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“SAS: Rogue Heroes” Mini Series To Air On BBC One This Year

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SAS: Rogue Heroes

The unit that is said to be the precursor of the modern special forces, the British Special Air Service, will have its origin story turned into a TV mini series by the BBC. Based on the book “SAS: Rogue Heroes” written by Ben MacIntyre, the series is created by Steven Knight of the hit series “Peaky Blinders” and directed by Tom Shankland of “Ripper Street.”

The book itself is the authorized wartime history of the SAS. Created in 1941 as an idea of David Stirling to undertake dangerous missions behind enemy lines during the North African Campaign in World War II, the SAS is still a highly secretive organisation whose exploits and missions is not much discussed and remains to be secret. One of its most famous exploits is ending the Iranian Embassy Siege in 1980, wherein the unit undertook the mission that was televised live, and becoming a household word after.

Filming began in March 2021 with Connor Swindells, Jack O’Connell, Alfie Allen, Sofia Boutella and Dominic West forming the main cast. It is a six-part mini series and it will revolve around the story of David Stirling played by Connor Swindells who in 1941 was hospitalized due to training accident. From the hospital bed, he conceptualized the need for small undercover units to create mayhem behind enemy lines.

He fought hard to get permission to recruit the boldest and brightest soldiers from among the ranks and called "L" Detachment, Special Air Service Brigade. The name was also part of disinformation campaign of the British to deceive the Axis that there are paratrooper regiments operating. The unit was tasked to undertake long range missions, conducting raids all over the contested areas during the North African Campaign.

“SAS: Rogue Heroes” will air on BBC One and stream on BBC iPlayer this year and will be distributed international by Banijay Rights. In the U.S.A. it will be shown on MGM’s premium network Epix. Executive producers are Karen Wilson, Martin Haines and Emma Kingsman-Lloyd for Kudos, and Tommy Bulfin for the BBC.

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