Bing Partridge has some questions for Charlie Manx, who revisits his difficult childhood.

Vic and her family get the chance to further recover off-screen as this episode focuses on what happened to Bing after the shootout at the lake house. Understandably, he’s bitter that Manx abandoned him and took off with young Wayne, leaving his henchman to fend for himself. Hence the closing moment of the previous episode where he turns up and gases Manx.

Bing ties up Charlie and demands to know whether he ever was going to be taken to Christmasland. The weakened vampire cannot lie and admits that it was never going to happen, and is beaten up for his honesty. Lapsing into his past, Charlie recalls his first kills – a shocking moment that sets him on his murderous path. And just when it looks like Wayne has a chance to escape… it was never going to be that easy. And someone is definitely now on the Naughty List.

Verdict: Something of a tease – we’re dying to see vengeful Vic roaring to the rescue – but still a solid episode that resets some aspects of the board, while also suggesting that all is not well in Christmasland. 8/10

Nick Joy