Legend of the Lost Tribe

Looking for something to keep the kid’s quiet after the Queen’s speech while you snooze off your Christmas pud? If you opt for this you may find yourself more attentive than the anklebiters.

After a successful debut in Hooves of Fire a couple of years ago, Robbie the Reindeer is back and things aren’t looking good for him and his fellow sleigh pullers. It transpires that as “Mr Beardy??? gave all the presents away for nothing, the reindeers have to find a new way to make a living and they are attempting to cash in on the tourism industry.

Robbie’s poor woodworking skills lead to the chalets they expect guests to stay in being somewhat ramshackle and his skills as a mountain guide are also somewhat lacking, leading him to place his customers in peril. Early on he has to rescue a rather ungrateful penguin (voiced by Ricky Gervais). This rescue lands Robbie himself in danger and he is only saved by a shadowy Viking like figure.

As the herd face financial ruin, things take an even worse turn when evil Blitzen is released from gaol a surprising fifty years early for being a model prisoner. Blitzen, voiced with relish by a superb Steve Coogan, soon gains the confidence of his old colleagues before extracting revenge and placing them all in a reindeer theme park, aided by a gang of thuggish bunny rabbits.

Robbie, his girlfriend Donna and cool dude Prancer manage to make their escape and it is up to them to save the day by finding the mysterious lost tribe of the Vikings and enlisting their help, but as it turns out the Norsemen aren’t all their legend would suggest.

While there are some lovely visual touches in the animation, much of the joy in this comes from the marvellous talents of the voice artists taking part, the impressive cast featuring the likes of Ardal O’Hanlon , Jane Horrocks and Paul Whitehouse.

At just half an hour it’s short enough to keep the MTV generation’s attention while older viewers may be left longing for more.

Produced in association with Comic Relief, this is proper Christmas treat and ideal family viewing.

Don’t miss it.

Rating 9 out of 10

Legend of the Lost Tribe airs on BBC ONE, Christmas Day at 3.15pm