Bluestone 42

Ah yes, that staple of Christmas television: the sitcom about a bomb disposal unit in Afghanistan. Actually, the first series of ‘Bluestone 42’ overcame a shaky, cliché-riddled beginning to mature into a pretty decent workplace comedy; a second series is due in the New Year.

No preview copies were available, but this one-off introduces one Corporal Gordon House (played by Matthew Lewis, familiar from his role as Neville Longbottom in the Harry Potter films), joining the team for his first tour of duty. Having excelled in training, House fancies himself even in the face of scepticism from his captain, Nick Medhurst (Oliver Chris). Might the new man’s confidence prove misplaced? Well, what do you think? This may be a Christmas special with a relatively unorthodox theme, but don’t go expecting too many surprises.