Who's who and who's new as action drama 'Rogue Heroes' returns

New faces – including an impressive Gwilym Lee – and new challenges make for more daring drama as season two shifts the action to Europe.

The cast of Rogue Heroes 2. Jim Almonds played by Corin Silva, Johnny Cooper played by Jacob McCarthy, Reg Seekings played by Theo Barklem-Biggs, Suport actor, Dave Kershaw played by Bobby Schofield, Pat Rile played by Jacob Ifan, Jock McDiarmid played by Mark Rowley and Paddy Mayne played by Jack O'Connell.

'Rogue Heroes' season 2. Credit: Robert Viglasky / BBC / Banijay

"There are lots of new characters and all of them heroes," says Rogue Heroes creator and executive producer Stephen Knight, talking about the new faces joining season two of the almost-beyond-belief action drama depicting the origins of the British Army Special Air Service (SAS) during World War II.

The word "heroes" took on new meaning when the must-watch first series, based on Ben Macintyre’s best-selling book, first hit our screens, with Connor Swindells as 'rules be damned' David Stirling, a force behind the creation of the SAS, and Jack O'Connell as dangerously unpredictiable Paddy Mayne. "The characters are beyond belief but, in the majority of cases in the series, they’re real," Knight says.


The adrenaline rush continues in the new season. It's Spring of 1943, and the series takes us to Italy. From mafia meetings, to suspicious priests, and a Nazi target on their backs, there are new threats, and new obstacles. Paddy Mayne takes control of the SAS following David Stirling’s capture, but the enemy, and the unpredictable men under his command, aren't the only challenges he's facing. There are doubts about the future of the regiment, and, in the meantime, with the creation of a second unit, a stream of new arrivals.

Here's a look at who's back, and who's new, from Gwilym Lee taking on a very different role to his turn as Brian May in Bohemian Rhapsody, to Heartstopper's Jack Barton.

Gwilym Lee as William 'Bill' Stirling

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Gwilym Lee as Bill Stirling. Credit: Robert Viglasky Photography
Accounts vary on the role of the real William Stirling in the creation of the SAS. However what is widely accepted is the reformulation of the No. 62 Commando Raiding force that William was a part of, into 2SAS in May 1943.

In contrast to his younger brother David (Connor Swindells), Gwilym Lee's William 'Bill' Stirling is best described as a stickler for the rules, more discreet and happy to linger in the background of action. However, William is also known for his charm and easy navigation of upper-middle class circles in a way that David does not quite carry. His brother’s imprisonment means that the pressure to keep the SAS alive is high; however supporting a unit that's very foundation is built on not following the rules proves a point of conflict for William. In particular, his relationship with Paddy Mayne proves difficult – Paddy exacting his dislike for authority on William – who does his best to tame, keep in line, and support the new leader of the unit. The rules are essential and necessary in the art of war – however room must be made for the rogue unit created by his more nonchalant younger brother.

It's a great role for Lee, seen previously as guitarist Brian May in Bohemian Rhapsody and as key court member Grigor Dymov in another riotous take on history, TV series The Great.

Jack O’Connell as Robert Blair ‘Paddy’ Mayne

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Jack O'Connell returns as Paddy Mayne. Credit: Kudos
Would Rogue Heroes be half the fun it is without Jack O'Connell as the fiery Paddy Mayne? It would not, so it's a very good thing he's back. As season two starts, Paddy Mayne is a man reeling from the blows life has been throwing, from the death of his father, to the capture of his friend David. And that's all on top of wider challenge of commanding a unit at risk of being disbanded. Paddy is angry and frustrated at the perceived abandonment of himself and the unit by GHQ – and other upper ranks who seem to be making his life harder. Paddy looks to put aside his resentment towards higher authority, and accepts the advice of William Stirling, in order to help continue the unit’s existence. However, Paddy’s attempts to fall in line are all done begrudgingly with his particular fury taken out on William – an individual he sees as the embodiment of the upper-middle class sticklers in high command.

Connor Swindells as David Stirling

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David Stirling (Connor Swindells) returns for season 2 of 'Rogue Heroes'. Credit: Robert Viglasky / BBC / Banijay
Now a prisoner of war following his capture in season 1, David Stirling is facing his own challenges. "Largely, the story for David’s part is him coming to terms with the fact he is missing out on all the action – which is how I felt too, because I was missing out on all the fun! Everyone was shooting in very wonderful conditions and I was in a cave!" Swindells says of the new season. Joking aside, though, there's plenty for his character to deal with in the dreary, intense and high-pressured environment of a Gavi prisoner of war camp. David’s main focus is getting back to his unit, and helping them see through the end of the war. Hearing of the unit’s successes in Italy proves fuel to the fire of David’s desire to escape, and the same charisma, charm and determination he used to begin the unit, is utilised in his attempt to get back to them.

Sofia Boutella as Eve Mansour

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Sofia Boutella returns as Eve Mansour. Credit: Robert Vislasky
Having survived the air crash reported at the end of series one, the Algerian spy is back – and more determined than ever. Refusing to back down from Allied exclusion of Free France from military operations, Eve has made it her mission to see that the interests of the Free French are considered during the war. While she laments the absence of her lover David, she is focussed on gaining the intelligence she needs to fulfil her duty to her country.


Dominic West as Dudley Clarke

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Paddy Mayne (Jack O'Connell), Dudley Clarke (Dominic West) and Eve Mansour (Sofia Boutella). Credit: Robert Viglasky / BBC / Bianjay
The Lieutenant Colonel did not have it easy in season one, ending the run depressed and drunk in Cairo. But things might be a little easier for Clarke in the new season. "We find him now, I think, slightly more ebullient. It’s moving towards the end of the war so things are starting to look better. He’s ‘on the wagon’, briefly, and he’s still playing mind games but ... he’s more cheerful," says West, whose work on Rogue Heroes overlapped his time as Prince Charles in The Crown and as Chris Cox in the clever comedy-drama Brassic (also
streaming at SBS On Demand
).

Jack Barton as John Tonkin

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Jack Barton joins the show as young soldier John Tonkin. Credit: Robert Viglasky
From Heartstopper and War of the Worlds (also
streaming at SBS On Demand
) to the ranks of the SAS: rising star Jack Barton is one of the new faces joining season two. Barton plays Lieutenant John Elliot Tonkin, one of the new soldiers trying to find his place in the regiment. Hairy adventures and heroics soon follow.

Theo Barklem-Biggs as Reg Seekings

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Theo Barklem-Biggs as Reg Seekings in season 2.
Rogue Heroes is a rollicking adventure - but it's not just that. Stephen Knight has said the second season gave the chance to delve deeper into challenges faced by soldiers at war; for some of them, traumatic experiences they'll never forget. In the new season, Reg Seekings faces just such an experience, and Barklem-Biggs has
spoken
about the responsibility of portraying a real person's pain, and the importance of shining a light on what we now know as PTSD.

Stuart Campbell as Bill Fraser

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Stuart Campbell returns as Bill Fraser.
Since appearing in the first season, Campbell has been on screen in The Winter King, Chemistry of Death and long-running BBC drama Shetland. Now he returns as the likeable Bill Campbell, again proving an important part of the leadership of the regiment.

Mark Rowley as Jock McDiarmid

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L-R Jacob Ifan as Pat Riley, Stuart Campbell as Bill Fraser and Mark Rowley as Jock McDiarmid.
Stephen Knight describes Jock McDiarmid as "a wild Scotsman, force of nature and incredibly courageous". Which sounds a new addition likely to fit right in with the SAS's determination to get the job done, even if it means throwing the rulebook out the window. Scottish actor Mark Rowley has previously been seen in The Spanish Princess and The Last Kingdom.

Rogue Heroes season 2 premieres Wednesday 26 February on SBS and SBS On Demand. Episodes air weekly on SBS starting Wednesday 26 February at 9:30PM.
Season 1 of Rogue Heroes is available to stream free now on SBS On Demand.

Stream free On Demand

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The first season of ‘Rogue Heroes’ was a wild thrill-ride – and you ain’t seen nothing yet

Smash-hit series Rogue Heroes returns for an adrenaline-fuelled second season


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7 min read
Published 20 February 2025 5:05pm
Updated 21 February 2025 10:23am
Source: SBS

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