film/book review Bluestone 42 BBC3

[Marmite!!]

For those that missed it last night BBC3 12am 1 of 8

 

Brilliant!!!

 

On iplayer too http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p014vlw2/Bluestone_42_Episode_1/

 

Bluestone 42 is an eight-part comedy drama about a British bomb disposal detachment in Afghanistan. It is a series about a bunch of soldiers who love being soldiers, and the camaraderie, bonds and banter they share, even though they are risking their lives defusing hidden bombs.

 

Written by Richard Hurst (Secret Diary Of A Call Girl) and James Cary (Miranda) in their first original commission, the series has been carefully researched and informed by serving and former members of the armed forces and military experts, to take the audience through authentic, compelling, surprising and funny stories about how heroes pass their time in between saving lives.

The Bluestone 42 cast includes Oliver Chris (Green Wing) as Captain Nick Medhurst, the wise-cracking expert who heads up the team and Kelly Adams (Hustle) who plays Mary, the new Padre joining the unit, who also quickly becomes the object of Nick’s desire. Gary Carr (Death In Paradise) plays Nick’s eager number two, Corporal Christian Mills and Katie Lyons (Boy A) is Corporal Lynda Bird, who just wants to be one of the lads. Stephen Wight (The Paradise) plays the sensible, old-before-his-time, Lance Corporal Simon Lansley, Jamie Quinn (Taggart) plays Mac, the Private with an encyclopaedic knowledge of filth and Scott Hoatson (Case Histories) portrays Rocket, a Private who isn’t the sharpest bayonet in the drawer. The commander of the entire battlegroup is Lieutenant Colonel Philip Smith, played by Tony Gardner (Fresh Meat), and helping them all along the way is Faruq, their Afghan interpreter, played by Keeno Lee Hector (Beaver Falls).

This is not just a show for soldiers and it is not just about the Army: it’s also a show for anybody who has ever fallen in love, experienced status battles at work or had a fear of failure. It is packed with the lively workmate banter and relationship minefields that most people will recognise, even if they don’t face danger on a daily basis...

Zai Bennett, Controller of BBC Three says: “In the long tradition of army-based comedy dramas, Bluestone 42 is a warm and funny series about a bunch of mates who happen to be soldiers, making the best of their circumstances in the only way they know how - through laughter and camaraderie. Richard and James’ script and Stephen and Michelle’s production skills really do justice to our armed forces and the incredible job they do.”

Stephen McCrum, Bluestone 42’s Executive Producer says: "Bluestone 42 is a comedy drama series which celebrates the courageous and important work of the armed forces and aims to show some of the reasons why, despite the dangers they face, soldiers enjoy being soldiers."

Bluestone 42 was filmed entirely on location in South Africa. The 8x30 minute series is produced by BBC In-house Comedy Productions. The Producer is Michelle Farr (Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps, Whites) and the Executive Producer is Stephen McCrum (Mrs Brown’s Boys). The series is directed by Iain B MacDonald (White Van Man, Hustle). The series was commissioned for BBC Three by Zai Bennett, Controller of BBC Three, and is being overseen by Shane Allen, Controller of Comedy Commissioning, and Mark Freeland, Head of BBC In-house Comedy. The writers are James Cary (Miranda) and Richard Hurst (Miranda, Secret Diary of a Call Girl).

 

 

Edited March 6, 2013 by Marmite!!

[paul_bish]

I watched this last night. They had a "Jackal" based on a Land Rover 101 (I think), didn't look too bad in passing shots and a lot fo effort had gobe into it. The Mastiff they were using looked real, or a pretty good mock-up.

 

Oh and the uniforms looked like chinese copy Multicam rather that real MTP but I could be wrong. All in all someone had done some research and made an effort to get it right.