SAS Rogue Heroes boss Steven Knight has revealed the BBC drama’s future ahead of its new series – and a surprise Peaky Blinders update.
The second series of the hit show about the formation of the SAS is due to return on New Year’s Day.
Series one of the BBC drama focused on the war and the efforts of the Special Air Service regiment (SAS) in Cairo, Egypt during the Second World War.
Now the action moves from North Africa to Europe.
In the drama, Connor Swindells returns as Lt Col David Stirling and Jack O’Connell plays Major Paddy Mayne.
Steven told the press: “I think we were slightly worried about going into season two without the benefit of the desert and the scale and the beauty and the character that it provided.
“And when we set out to find, you know, what our new world of war would look like it was really important that we encountered civilians and we encountered real life and I think working in Croatia was across the board a really positive experience.
“It absolutely delivers on what we needed.”
He added: ” We want to take this to the end of the war, just a bit.”
Viewers will learn what happens to David after he has been captured by German forces in Tunisia and taken to a prisoner-of-war camp.
Connor’s character is captured and marched off to a prisoner-of-war camp, but we see all of the drama unfold.
But he also revealed: “I was only ever meant to do the first season.
“So, when [producer] Steven Knight delivered episode one and there I was page 59, and I got a call from the wonderful Stephen Smallwood asking what I was doing in the summer…I was truly delighted.”
Meanwhile, Steven’s other project sees Cillian Murphy, who played Thomas Shelby in Peaky Blinders, set to reprise his role in the upcoming Peaky Blinders movie, The Immortal Man.
Peaky Blinders was a hit with viewers, and many thought the film version would be its final hoorah.
But Steven, who also produced the TV series, told Deadline: “…the film is coming out, and that won’t be the end.
“It won’t be the end. Let me put it that way.”
Series One (2013)
The series started in 1919 just after the end of World War I. The ambitious Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy) runs the Peaky Blinders street gang. They attract attention from Royal Irish police detective chief inspector Major Chester Campbell (Sam Neil). He’s been sent by Winston Churchill (Andy Nyman) from Belfast. He has been given the task to crack down on the Irish Republicans and the Communist Party. It ended on “Black Star Day” at the Worcester Races as the gang tried to take over Billy Kimber’s betting pitches.
Series Two (2014)
The series begins in 1921 and culminates with a huge climax in May 1922 at the Epsom racecourse on Derby Day. The Peaky Blinders try to expand their criminal organisation in the “South and North” of the city. This is while they maintain their stronghold in their Birmingham ‘heartland’.
Series Three (2016)
In 1924, Tommy and the gang once again look to expand their operations, but this time they want to go international. Father John Hughes (Paddy Considine) is involved in an anti-communist organization, whilst Polly (Helen McCrory) enlists Ruben Oliver (Alexander Siddig) to paint her portrait.
Series Four (2017)
Christmas Eve 1925 is when the fourth series kicks off. The gang receives word that the leader New York Mafia, Luca Changretta (Adrien Brody), wants to avenge his father’s murder that was committed in series three. At the end of the instalment, Tommy becomes elected as a Member of Parliament in 1927 after the general strike of the previous year. This is after he used communist leader Jessie Eden for information.
Series Five (2019)
The hit series became so popular that it switched over to BBC One. It’s the morning after Black Tuesday and the Wall Street Crash of 1929, and the Great Depression looms large. Tommy faces new dangers as he is warned that there’s a traitor in his circle. However, his plan for fascist leader Sir Oswald Mosley (Sam Claflin) springs into action. Meanwhile, Ada Shelby (Sophie Rundle) embarks on a romance with Colonel Ben Younger (Kingsley Ben-Adir), who happens to be Tommy’s contact from the British Intelligence. She quickly falls pregnant with his baby before he is dramatically killed by a car bomb.
Series Six (2022)
The sixth and final series of the show starts in 1933, just as the US repeals the prohibition. Tommy is set with more danger as Mosley grows the British Union of Fascists after the Nazis seize power in Germany. However, events get complicated as he also has to deal with plots from both the Irish Mob and the Anti-Treaty IRA.
SAS Rogue Heroes series two begins on Wednesday, January 1 at 9pm on BBC One.
