So, almost half the Dutch population tuned in last night to see Peter R de Vries’ programme which he promised would end the mystery surrounding the disappearance of American student Natalee Holloway.

So what did we see? An earnest De Vries taking us to various locations on the holiday island of Aruba, some cringe-making soft-focus reconstructions of a couple cavorting on the beach and a stoned student boasting to a so-called friend about how much compensation money he was going to get.
When pushed, Van der Sloot did confess that Natalee had died after they had sex – at least he thought she was dead – and that a friend had dumped her body at sea. But that was it.
No friend, no eye-witness, no missing shoes, no cause of death. And that for two hours on prime-time tv with the eyes of the nation – and the world’s media – watching.
De Vries is now an instant media star in the US, with guest spots on the Larry King show among others.
But did the show live up to its expectations? Most of the revelations had already been leaked prior to the show.
The bottom line is, of course, that Aruban justice officials have said the confession and other ‘new evidence’ is not enough to arrest Van der Sloot for the third time.
De Vries may be convinced he has solved the mystery but he still has to convince the people who really matter.