Bazookas, bullets, and a flare gun fired into the night – the BBC has unleashed an action-packed trailer for series two of SAS Rogue Heroes, but beyond the explosive scenes is a glimpse at how the war is starting to impact these brave men.

Created by Steven Knight (Peaky Blinders, This Town, Taboo) and made by production company Kudos (a Banijay UK company), series two rejoins the troops in spring, 1943. Paddy Mayne takes control of the SAS following David Stirling’s capture, as attention turns 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 second unit and an influx of new arrivals make things even more difficult for the men. Can they prove that the SAS remains essential to the war, wherever it may lead them?

Returning for series two are Jack O’Connell (Paddy Mayne), Connor Swindells (David Stirling), Sofia Boutella (Eve Mansour) and Dominic West (Dudley Clarke).

Gwilym Lee (The Great, Bohemian Rhapsody) joins the cast as Bill Stirling, David Stirling’s brother and founder of the 2SAS regiment, while Con O’Neill (Happy Valley, Our Flag Means Death) appears as General Montgomery.

Theo Barklem-Biggs (Reg Seekings), Corin Silva (Jim Almonds), Jacob Ifan (Pat Riley), Jacob McCarthy (Johnny Cooper), Stuart Campbell (Bill Fraser), and Bobby Schofield (Dave Kershaw) also return for duty in series two. Among the brigade’s new recruits are Mark Rowley (The Last Kingdom, The North Water) and Jack Barton (Heartstopper, War of the Worlds), who will play SAS members Jock McDiarmid and John Tonkin respectively. Further new cast members include Stuart Thompson (The Witcher, Starstruck), Paolo De Vita (Anonymous, La Grande Guerra del Salento), Anna Manuelli (Blocco 181, Pezzi unici), Edward Bennett (Industry, Save Me Too) and Matteo Franco.

Commissioned by the BBC, SAS Rogue Heroes series two (6×60’) is created, written and executive produced by Steven Knight, based on Ben Macintyre’s best-selling book of the same name. Series two is directed by Stephen Woolfenden (Outlander, Willow) with Stephen Smallwood (The Serpent, Patrick Melrose) returning as producer. The series is executive produced by Karen Wilson, Emma Kingsman-Lloyd and Martin Haines for Kudos, and Nick Lambon for the BBC. Filming took place in Croatia and the UK.

SAS Rogue Heroes series two is coming soon to BBC iPlayer and BBC One in the UK, and will be available on MGM+ in the United States, it is distributed internationally by Banijay Rights.

Series one – a hit with audiences and press alike, receiving five-star reviews and a series average of 6.8million viewers across its six-part run (Barb 4-screens, series 1 average audience figure) – is available to stream now in full on BBC iPlayer.

Critical praise for SAS Rogue Heroes series one:

“A World War Two BBC drama that roars out of the blocks like a fully-formed beast” ★★★★★ – Metro

“This new series from Steven Knight blew me away” ★★★★★ – Daily Mail

“A rollicking tale that pinballs from action-packed set-pieces (kamikaze parachute jumps, raids on enemy bases) to absurd moments to heart-wrenching loss” – NME

“[Steven Knight’s] latest ace card” – LadBible

“Exactly what Sunday nights have been missing… sure to leave fans crying out for more” ★★★★ – Radio Times

“This is not your everyday war drama” ★★★★ – The Guardian

“Rogue Heroes is a blast” ★★★★ – Daily Telegraph

“A mad fairground ride” ★★★★ – The Times

“A fizzy, stylish wartime drama” ★★★★ – Evening Standard