Jack O'Connell and Alfie Allen join SAS: Rogue Heroes cast

9 March 2021

Jack O'Connell and Alfie Allen have officially been cast in 'SAS: Rogue Heroes'.

Alfie Allen

The two stars will play Paddy Mayne and Jock Lewes respectively in BBC One's upcoming six-part drama from 'Peaky Blinders' creator Steven Knight.

Based on Ben Macintyre’s book of the same name, the series delves into the formation of the Special Forces unit during World War II.

Set in 1941, the show sees young officer David Stirling (Connor Swindells) hospitalised after a training exercise gone wrong.

Unconvinced by traditional commando units, he creates a plan which flies in the face of all accepted rules of modern warfare.

The synopsis adds: "He fights for permission to recruit the toughest, boldest and brightest soldiers for a small undercover unit that will create mayhem behind enemy lines.

"More rebels than soldiers, Stirling’s team are every bit as complicated, flawed and reckless as they are astonishingly brave and heroic."

'Skins' star Jack said: "I'm excited to be working on Steven Knight's bold and ambitious new project with a brilliant director and fellow cast members.

"Playing the legend Paddy Mayne is an honour. I can't wait to get stuck into the challenge of telling this story.”

And 'Sex Education' star Connor joins Jack and 'Game of Thrones' actor Alfie in a stellar ensemble cast also featuring Modern Love's Sofia Boutella as Eve, and The Wire's Dominic West as Lieutenant Colonel Wrangel Clarke.

Steven Knight commented: “I’m really excited to be gathering together the very best of a new generation of British and International talent to tell this remarkable story.

"The people who are depicted and who did such extraordinary things were young, in their 20s, and we have made a conscious decision to cast people of the same age.

"We enter this project with a spirit of adventure and believe our young and talented actors will do justice to this period of history.”

And Piers Wenger, Director of BBC Drama, added: “Combining a fascinating, little-known story with all the intelligence and swagger that Steven Knight’s writing is known for, 'SAS: Rogue Heroes' will be like nothing we’ve seen before.

"It’s no surprise that a cast of such high calibre have signed up to bring these bold, brilliant and thoroughly entertaining characters to the screen.”