Bluestone 42 (TV Series 2013-2015): Here is a summary, main star cast, and availability for the British comedy-drama series, Bluestone 42.
Series Summary
Bluestone 42 is a British sitcom-drama that follows the lives of a British Army bomb disposal detachment serving in Afghanistan during Operation Herrick.
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The series skillfully blends black comedy with the intense, life-or-death reality of their high-risk job. The core of the show is the camaraderie among the soldiers, who are forced to find humor to cope with the stress of routinely defusing improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
Their daily lives at the remote patrol base involve sharp, often vulgar banter, running gags, power struggles with superiors (like the eccentric Lieutenant Colonel Smith), and various comedic attempts at romance (particularly by the suave Captain Nick Medhurst towards the new Padre, Mary).
The show balances the lighter, situational comedy with sudden moments of shocking realism and the serious emotional toll of war, exploring the unique way soldiers use irreverence and gallows humor to survive a dangerous deployment.
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Main Star Cast
The ensemble cast features a mix of British actors, with the core members of the bomb disposal team and the base staff being:
| Actor | Character | Role/Notes |
| Oliver Chris | Captain Nick Medhurst | Ammunition Technical Officer (ATO) and the charming, wisecracking head of the unit (Series 1-3). |
| Kelly Adams | Major Rev. Mary Greenstock | The Padre (Chaplain) who struggles to balance her duties with the soldiers’ crass humor (Series 1-2). |
| Stephen Wight | Lance Corporal Simon Lansley | Nick’s assistant, an aspiring officer, often the target of pranks. |
| Scott Hoatson | Private Euan ‘Rocket’ Armstrong | One of the two junior privates, easily led by Mac. |
| Jamie Quinn | Private Kevin ‘Mac’ McDowell | The other junior private, known for his crude humor. |
| Katie Lyons | Corporal Lynda ‘Bird’ Bird | The Electronic Counter Measures (ECM) operator, determined to be ‘one of the lads’. |
| Tony Gardner | Lieutenant Colonel Philip Smith | The eccentric and often absent-minded officer in charge of the base. |
| Matthew Lewis | Corporal Gordon ‘Towerblock’ House | Replaced ‘Millsy’ as Nick’s right-hand man (Series 2-3). |
| Laura Aikman | Captain Ellen Best | Replaced Nick as the ATO in the final series (Series 3). |
Availability (Where to Watch)
Bluestone 42 is a former BBC Three production.
The series is generally available to purchase by season or episode via digital platforms:
- Buy/Rent: You can typically find all three seasons on services like Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and the Microsoft Store.
Availability for free streaming can vary significantly by country and service (e.g., some regions may have it on services like Pluto TV or TVNZ+).
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