'Brilliant' BBC war series with 100% Rotten Tomatoes score fans say is a 'must watch'

A television show is receiving rave reviews from adoring fans as it has told the story of the early days of the nation's most elite military unit - over the course of its two seasons. Rogue Heroes is a historical drama that explores the formation of the Special Air Service (SAS) during the Second World War.

It follows an eccentric army officer, David Stirling, played by Connor Swindells, as he creates a revolutionary, ruthless special forces unit to operate behind enemy lines in North Africa. The storyline is based on the best-selling book SAS: Rogue Heroes by author Ben MacIntyre and showcases the lives of the personalities involved at that time.

The show displays the victories and failures during the early days of the unit's history. Rogue Heroes also depicts the historical conflict between those wanting to set up an elite military unit and the brass who pushed back on certain ideas. However, at times the show may have taken historical liberties and the exact nature of the confrontations shown on screen may differ from the reality of what actually happened.

The show starts off with Stirling hospitalised in Cairo after a training exercise accident. Bored, he starts pondering that the accepted war methods are wrong and hits on a radical plan. He fights for permission to recruit the toughest, boldest, and brightest soldiers for a small undercover unit that will create mayhem behind enemy lines.

Frustrated by the ineffectiveness of conventional military tactics in the North Africa campaign, Sterling is joined by fellow colleagues Jock Lewes and Paddy Mayne, who soon formulate a plan. They devise a way to create an elite unit capable of carrying out daring raids on their foes.

During World War 2, Allied forces were up against one of the best tacticians in the world at that time, Erwin Rommel. Known as the Desert Fox for his cunning displays of strategy, he was a favourite general of Adolf Hitler early in the war. He is mentioned in Rogue Heroes as a significant antagonist as the new unit tries to cause the German military problems in the North African desert.

Created by screenwriter Steven Knight of Peaky Blinders fame, both seasons of Rogue Heroes have achieved an excellent 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The show also features Jack O'Connell as Paddy Mayne and Alfie Alans as Jock Lewes, two men who were instrumental in the early days of the SAS.

Eve Mansour, played by Sofia Boutella, is a fictional French spy and plays Sterling's romantic interest in the drama series. While the character is not based on a single individual, she serves as a literary device to represent the many real-life women who were vital espionage agents and war heroes during World War Two.

The show has received overwhelmingly positive feedback during the course of its two seasons.

One reviewer wrote: "This is an outrageously over-the-top take on a mostly true story. Some people have been moaning that the soundtrack, mainly rock and punk, is wrong for this show, as is the bad language, but I think it gives it a real punch, and I'm in no doubt that bad language would have been rife in this unit of men."

Another said: "Let's get one thing straight, anyone with a decent level of WW2 knowledge will pick up on mistakes. Uniforms, weapons, kit, tanks, trucks, and even the traits and likeness of the main characters. The BBC doesn't seem to care much for accuracy anymore with their shows. However, watch this as Band of Brothers meets Peaky Blinders and you're onto a winner. The characters are all played brilliantly, even if it is historically inaccurate."

A third wrote: "One of the best TV Series I've ever seen! Absolutely brilliant! Not to milk or ruin it but there has to be a season 3! Sincerely hope so!"

And yet another added: "Incredible! An absolute must watch with great acting and choice of cast. Had me hooked immediately!"