SAS: Rogue Heroes – the Authorized Wartime History

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I think if it wasn’t for Tom I wouldn’t have been able to play David Stirling at all. I think he feeds off the chaos and because of that always keeps morale, even when it’s really hard. I think on face value Tom Shankland wouldn’t have been the guy to do this job, but ultimately when you meet him he’s the most extreme adrenaline junkie, Hawaiian-shirt-wearing, sweet-talking dude who is perfect for this kind of experience. There is a version of this story that you could tell - a superhero version where no one has any emotions – but this isn’t that. This is a version that features the flawed nature of all of these characters too. These are the things Tom and myself really wanted to dive into, and what I think is going to make this show so special. I read Ben Macintyre’s book and saw his documentary, and I’m in such admiration of these men and what they were able to accomplish for the time. It’s so remarkable and I’m so glad that this story is being told.

Here we have a group of men who were by no means ordinary, yet never expected the ‘superhero’ treatment. They came from all corners of the UK and from every class, working together with an unforced swagger that tells us they have no point to prove, simply a job to do and a strong belief at their core that they can deliver. All this whilst surrounded by the most extraordinary and perilous circumstances.Ben Macintyre's coverage of the SAS in north Africa and, later, Italy, France and Germany, is brilliant, blending gripping narratives of fighting with descriptions of the fears of individual soldiers before battle and their reactions to its horror... Britain's martial pantheon is full of outnumbered heroes who wouldn't throw in the sponge. Henry V's band of brothers at Agincourt, the redcoats at Waterloo, the defenders of Rorke's drift, and the paras who charged at Goose Green are part of the tradition that embraces the SAS. This book explains why ( Times) It is unknown why the decision was made to deny Paddy Mayne the Victoria Cross, and a controversy that remains ongoing to this day. I think it’s an important bond between the three, and it was as the story tells. We’re three guys who love each other dearly. It was an amazing bonding experience to do a job that was so physically and mentally demanding. 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. The A Word: Ending explained and everything you need to know about the BBC drama ahead of spin-off Ralph and Katie release

Writing in The Guardian, Antony Beevor commented that the series was "unmissable viewing", and "achieved the right balance of irreverence and admiration all the way through with a brilliant contrast in characters". [3] In the summer of 1941, at the height of the war in the Western Desert, a bored and eccentric young officer, David Stirling, came up with a plan that was radical and entirely against the rules: a small undercover unit that would inflict mayhem behind enemy lines. Told with deceptive brilliance . . . one the finest books of its kind' Evening Standard Read more Details 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.

I would like to think that SAS Rogue Heroes is a great yarn about the spirit of the people that invented this extraordinary unit of guys in World War II, who in a way changed the nature of warfare. But if that sounds a bit dry or a bit grim, it actually isn’t because what makes SAS Rogue Heroes so exciting is the rebel spirit of these men. There was a big prep period for this and I’m really grateful that I got to do it. We had a big rehearsal period before filming which was really helpful for all the guys to really get to know each other and just hash out key scenes in person. The bootcamp was intense - we would start at about 7am when it was already about 30 degrees in Morocco, so you could easily burn and get sun stroke even at that time of day. It was hard – lots of marching around in the sand - but it was fun and a real bonding experience. Reading David Stirling’s autobiography gave me a really great insight into his mind, and reading books about people’s perspective on him was informative.

Spring, 1943. With David Stirling captured and Paddy Mayne now in charge of the SAS, their attention must turn from the conflict in North Africa to mainland Europe. But GHQ have cast doubt over the future of the regiment, while the creation of a new unit and a surprise arrival make things even more difficult for the men. Can they prove that the SAS remains essential to the war, wherever it may lead them?

Interview with Dominic West (Lieutenant Colonel Wrangel Clarke)

Dudley the man, when he wasn’t hatching plots and lies to tell the Germans, would sometimes wear delicious long gloves and dress up as a woman, and there are photographs of him doing that. He’s a fascinating, very complex character. Foley, Billy (12 November 2022). "TV review: SAS Rogue Heroes is not to be relied on but it's great fun". The Irish News. Belfast . Retrieved 25 November 2022. Excellent... accessible yet authoritative. Delivers stories of tremendous adventure and derring-do, but also offers more than straightforward military history. This book has many strengths but perhaps its greatest is how thought-provoking it is (Laurence Rees Sunday Times)