SAS Rogue Heroes star reveals nightmare filming ‘struggle’ in middle of Moroccan desert

A STAR of the BBC’s brand new drama SAS Rogue Heroes had opened up on the tough filming conditions of the Moroccan desert.

The new BBC One drama chronicles the formation of the Special Air Service during World War II and was created by Peaky Blinders originator Steven Knight.

The drama showcases a variety of acting talent including Sex Education star Connor Swindells who appears alongside Skins favourite Jack O’Connell and Game of Thrones star Alfie Allen.

Connor has admitted that filming in the Sahara was not easy and presented itself with a number of challenges.

The actor said: "We did a lot of day for night stuff as well, which was the hardest because night-time in the [Sahara] desert is normally extremely cold, so we'd be wearing tonnes and tonnes of layers but we were shooting at midday in the heat." 

Connor went on to add: “And those were unbearably hot and your rifle's getting heavier and heavier and heavier, take after take after take. That was a struggle."

However it was not all hard work as he revealed that the cast did manage to enjoy themselves and have some fun in the Moroccan sun. 

He spoke of spending time on Jeeps in the desert with purely just the main cast, saying:  "I have great memories of us bombing it through the Sahara desert in the Jeeps. 

“You couldn't see the camera. There was no supporting artists anywhere. It was just us in the cars bombing it, living like the characters. 

He added: “Those are my fondest memories of the whole thing."

Show creator Steven Knight opened up on the similarities between the characters in his new show and that of BBC juggernaut Peaky Blinders.

He admitted: "It does seem that there is a sort of a theme with Peaky and this, where it is a group of men who are probably not the easiest people to fit into conventional society.”

He explained further: "I think that all of the people who are the heroes in this, if there had not been a war, they would have ended up in jail and ended up in trouble because they weren't equipped for normal society.”

He further highlighted how people in today’s society could see themselves in the characters as he put his theories across on how difficult it can be to fall into place within society.

He said: "In other words, the people who are getting thrown out of clubs and restaurants and getting into terrible trouble in peace, when war comes along, they're needed. I think that's really interesting. 

“Maybe people who watch this who feel themselves to be excluded and not right for society and not fitting in might think, 'Well, I could be a hero.'"

SAS Rogue Heroes begins on Sunday 30th October at 9pm on BBC One.