Matthew Lewis talks to the “Radio Times” about tonight’s “Bluestone 42” Christmas special!

The Christmas special of Bluestone 42, which features Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom) airs tonight (Monday) in the UK. In the series Matthew plays Gordon “Towerblock” House, an ammunition technician. Matthew recently spoke to the Radio Times and described his character as…

a Yorkshireman who’s just been transferred into team Bluestone 42, and he’s the best of the best at what he does. He’s passed all his exams at the top of the class, and that’s why he’s been picked by the captain, but he’s got a bit of a working class chip on his shoulder, and Nick and Gordon don’t get on immediately.

In the interview Matthew talks about playing the character, the training involved for the role, and filming in South Africa. Matthew also tells the Radio Times more about the Christmas special itself:

We’ve got Gordon’s arrival, which we’ve already shot, and obviously there’s a bit of a class war between Nick and [me] going out on ops together. Gordon’s really not up to speed – he likes to think he knows everything, but he doesn’t, and it all gets a bit hairy. There’s going to be a lot of action, doing things that a lot of other Christmas specials just aren’t able to do because what happens out in Afghanistan happens around the clock – it doesn’t stop for a nice little national holiday, so it’s good to be able to show what these guys are going through while everyone else is tucking into their Christmas dinner.

Matthew also talks about Harry Potter and his surprise when he’s recognized on the other side of the world:

We’re in a sleepy little student town called Stellenboch, which is about 45 minutes outside Capetown, and people here seem to be really big on Harry Potter. It’s weird, you come around the other side of the world – and I’ve been to premieres in other countries through Potter – but it shocks you every time; you never get used to it.

He says that there are still people who are surprised that he doesn’t act like Neville in real life:

People grew up with Harry Potter and with Neville Longbottom, and you can’t really blame them for assuming you’re going to be something. I guess there are a couple who might be quite surprised in the difference between myself and Neville, but I finished that three years ago.

And what’s next for Matthew?

He says, “I’ve got a couple of scripts this week that I’ve got to read. […] I’m quite looking forward to just having a nice bit of time back home with people for Christmas.”

The Bluestone 42 Christmas special airs tonight (December 23) at 10:00PM GMT on BBC3. To read the full interview, visit the page here.

Are you looking forward to seeing Matthew in this new role? Let us know!