SAS: Rogue Heroes Returns with Explosive Second Series on New Year’s Day

London — Steven Knight’s acclaimed World War II drama SAS: Rogue Heroes is set to kick off 2025 with a bang, as the highly anticipated second series premieres on BBC One on New Year’s Day at 9pm. All six episodes will be available to stream on BBC iPlayer from 6am on January 1, allowing viewers to binge the entire season immediately.

The confirmation came in early December 2024, building excitement after the release of an action-packed trailer featuring gunfire, explosions, and the rogue unit’s signature chaos. Based on Ben Macintyre’s bestselling book, the series continues to chart the true origins and daring operations of the Special Air Service (SAS), blending historical accuracy with Knight’s trademark gritty, high-energy storytelling—reminiscent of his Peaky Blinders style.

Season one, which aired in 2022 and became one of the BBC’s most-watched dramas of the year, ended on a cliffhanger with founder David Stirling (Connor Swindells) captured by enemy forces in North Africa. The new series picks up in spring 1943, shifting the action to mainland Europe. With Stirling imprisoned, the volatile Lieutenant Colonel Paddy Mayne (Jack O’Connell) assumes command, facing mounting pressure from GHQ to justify the unit’s existence amid threats of disbandment.

Jack O'Connell as Paddy Mayne in SAS Rogue Heroes, stood by a truck and holding a gun

The plot intensifies as the SAS navigates new terrains, including Sicily and Italy, forging uneasy alliances—including one with the Sicilian Mafia—and confronting brutal warfare. A rival unit’s creation and influx of fresh recruits add internal tensions, while the men push physical and psychological limits to prove their worth. The trailer teases visceral combat, moral dilemmas, and the toll of war, with Knight promising even higher stakes than the desert campaigns.

Returning cast members include Jack O’Connell as the fierce Paddy Mayne, Connor Swindells as David Stirling, Sofia Boutella as French intelligence agent Eve Mansour, and Dominic West as the eccentric Lieutenant Colonel Dudley Clarke. Supporting players Theo Barklem-Biggs (Reg Seekings), Corin Silva (Jim Almonds), Jacob Ifan (Pat Riley), Jacob McCarthy (Johnny Cooper), and others reprise their roles.

New additions bring fresh dynamics: Gwilym Lee (Bohemian Rhapsody) joins as Bill Stirling, David’s brother and founder of the 2SAS regiment; Con O’Neill (Happy Valley) portrays the formidable General Montgomery; and further recruits include Mark Rowley, Jack Barton, and Stuart Thompson.

SAS Rogue Heroes season 2: release date, cast, plot, more | What to Watch

Filming for the six-episode series wrapped in late 2023 after an extensive shoot across Croatia, Italy, England, and Scotland. Directed by Stephen Woolfenden (Outlander), it features elaborate set pieces involving boats, tanks, jeeps, and period-accurate mayhem. The modern soundtrack—blending rock anthems with wartime grit—returns, amplifying the show’s unique rock-and-roll vibe in historical drama.

Critics and fans have hailed the first series for its raw energy, charismatic ensemble, and fresh take on WWII narratives, focusing on maverick outsiders rather than polished heroes. Season two builds on this, exploring themes of loyalty, defiance, and the human cost of innovation in warfare.

In related news, the BBC renewed SAS: Rogue Heroes for a third series in September 2025, with filming already underway in the UK and France. Creator Knight teased a bloodier chapter during the Allies’ push to liberate Europe post-D-Day, stating: “Never has the war been so bloody… The Rogue Heroes dare to win, but at what cost to themselves and their souls?” New cast members for season three include Nick Hargrove and Lorne MacFadyen.

jack o'connel, connor swindells, sas rogue heroes

Internationally, the series airs on MGM+ in the US (premiering January 12, 2025) and is distributed by Banijay Rights. It has garnered strong reviews, holding a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score for both seasons, and continues to draw praise for revitalizing the genre with style and substance.

As viewers prepare for the New Year’s premiere, SAS: Rogue Heroes reaffirms its place as one of British television’s boldest historical dramas, promising adrenaline-fueled action and deeper emotional resonance in its European theater shift.