Meet the cast of SAS Rogue Heroes
Steven Knight's new drama is led by Sex Education's Connor Swindells.
BBC drama SAS Rogue Heroes is finally upon us, coming to our screens courtesy of Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight.
Based on the bestselling book Rogue Heroes: The History of the SAS by Ben Macintyre, the historical drama tells the fascinating true story of how the Special Air Service was formed during World War II.
The series began airing on BBC One on Sunday 30th October, with new instalments airing weekly on BBC One.
As we would expect, the drama boasts a stellar soundtrack, as well as an impressive cast, including the likes of Sex Education's Connor Swindells, Atomic Blonde's Sofia Boutella, Game of Throne's Alfie Allen and The North Water's Jack O'Connell.
But who else stars in the series and who do they all play? Read on for everything you need to know about the cast of SAS Rogue Heroes.
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SAS Rogue Heroes cast: Full list of actors and characters
The following stars feature in the SAS: Rogue Heroes cast.
- Connor Swindells as David Stirling
- Jack O’Connell as Paddy Mayne
- Alfie Allen as Jock Lewes
- Sofia Boutella as Eve Mansour
- Dominic West as Lieutenant Colonel Wrangel Clarke
- Tom Glynn-Carney as Mike Sadler
- Jacob McCarthy as Johnny Cooper
- Stuart Campbell as Bill Fraser
- Bobby Schofield as Dave Kershaw
- Dónal Finn plays Eoin McGonigal
- Amir El-Masry as Dr Gamal
- Theo Barklem-Biggs as Reg Seekings
- Paul Boche as Walter Essner
- Moritz Jahn as Herbert Brückner
Here is all you need to know about the major players...
Connor Swindells plays David Stirling
Who is David Stirling? David Stirling was the real-life founder of the SAS, who when we first meet him in the series is an eccentric young officer serving with 8 Commando. He is frustrated with the military authorities and their handling of strategy.
On preparing for the role, Swindells revealed: "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."
Talking to Radio Times magazine about how making this BBC drama compared to making Sex Education, Swindells said: "Incomparable!
“Sex Education for the most part is me going to Wales a couple of times a week, saying absolutely nothing, pulling a funny face and then driving home. So being out in the desert was unbelievable. But, thankfully, I made great friends for life.”
What else has Connor Swindells been in? Swindells is best known for playing Adam Groff in Sex Education but has also had roles in the series Vigil and Jamestown, as well as the films Emma and Barbarians.
Dominic West as Wrangel Clarke
Who is Wrangel Clarke? Wrangel Clarke was a real-life officer in the SAS and is considered a pioneer in military deception.
Dominic West says of his character: "Dudley Clarke is the man who came up with the idea of the Special Air Service, he named it the SAS. But it was just a propaganda tool before Stirling came along and made it real – so he reckons he invented the SAS, and that’s good enough for me."
What else has Dominic West been in? West is a prolific and acclaimed actor known for series such as The Wire, Brassic and The Affair, as well as films Downton Abbey: A New Era, Tomb Raider, 300 and Pride. He is also set to play Charles, Prince of Wales in the upcoming fifth season of The Crown.
Sofia Boutella plays Eve Mansour
Who is Eve Mansour? Eve is a fictional character created for the series. She is the deputy head of French intelligence in Cairo under General de Gaulle’s command and does not play by the rules.
"Even if Eve is a fictional character in comparison to David Stirling or Paddy Mayne, she is very much a character that existed at the time," reveals Sofia Boutella. "There were spies like Noor Inayat Khan or Virginia Hall. So many incredible women who were a part of the liberation during the Second World War. Eve, like a lot of them, used methods that were born within her instinct and her intelligence."
What else has Sofia Boutella been in? Boutella is known for appearing in films such as The Mummy, Atomic Blonde, Star Trek Beyond and Kingsman: The Secret Service, while she also recently appeared in an episode of Guillermo Del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities.
Tom Glynn-Carney plays Mike Sadler
Who is Mike Sadler? Mike Sadler is a real-life figure and was one of the first officers to join the SAS.
What else has Tom Glynn-Carney been in? Glynn-Carney is currently starring in House of the Dragon as Prince Aegon Targaryen, while he has previously appeared in The Last Post, The King, Tolkien, and Dunkirk.
Jack O’Connell plays Paddy Mayne
Who is Paddy Mayne? Paddy Mayne was a real-life British army officer and a founding member of the SAS. He is portrayed in the series as something of a live-wire, who is won around by Stirling.
On Paddy's role in the story, Jack O'Connell said: "Looking from Paddy’s angle, at the risk of sounding simplistic, this was a chance to finally utilise what made him unique as an officer of the British Army. After joining and forging the SAS, he was finally in an environment in which he could utilise his skills, his rebelliousness and his all-out want to progress and turn the fate of the war.
"Anything you read up until that point will tell you that Paddy was finding himself in hot water a lot of the time, with him locked up in military jail, not really fitting into the mould of what was expected of a soldier of his rank at the time."
What else has Jack O'Connell been in? O'Connell is known for appearing in films such as Unbroken, '71 and the upcoming Lady Chatterley's Lover, as well as the series Skins, Godless and The North Water.
Stuart Campbell plays Bill Fraser
Who is Bill Fraser? Bill was a real-life member of the SAS in the Second World War.
What else has Stuart Campbell been in? Campbell is best known for appearing in series such as Baptiste, Clique and Hetty Feather, while he also appeared in a recent episode of Professor T.
Alfie Allen plays Jock Lewes
Who is Jock Lewes? Jock Lewes was the real-life founding principal training officer of the SAS, who at the start of the series shares with Stirling his idea of parachuting units of men into the desert to attack by surprise.
"He was pushing the boundaries in terms of what he would make his men," notes Allen to the BBC.
Talking to Radio Times magazine about how making this BBC drama compared to Game of Thrones, Allen said: “This was totally different. Completely different surroundings – and it was hot! In terms of the environment, it was definitely still challenging.”
What else has Alfie Allen been in? The son of Keith Allen and brother of Lily, Alfie Allen is best known for his role as Theon Greyjoy in Game of Thrones. He has also appeared in White House Farm, John Wick and The Predator, amongst other series and films.
Amir El-Masry plays Dr Gamal
Who is Dr Gamal? Dr Gamal is a doctor in Cairo and an ally of Stirling.
What else has Amir El-Masry been in? El-Masry is best known for starring in the film Limbo, while he has also had roles in McMafia, The Night Manager and Industry. He also had a small role in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and is set to play a young Mohamed Al-Fayed in flashbacks for season 5 of The Crown.
Jacob McCarthy plays Johnny Cooper
Who is Johnny Cooper? Johnny Cooper was a real-life officer who served with the SAS in North Africa and France throughout World War II.
What else has Jacob McCarthy been in? McCarthy is known for appearing in films such as The Tragedy of Macbeth and The Last Summer and the series AP Bio.
Bobby Schofield plays Dave Kershaw
Who is Dave Kershaw? Dave was a real-life member of the SAS.
What else has Bobby Schofield been in? Schofield is known for his recent appearances in The Walk-In, The Suspect and Anne, while he also appeared in an episode of Inside No 9 amongst other series.
Dónal Finn plays Eoin McGonigal
Who is Eoin McGonigal? Eoin was a real-life member of the SAS in World War II and a close friend of Paddy Mayne.
What else has Dónal Finn been in? Finn had a small role in Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore and has appeared in episodes of The Wheel of Time and The Witcher.
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SAS Rogue Heroes arrived on BBC One on Sunday 30th October at 9pm. Visit our TV Guide to see what’s on tonight, or check out the rest of our Drama coverage.
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