The team tackles the war in Europe, while David Stirling is stuck in a POW camp. 

The mighty SAS Rogue Heroes returns for New Year’s Day, continuing the tale of the SAS as they become part of the European campaign.

The entire six-part second series drops on BBC iPlayer at 0600, ahead of its BBC One roll out.

Here’s the synopsis for series 2:

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? Based on Ben Macintyre’s best-selling book of the same name.

Series creator Steven Knight spoke to the BBC about SAS Rogue Heroes’ return:

With something like SAS Rogue Heroes you’re compelled to continue because the story did happen and did continue. The fact is that the true story of the SAS is a piece of drama better than anyone in fiction could invent. The characters are beyond belief but, in the majority of cases in the series, they’re real. I said at the beginning when we were promoting the first series, some of the things that really happened I can’t depict because no one would believe me.

He also considered the series’ new characters and show they disrupt the dynamic:

Our team are now in Italy facing a totally different challenge to the desert. There are new people joining the regiment – indeed there is a new regiment altogether, 2SAS – and of course there are sparks and friction.

The main change, which again this is the truth and something reality throws at us, is that when David Stirling was captured his brother Bill Stirling became a very prominent part of the SAS and 2SAS. Gwilym Lee’s performance is amazing as Bill Stirling; a man who is good, honourable, straightforward but feels this pressure because of his brother. David is renowned as ‘The Phantom Major’, he’s done all this stuff. Bill as the older sibling has something of a sense of superiority and a desire to make the men respect him in the same way they respected David. This creates a lot of tension.

But there are lots of new characters and all of them heroes. John Tonkin (Jack Barton) has the most incredible experiences and enacted the most heroic acts; Jock McDiarmid (Mark Rowley) who was a wild Scotsman, force of nature and incredibly courageous.

Star Jack O’Connell spoke about returning to the character of Paddy Mayne:

I love this character, in terms of the man himself we can do all the research in the world but at the end of the day it’s what Steven Knight has offered on page that has to be the main guidance. We do obviously tell a historical tale but it’s quite reimagined, there’s a lot of room to play with within that.

Reading series two it feels like a continuation. When the scripts came through we were all buzzing, it’s got Steven Knight’s imprint on it and the scripts were banging.

He also talks about what viewers can look forward to in series 2:

A portrayal of amazing feats of what these lads got up to being first on the ground in mainland Europe, putting the fascists on the backfoot and running them up through Italy. Also some great characters, great portrayals and a brilliant script. The characters are really distinct, and just as fascinating as we had before. Series one has its own unique set of challenges and the second does again, but what’s great is following these lads – all their dark humour, seeing them sustain themselves against all of the adversities they go through.

As we said, all six episodes of SAS Rogue Heroes series 2 is now available on BBC iPlayer alongside the first run.

Or for those watching on BBC One, Episode 1 airs at 9pm on January 1st. Episode 2 follows at the same time on Thursday 2nd.