What you need to know about BBC’s new drama SAS Rogue Heroes

Watch the explosive trailer:

What’s SAS Rogue Heroes about? 

The six-part drama is set in 1941 Cairo, though it was filmed largely in Morocco. It follows three soldiers as they form the first ever SAS unit during the height of World War II, selected for their unique skills and ambition.  

Connor Swindell’s character of David Stirling is an eccentric young officer who feels traditional commando units don’t work, and so creates a rebellious plan to put together a team of the "toughest, boldest and brightest soldiers for a small undercover unit that will create mayhem behind enemy lines."  

In the trailer, he says “I may be a long shot, but I am a shot”, and is labelled as The Dreamer of the bunch.  

Meanwhile, we see Jack O’Connell (Skins) as Paddy Mayne, The Maverick, clearly determined to see as much combat action as he can. Alongside him, we see Alfie Allen (Games of Thrones as Jock Lewes, The Creator, who is making explosives. Together the trio of ragtag, rebellious heroes are brought together with the permission of Lieutenant Colonel Wrangel Clarke (Dominic West).  

For this ambitious and daring new crew, Stirling promises to “destroy more enemy airplanes on the ground than the RAF will destroy in the air.”  

We also get a glimpse of Kingsman’s Sofia Boutella, who plays Eve, asking “What are the chances of survival?”, to which Lieutenant Colonel Wrangel Clarke responds dubiously “10%?” as we see daring combat and explosions, a sign of what’s to come... 

On the series, writer and executive producer Stephen Knight, also known as the creator of the hit drama Peaky Blinders, said, 

"It has been a privilege to work on a project which tells the story of a renegade band of soldiers who used wit and imagination as much as firepower to halt the march of Fascism across North Africa during the darkest days of World War Two. This is a war story like no other, told in a way that is at once inspired by the facts and true to the spirit of this legendary brigade of misfits and adventurers." 

Suffice to say, this new World War II drama is set to be action-packed. 

Who is in the cast of SAS Rogue Heroes?  

SAS Rogue Heroes has an amazing cast of well-known names, including:  

• Connor Swindell (Sex Education) as David Stirling 

• Jack O’Connell (Skins, Unbroken) as Paddy Mayne 

• Alfie Allen (Game of Thrones) as Jock Lewes 

• Dominic West (The Crown) as Lieutenant Colonel Wrangel Clarke 

• Sofia Boutella (Kingsman) as Eve 

More familiar faces to watch out for: 

• Bobby Schofield (The Suspect) as Kershaw 

• Theo Barklem-Biggs (White Gold) as Reg Seekings 

• Tom Glynn-Carney (Dunkirk) as Mike Sadler 

• Jacob Ifan (A Discovery of Witches) as Pat Riley 

• Miles Jupp (Rev) as Major Arthur Knox 

• Stuart Campbell (Baptiste) as Bill Fraser 

• Ian Davies (Game of Thrones) as Randolph Churchill 

• Jacob McCarthy as Johnny Cooper 

• Amir El-Masty as Dr Gamal 

• Jason Watkins (The Crown) 

• Virgile Bramly (Luther) 

• Ralph Davis (Small Axe) 

Is SAS Rogue Heroes based on a true story? 

Yes, SAS Rogue Heroes is in fact based on the true story of how the SAS was first formed in North Africa during World War Two. Although the drama has been, well, dramatised for television, many of the characters, including David Stirling, otherwise known as the Phantom Major, were real people.  

Paddy Mayne, Jock Lewes and Lieutenant Colonel Wrangel Clarke were also all real people, each known both for their war careers and bold characters – from Paddy’s fiery temper to Lieutenant Colonel Wrangel Clarke’s penchant for cross-dressing. No wonder their larger-than-life story translates perfectly to television!  

How can I watch SAS Rogue Heroes?  

SAS Rogue Heroes starts on Sunday 30th October at 9pm on BBC One, with all six episodes available shortly afterwards on BBC iPlayer.