” but even this possibility seems unlikely after most of the main cast seems to have moved on to other projects, including Andrew Gower‘s new role in upcoming crime drama Ellis.
Deadline also has confirmed that The Winter King was axed by British streamer and co-producer ITVX.
Reviews for The Winter King were divided with The Guardian labelling it “medieval nonsense” and Forbes calling it a “crushing disappointment” despite a nomination in the Best Drama category at the 2024 Broadcast Digital Awards.
Despite the occasional flaw, we were hoping to see more of Bernard Cornwell’s book series being adapted on screen and were looking forward to seeing more of Sansum (Andrew Gower), the “Mouse Lord” – as he is nicknamed by the story’s narrator Derfel (played by Stuart Campbell) – and his blossoming love story with Morgan (played by Valene Kane).
In an announcement for Season 4 of popular TV drama Van der Valk, we stumbled across a familiar name: our Andrew Gower is obviously aiming for a crime solving hat-trick (following his guest role on Sherwood and preceding his lead role on Ellis)!
Van der Valk is a loose remake of the original Van der Valk series that ran from 1972 to 1992 on ITV (UK) and based on the series of crime thriller novels by Nicolas Freeling. The reboot premiered in the UK on 26 April 2020, the Season 2 on 7 August 2022, and Season 3 on 18 June 2023.
The series is set in present-day Amsterdam, where police Commissioner Piet van der Valk (Marc Warren) investigates challenging cases with his partner Lucienne Hassell (Maimie McCoy) and colleagues in the National Police Force‘s major crimes division.
Luke-Allen Dale (Daniel Springer) & Andrew Gower (Andrew Mullory) on Monroe
Here’s what you can expect from Season 4:
Van der Valk and his team return to investigate new crimes in Amsterdam. In addition to solving murder cases, Van der Valk has to deal with an unwelcome past romance resurfacing as well as find a way to make one of his beloved team members confront their own mortality.
“Safe in Amsterdam”: After a whistleblower is murdered under police protection, the team is called in to make sure the second whistleblower makes it to court to testify and take down a criminal empire. Van der Valk is conflicted when he finds out the protection officer in charge of the murdered whistleblower is a former flame of his. But when they are offered the chance to work with the head of the criminal empire to find the killer, will Van der Valk take the opportunity or go it alone?
“Hope in Amsterdam”: The team investigates an environmental campaigner who is murdered on the eve of a global conference. One of several potential suspects would appear to be Cobie Stegenga, a famous singer who went missing and is presumed dead. Van Der Valk connects with Cobie’s father to find out the truth, but after another shocking murder, could Stegenga be the prime suspect?
“Secrets in Amsterdam”: Van der Valk and the team are assigned to find the killer of a scientist researching a potential breakthrough in the treatment of cancer. Van der Valk’s ex-flame Kalie Tenkers returns to help the team investigate why he was killed and if there is a link to pharmaceutical billionaire Freddie Klink. After more shocking murders, seemingly by a professional killer, the team moves in on Klink. But is he the mastermind trying to stop a medical breakthrough from becoming public?
Andrew’s American fans can enjoy the new episodes starting on Sunday, 15 September 2024 at 10 pm E.T. on most local PBS stations, the PBS app, and the PBS Masterpiece Prime Video Channel. The series’ 3 feature-length episodes will be split into six two-parters airing weekly. All episodes will be available as a binge for PBS Passport members on premiere day.
As soon as we find out a release date for Season 4 on ITV and in other countries, we’ll let you know.
The plot in the new season of crime drama Sherwood thickens and Andrew Gower is back as Jamie!
The already incredibly tense BBC drama Sherwood went up a notch in the most recent episode, as crime families found themselves embroiled in a blood war, and a notorious character from series one made a surprise reappearance.
While we’ve been (im-)patiently waiting for news about Andrew Gower‘s upcoming detective drama Ellis, where he plays lead character DS Chet Harper alongside (Sharon D. Clarke) as the titular DCI Ellis, he made a surprise guest appearance in the highly anticipated second season of Sherwood.
Season 2 premiered on 25 August 2024 with Andrew’s episode 2 airing the following night on 26 August 2024. Season 1 is available on BBC iPlayer in the UK with Season 2 episodes being added after their terrestrial broadcast on BBC One.
We’re currently trying to find out more about Andrew’s character Jamie and how he’s involved in the murder mystery. We’ll let you know as soon as possible!
Only days after we’ve been treated with the first images from upcoming detective series Ellis, Acorn TV are now debuting a first teaser trailer.
It’s not the physical evidence that makes a story. It’s the people in between and the things that join those people together. Hate, love, and fear. Their lives are never the same again.
You can watch the trailer below:
DCI Ellis (Sharon D. Clarke) is a formidable cop who takes over the most challenging unsolved cases across Northwest England. Armed with integrity and razor-sharp instincts, Ellis steps in with unyielding determination as the last hope for failing investigations. Her unflappable demeanor disguises a deep-seated compassion for the victims, fueled by her complicated past. Amidst lies, secrets, and neglect, Ellis seeks justice for victims and truth for survivors.
In her endeavours DCI Ellis is accompanied by her right-hand man DS Chet Harper, played by Andrew Gower.
Ellis is set to be released later this year on Channel 5 in the UK and on Acorn TV in the USA. We’ll let you know as soon as we find out more!
After filming wrapped on new detective drama Ellis earlier this year, we are finally treated with some first images from the series.
DCI Ellis is a tenacious cop who is parachuted into failing investigations. Each two-hour episode sees Ellis—accompanied by her right-hand man, DS Harper—arrive at a different police station, where she must win over the local detectives and immerse herself in the cases she has come to solve. As a Black female cop, Ellis is used to being dismissed and overlooked, but she is a first-class murder detective with a determination for justice and a deep well of compassion for those who need it.
The series will consist of three feature-length episodes and is expected to be released on Channel 5 (UK) in autumn 2024. It will cross the pond to debut on Acorn TV (US), probably in early 2025.
Line of Duty would send a team into a different precinct every season to find out why investigations were not going as they were supposed to, with a writ to find the bad apple undermining police efforts. Ellis’ pacing is slightly different — each feature-length episode will move from precinct to precinct instead of each season, and investigations won’t always fail due to someone undermining things — but the setup and rotating guest cast remain the same. Meanwhile, Ellis, a Black British police inspector, will have to deal with constantly sexist and racist microaggressions from the different staff she encounters, much like D.I. Ray does, with the same drive to see justice done instead of blaming the nearest person of color.
While the images don’t give away much, we can anticipate that the new series will be a gritty turn towards the detective genre for Channel 5.
In anticipation of Gustaffson‘s debut album ‘Black & White Movie’ produced by Elbow‘s Craig Potter – they will be finishing the year with a little UK tour at some of their favourite venues & be joined by some special guests. These gigs will support the release of their brand new singles – coming Autumn 2024!
It’s a wrap on Ellis, a new feature-length detective drama series coming to Channel 5 in the UK later this year. After a 4 months shoot in Belfast (Northern Ireland), the series is now ready to go into post-production.
Starring Sharon D. Clarke) as Ellis, a tenacious cop who is parachuted into failing investigations. As a black female cop, Ellis is used to being dismissed and overlooked, but she is a first-class murder detective, with a determination for justice and a deep well of compassion for those who need it.
Accompanied by her right-hand man DS Harper, played by Andrew Gower, she arrives at a different police station each week, where she will have to win over the local detectives and immerse herself in the cases she has come to solve.
As a black female cop, Ellis is used to being dismissed and overlooked, but she is a first-class murder detective, with a determination for justice and a deep well of compassion for those who need it.
Andrew Gower Online 