TV: Marc Warren walking the walk as Dutch sleuth Van der Valk

Marc Warren has been a firm fixture on our TV screens since the 1990s.

The Northampton-born actor’s big breaks came in the form of ITV cop show, The Vice, plus an award-winning turn in the channel’s Christmas production of Oliver Twist.

Various big series have followed – BBC One drama Hustle, Sky One’s Mad Dogs, Netflix thriller Safe.

But, turning up on set for his latest project – ITV’s remake of much-loved detective drama, Van der Valk – Warren, 53, really felt the pressure of playing the lead.

“I have played lead roles before, but it was mainly in my 30s I was doing that kind of thing – not so much in my 40s,” he confides.

“It would be much more ensemble stuff like Mad Dogs, and you spread the load there. If it goes down in flames, you’re all going down together. But when you’re the title character, there’s a lot more pressure to it.

“The main thing I remember from the first day was turning up and really thinking, ‘I have no idea what I’m doing.’ I felt like I’d never acted before in my life, I had never seen a camera before.”

At this point, he laughs – a hearty chuckle – at himself.

Then he adds, sincerely: “But having watched the episode back, you can’t tell, and I suppose, with experience, if in doubt, do nothing.

“Try to keep still, say the lines and try not to mess it up, and it can be quite forgiving in that way.”

The three feature-length episodes – which are set and filmed in contemporary Amsterdam – follow engaging, unapologetic and street-smart Dutch detective, Piet Van der Valk, as he investigates a series of high-profile cases, immersing him and his team in the worlds of art, politics, addiction, mysticism and the fashion industry.

The original series – loosely based on the novels by Nicolas Freeling – was set in the 1970s and ’90s. It starred the late Barry Foster in the title role, and had a memorable theme tune (Eye Level by the Simon Park Orchestra) – which Warren reveals there is a nod to in the new version.

Of his approach to the revamped character, he notes: “Well, I didn’t base anything on what Barry Foster had done in the original.

“He’s a bit of a loner, he’s a bit of the silent type – little bit moody, doesn’t really look at anybody much,” he continues. “But if he thinks you’ve murdered someone, he never takes his eyes off you. So that can be a bit disconcerting.

“He loves his boss’s dog, so I guess you see a little bit of his warm side there. He lives on a boat, so he’s a bit of a loner. But he gets on well with the team.”

Referring to the Covid-19 pandemic, Warren follows: “I just hope we’ve made something that, in these difficult times, will be a bit of escapism for people. They can visit Amsterdam on their TV screens and see what it was like last summer when we were all walking about.”

On that note, the chatty star is happy to share how he’s looking after his mental health during lockdown.

“I’ve always been a bit of a meditator, and I try to do a bit of exercise, and walking and running.

“I’ve been doing Wim Hof breathing. Wim Hof is The Iceman. He does this thing that’s supposed to be good for your immune system, and ice cold showers.

“Apparently, it’s very good for you. I’ve been doing it for three years, but not two minutes ice cold – I’d been doing sort of 20 seconds. The two minutes takes you to new areas of endurance.”

Plans to start filming a second series of Van der Valk in May are now on hold because of the coronavirus.

But Warren really enjoyed getting to explore Amsterdam when they shot there for just over three months last year.

“I got to see some unusual parts of it. We shot in the Rijksmuseum and had access to areas without the public being there. They closed it off so that was really cool – standing in front of Rembrandt’s The Night Watch, on your own.”

Van der Valk is on ITV, Sundays at 8pm.