BBC One SAS drama films in the UK and Morocco

A new drama from Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight about the SAS began filming this week, with shooting due to take place in the UK and Morocco, doubling the latter for the Middle East. 

Based on Ben Macintyre’s best-selling book of the same name, SAS: Rogue Heroes comes from Kudos for delivery to BBC One. It is a dramatised account of how the now-world-famous Special Forces unit was formed during the Second World War. It stars Connor Swindells, Jack O’Connell, Alfie Allen, Sofia Boutella and Dominic West. 

The 6 x 60 drama is filming in the UK and Morocco, the latter doubling for Cairo and Middle East locales. 

Creator Knight said: “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.”

Piers Wenger, director of BBC Drama, commented: “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.”

The series is directed by Tom Shankland with Stephen Smallwood producing. Karen Wilson, Martin Haines and Emma Kingsman-Lloyd executive produce for Kudos alongside Tommy Bulfin for the BBC. 

Morocco is frequently used to double for Middle Eastern and desert locations. The country launched a film tax incentive in 2018 and has since welcomed high-profile productions including The Old Guard, Black Widow and John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum.