New faces unveiled as BBC issues first look at returning hit drama from Peaky Blinders boss
The BBC has unveiled some sneak peek images for the second series of SAS Rogue Heroes, a creation of Peaky Blinders' Steven Knight. The historical drama, which delves into the story of the SAS during World War II, first aired in 2022 and was met with critical praise.
In December 2022, the BBC announced that a second series had been commissioned, focusing on operations in the European theatre of the war. The new season sees the unit move from Cairo to the European front after Lieutenant David Stirling, portrayed by Connor Swindells, is captured by Axis forces.
The preview features Jack O'Connell as Paddy Mayne, who reluctantly steps into Stirling's shoes to lead the special forces. Concurrently, David's brother Bill Stirling, played by Gwilym Lee, forms a second unit to counter enemy advances.
As the war raged on into 1943, the future of the SAS hung in the balance due to doubts about its reliability behind Axis lines from the GHQ. The second series will introduce new characters played by Edward Bennett and Paolo De Vita.
Other fresh faces include Con O'Neill, Jack Barton and Mark Rowley, while Sofia Boutella and Dominic West are among the returning cast members, reports the Express.
The show's debut series received an overwhelmingly positive response, with the first episode being viewed 5.5 million times on iPlayer alone during 2022, making it the fifth most-watched individual programme on the platform that year.
The newly released images reveal Bill Stirling and Paddy Mayne in a heated exchange, while a dishevelled David Stirling is seen toasting with a drink. Sofia Boutella, who plays Eve Mansour, is captured on a boat in one shot, and in another, she's seen at a dinner table with Dudley Clarke (Dominic West) and Paddy.
Theo Barklem-Biggs and Bobby Schofield, who portray Reg Seekings and Dave Kershaw respectively, are shown exploring unfamiliar terrain, and there's a sneak peek of Jack Barton as John Tonkin. Mark Rowley from The Last Kingdom will feature as SAS member Jock McDiarmid.
The second season, consisting of six hour-long episodes, was filmed in Croatia and the UK. While an official release date hasn't been confirmed yet, it will be broadcast on BBC iPlayer and BBC One in the UK and will be accessible on MGM+ in the United States.