Sam Preston

Van der Valk is a British television series that was produced by Thames Television for the ITV network. It starred Barry Foster in the title role as Dutch detective Commissaris "Piet" van der Valk. Based on the characters and atmosphere of the novels of Nicolas Freeling, the first series was shown in 1972.

Englishwoman Christabel Burton marries German lawyer Peter Bielenberg and resides in WWII-era Nazi Germany. When Peter is arrested for plotting against Hitler, Christabel is forced to confront her loyalties and consider using her connection to Winston Churchill to help him.

A traditional rural English Christmas, reluctantly spent with the predominantly geriatric family (who all have their quirks and eccentricities) ends in tragedy after a practical joke goes horribly wrong.

Nothing seems to go right for Colin, no matter how he tries. No one is offering him writing work, and his marriage is disintegrating. Why can't he be smooth and confident as he imagines other men to be?

A short series of 15 minute programmes, really expanded sketches, in which Tracey Ullman and Michael Palin play various roles satirizing the British class system.