SAS: Rogue Heroes – the Authorized Wartime History

Product Information

SAS Rogue Heroes will air on BBC One and iPlayer in the UK, MGM+ in the United States, and is distributed internationally by Banijay Rights. And yet six months later his Victoria Cross was downgraded to his fourth DSO instead. It’s not known who took this decision, or why, but it remains a wartime controversy that is still ongoing.

SAS Rogue Heroes stormed on to BBC One and iPlayer last Autumn, becoming a huge hit with viewers and critics alike, attracting an audience of 9.4 million viewers (30-day all screens episode 1 figure). Inspired by Ben Macintyre’s best-selling book of the same name, series two will again be a dramatised account of the origins of the world’s greatest Special Forces unit, the SAS. Thorough and highly entertaining. It would be nigh on impossible to praise it too highly' Daily Express Despite the intense opposition of many in British High Command, Winston Churchill personally gives Stirling permission to recruit the toughest, brightest and most ruthless soldiers he can find. And so begins the most celebrated and mysterious military organisation in the world: the SAS.Exactly what Sunday nights have been missing… sure to leave fans crying out for more” ★★★★ – Radio Times Some say Mayne was personally responsible for destroying 100 aircraft, and he’s reputed to have destroyed more German planes during the Second World War than the RAF’s top ace. A boxer, a Northern Ireland rugby star and reportedly an excellent shot, Robert Blair “Paddy” Mayne went into the Second World War with many ideal qualities for a soldier, and also had a reputation as a rambunctious personality.

By far the best book on the SAS in World War II—impeccably researched and superbly told. Marcus Luttrell, U.S. Navy Seal, author of Lone Survivor wrote:Steven Knight has said that "Series two will take the SAS into mainland Europe and will take our heroes to the limits of their endurance." From the secret SAS archives and bestselling author Ben Macintyre: The first ever authorized history of the SAS. The incredible untold story of WWII’s greatest secret fighting force, as told by our great modern master of wartime intrigue

SAS Rogue Heroes is distributed internationally by Banijay Rights, which has sold the series to multiple global broadcasters and streaming services including MGM+ in the US, HBO Max in Europe, Prime Video in Canada, SBS in Australia, STARZPLAY in the Middle East, Paramount+ in Germany and Canal+ in France. Further new cast members for series two include Paolo De Vita (Anonymous, La Grande Guerra del Salento), Anna Manuelli (Blocco 181, Pezzi unici), Edward Bennett (Industry, Save Me Too) and Matteo Franco. SAS: Rogue Heroes – a historical drama depicting the fascinating true story of how the famed Special Air Service was formed – is now available to stream on BBC iPlayer. The six-part series has been created by Peaky Blinders writer Steven Knight, and is based on the bestselling book of the same name by historian Ben Macintyre. The actual release date for SAS Rogue Heroes Season 2 is unknown, but it has been confirmed that filming will take place in 2023.Those who have read the book will know that it spans not just the North Africa campaign, but also leading the assault into Europe through Italy and across the continent - so we know that there is more to come. With unprecedented access to the SAS secret files, unseen footage and exclusive interviews with its founder members, SAS: Rogue Heroes tells the remarkable story behind an extraordinary fighting force, and the immense cost of making it a reality. Macintyre writes with the diligence and insight of a journalist, and the panache of a born storyteller Antony Beevor, author of D-Day and Stalingrad wrote:

Filming has just begun on series two of the hit BBC drama SAS Rogue Heroes, created by Steven Knight and made by Kudos (a Banijay UK company) for the BBC with MGM+. Yes. The return of the show was confirmed by the BBC in December 2022, with a closing "to be continued" at the end of Season 1. It's clear that the story is unfinished, as it has only scratched the surface of the SAS's activities in WWII.

They fight to keep Paddy’s legacy alive, and are keen to point out that the ‘muscle for hire’ image many people remember him for doesn’t tell the full story. For instance, they reveal he carried a poetry book called Other Men’s Flowers into battle – and SAS: Rogue Heroes does show this side of him, as we see Mayne reciting poetry in prison during the first episode. They also tell the story of how – when his best friend Eoin McGonigal (played by Donal Finn in SAS: Rogue Heroes) was killed in action, Paddy gave up his leave to go and search for Eoin’s grave, putting himself in considerable danger, and wrote a heartfelt letter to Eoin’s mother sending his condolences. As well as telling the story of the birth of the famous SAS regiment, this is also the foundation story for special forces units the world over. Will there be an SAS Rogue Heroes Season 2?