Others argue that downgrading a VC was a standard practice, and Mayne was not alone in receiving this treatment. Mayne attended Regent House Grammar School, where his talent for rugby became evident early on - he also played cricket and golf, and was part of a rifle club. SAS: Rogue Heroes is a great read of wartime adventuring, in a long, grim war of attrition where adventure was hard to find. Filming has just begun on series two of the hit BBC drama SAS Rogue Heroes, created by Steven Knight and made by Kudos (a Banijay UK company) for the BBC with MGM+. This is certainly how he’s introduced in SAS: Rogue Heroes, breaking out of prison in Cairo by dispensing with not one but three soldiers with a wince-inducing ferocity.

SAS: Rogue Heroes - Now a major TV drama - Softcover - AbeBooks SAS: Rogue Heroes - Now a major TV drama - Softcover - AbeBooks

Stirling was burdened with health problems for the rest of his life from the spinal injury he suffered in that drop. But the SAS did bring to life the plucky, maverick, individualist hero of the comic strip, a very British way of making war.Even SAS founder David Stirling (played by Connor Swindells in the drama) is said to have thought Mayne overstepped the mark at times, in particular when he reportedly gunned down up to 30 unarmed soldiers in the Libyan desert in 1941.

SAS: Rogue Heroes - Now a major TV drama by Ben Macintyre SAS: Rogue Heroes - Now a major TV drama by Ben Macintyre

Both his legal and sporting careers were put on hold when the Second World War broke out, and he was posted away to fight.They fight to keep Paddy’s legacy alive, and are keen to point out that the ‘muscle for hire’ image many people remember him for doesn’t tell the full story. It was a disaster: Stirling decided to proceed with the jump, despite a lethal storm, which resulted in the men either missing the drop zone, losing their equipment, being captured, or breaking their necks upon impact. SAS Rogue Heroes series two (6x60’) is created, written and executive produced by Steven Knight (Peaky Blinders, Taboo, Great Expectations) and series two will be directed by Stephen Woolfenden (Outlander, Willow) with Stephen Smallwood (The Serpent, Patrick Melrose) as producer.

SAS Rogue Heroes series two, as new and Filming begins on SAS Rogue Heroes series two, as new and

He argued Mayne was a deeply private and misunderstood person, devastated by the loss of his best friend.Also in the first episode, Stirling and Lewes take the plunge with their daring, first-of-its-kind parachute jump in the desert. Lieutenant Colonel Robert Blair "Paddy" Mayne is one of the real life characters under focus in the series. The history needs scarcely any embellishment, though he tells it with flair: the simple facts of SAS activity make the “ripping yarns” of comic book heroes pale by comparison.