This programme contains very strong language
Right, gents, here we are, back in sunny Scotland.
We know the arduous terrain.
We know how hard it is here.
We've got a new DS.
Let's use it to our advantage.
Keep them second-guessing.
And we give them hell.
Lads, let's make this the toughest one yet.
Right, we've got a train to catch.
Let's do this.
Follow the DS! Let's go!
Get a move on, move it!
In this series,
an elite team of ex-Special Forces soldiers...
Get up, number 21!
GROANING
...are putting 21 men and women...
Come on! They're going to kill the hostage!
Push, push, push.
...through the most gruelling stages of SAS selection.
SCREAMING
During these uncertain times...
Ignore the distraction.
Block out the pain.
...what we're looking for is
those that have the courage to take the leap
into the unknown.
Each task based on the real process...
What was that?
...the recruits must go beyond the physical...
Get in there now!
...to come face-to-face...
What would you do?
...with their true self.
G0, g0, go, go.
Whatever's happening in the world,
we need to switch on
because the enemy are not going to stop if you're scared or exhausted.
You need to know that you've got the inner strength to keep fighting.
No other test asks as much...
Holly, wake up.
...or means as much...
...to the few who make it through.
You're about to be in a whole world of pain.
I'm excited now.
It's like, that's it. No more contact.
We just don't know what we're going to be doing.
In a remote part of the Scottish Highlands,
20 civilians and one undercover agent
are about to embark on a condensed version of SAS selection.
Is it? The nerves.
He's on the train.
Let's go.
In the Special Forces,
we have to be able to operate in any environment.
You must always expect the unexpected.
Let's move. Go!
Get in there.
Get down! Get down! Get down! Heads down!
Move! Move!
Move it! Heads and shoulders! Move!
Heads down! Now, get off!
Move! Get moving!
When everything you know is taken away from you,
you can feel completely lost.
Hands behind your back. Heads down.
You have to dig deep.
Keep your heads down.
You've got to push all those fears to one side
and get on with the job at hand.
Get your heads down. Move!
I am your chief instructor on this course.
And behind me are my team of DS.
Melvyn has served for three decades in the Special Forces.
G0! G0!
Get a move on! Move it!
Move it!
He has fought operationally in over 50 countries...
...on missions against war criminals and terrorists.
What do we have here? Quitters already?
Come on, cupcake, move.
Move it!
Push his buttons,
and then you'll see the explosive side of him.
Move! Maggot!
Right, turn over on your bellies.
Move! Heads down, heads down, heads down!
See where you are right now?
This is what you're worth to us.
When I say go,
you will stand up and face me.
Stand by.
Go! Move!
Shoulder to shoulder.
OK, when I say go,
you will move your fucking arses to them vehicles.
Go!
Move! Do not walk!
Other shed, come on.
For the duration of the course,
the recruits' base will be this derelict farm
on the edge of the Hebridean island of Raasay.
Don't walk over my parade square!
Get back and walk through the fucking gap!
202 people started my course.
Eight of us passed it.
Guarantee you, we'll have two, three of you left at the end.
Fact.
It's going to be painful.
You're going to suffer.
We are going to bring your characteristics and attributes
to the forefront and you're going to find out who you are.
I guarantee you that.
If you do not want to be on this course,
you simply vw_
You take your armband off
and you hand it to one of the DS.
Is that understood?
ALL:
Over to you.
Right, listen in.
Your name will be called out.
Come forward.
Grab an armband.
Go across there. Pick up that green bergan.
HE SHOUTS COMMANDS
Go. Go. Move.
Huffy UP!
Get back on the square.
HE SHOUTS COMMANDS
Today, you get to have a shower with me.
This is the only time you'll ever get this chance.
Number one, stand there.
Wipe your face. Keep your eyes closed.
Use your hands and wipe your face.
Turn around.
Change!
Feel free to say, "Thank you, Staff."
And change!
When the DS first see me...
And turn around.
...l think they'll be a little bit confused by me.
And change. Thank you, Staff.
You're welcome.
But, I look forward to kind of studying them a bit
and showing them, you know, how strong I am.
When I say strip, you will strip.
Take off all your wet clothing.
OK, do that now.
Strip.
Get your kit off.
The wet kit and freezing temperatures
put the recruits at risk of hypothermia.
As quick as you can.
Sooner you do it, sooner we can get dressed and move on.
Fleece jacket, put it on.
Put your armband on your left arm.
Get your bergans. Get into your accommodation.
Oh, yeah, great first impression so far.
Ooh!
I'll tell you what, if they said to you,
"Describe how that road
"crawl into hell would be,"
it would that gravel, earlier.
That's an intense way to start a Friday, mate.
Jesus.
Before arriving on the course,
each recruit was instructed to write an essay
and include some personal items,
to give the DS an insight into their background and character.
Well, well, well.
Right, here we go, mate.
All right, number one.
"L'm 39, a father to Charlie, aged seven.
"L'm a firefighter.
"Three years ago, my life changed overnight."
Anyone got any kit problems?
Rick, I'm missing a pen.
"L lost my relationship, my home,
"and, worst of all, my mind."
It would be interesting to find out why he was so bad.
There must have been in incident, a trigger.
Right, number two.
"L'm a 38-year-old tattoo artist from Brighton.
"L'm a hard worker and I really graft in the tattoo industry."
Right pocket, I think.
"L take things personally if somebody chats shit about me.
"L think that stems back to being bullied at school.
"Cheers, Staff."
Good. Yeah.
Number 13.
"L'm someone starting to see the light
"at the end of a long battle with myself.
"But having to deal with being different my whole life
"has taught me to be resilient and never give up."
Right, OK.
Number eight.
"L'm an absolute nutter
"and often described as a ticking time bomb.
"L chose a career which is not understood by many,
"especially the older generation."
But what does she do?
Let's have a look.
Daren”: touch it.
What's in there?
Scissor, paper, stones who opens it.
All right, deal. One, two, three, show.
Argh!
HE LAUGHS
So, what are you guessing? I'd say probably stripper.
Yeah.
So, we've got a firefighter, a stripper...
And a lot of other confused people along the way.
Listen, if they can do the job, I don't care who they are.
100%.
Let's do it, brother.
Get in the wagons, go.
Let's move. Go!
For the recruits' first task, they must race to an RV point
two kilometres up the face of Glamaig
loaded with 40lbs on their backs.
Shoulder to shoulder, start switching on.
Shoulder to shoulder.
I won't tell you again.
ALL: Yes, Staff.
This is individual. Do not be last!
Two metres behind the DS.
Follow the DS, let's go.
Get past the person in front of you, move!
The recruits are expected to complete the task within 40 minutes.
Come on, let's get up there.
The hell run is designed to see who's got the determination
to push themselves to the top.
If they're not strong enough, then they shouldn't be there.
Because in war, when your lungs are burst and your legs are burning...
...it might not be over, because the enemy just want you dead,
so you've got to keep cracking on.
Taking an early lead is number five, Anthony.
I'm determined.
Whether it's a football game, or whether we're in the gym
and it's one more rep.
I've always had a super competitive edge.
In second place is number 16, Connon
Growing up as a kid and doing Irish dancing was definitely not easy.
You know, I was called a sissy.
I was called a girl.
I was told that I was gay.
Keep moving.
I kind ofjust learned to brush it off and pretend as if
it didn't really affect me.
In third place is number 21, Phoebe.
When I'm pushed to my limit, I will keep going.
I can deadlift 200kg, which has been a goal of mine
for quite some time. And I reached that during lockdown, actually.
I like to prove people wrong, particularly men.
Most of the recruits have now made it halfway.
Get up here, you fucking muppet!
Trailing at the back are number 17, Shireen,
and number eight, Esther.
The fucking state of you.
SHE GROANS
Get the bergan on your shoulders.
Shut up!
Get that on your back now, straight. I'm going to give you one more try.
During selection, it's important to be able to identify
the weak links in a chain.
The weak members in a patrol.
Get going, you!
You cannot afford to go into an operation with
a percentage of weakness.
Fucking pathetic!
Because if you are a liability,
it's going to lead to the death of others.
Take your bergan off.
Give me your armband.
You've been taken off as a liability.
Sit down on your bergan, OK? A medic will get to you in a minute.
Shireen is the first recruit to be culled from the course...
Take your bergan off.
You're a danger to yourself and a danger to the rest of the course.
Give me the armband.
...shortly followed by recruit number eight, Esther.
Sit on your bergan.
For you, it's over, OK?
Move, keep moving!
Now, 19 recruits remain.
Come on at the back, I'm getting cold!
Lingering at the back is number 13, Holly.
Being in there excites the hell out of me.
Come on, let's catch it up at the back.
I'm at a stage in my life where I feel comfortable with who I am.
Keep moving.
So, I want to do this because, turning 30, I just need a challenge.
I need something to kind of set me up,
I suppose, for what's going to happen in the next 10, 20 years.
Oi!
Fucking get up and give me your number!
No time for resting.
Are you taking the piss?
MEDIC: Holly? Holly, wake up.
OK, I'm just going to take your bag off.
30 minutes into the hell run,
number 13, Holly, has collapsed.
I need you to make your way down this valley
before you start freezing up, OK?
ANT: This isn't in your own time!
This is as fast as you can to the top of this hill.
Let's get a grip, come on.
Having overtaken number five, Anthony,
number 16, Connor, is now at the front.
Number 16, keep pushing.
Off your knees.
Ten minutes behind is number one, Ricky.
Come on, then!
All the way up there, let's go.
Just go back, go on a bit of the flat.
Recruit number 16, Connor, reaches the RV point first,
finishing the climb in 33 minutes.
90 seconds behind him is number five, Anthony.
In third place is number 21, Phoebe.
ANT: Good effort, you three.
The two recruits at the back of the pack
are number two, John...
Come on. My gran can walk quicker than this
and she's fucking dead.
Come on, number 10.
...and number 10, Kieran.
Come on, let's stand up.
Do you want to give me your armband?
Then, I'll tell you what. Look up, go.
There is people half your size in front of you.
Don't feel sorry for yourself, cause I don't. Get going.
Come on. Let's go. Prove you want it.
There you go, you can do it.
Keep going. That's it, keep going.
ANT: Right, if you want some water, get some water down your neck.
17 recruits have now completed the ascent.
49 minutes into the climb,
number two, john, joins the rest.
Can you get shoulder to shoulder. Number two.
Two minutes later,
in last place,
is number ten, Kieran.
Come on.
Grit your teeth, number ten.
Start thinking about what you're doing here.
If you want to be here.
You lot in the rear are a fucking embarrassment.
Shocking.
And, you're in a shit state.
Absolute shit state.
This is day one, people.
Day one.
And, when we need to get down, you shift.
Stand by.
Go.
Move, move, move.
Shift, shift, shift.
Move.
That means run.
Move.
Move, move, let's go.
All the way to the wagons. Let's go, let's go, let's go.
Hurry up, move.
Move it!
Fucking hell!
That mountain climb was the hardest thing I have ever done.
Well done.
Number 8, number 17.
Good bye.
You tell me what happened today?
After her collapse on the hell run, number 13, Holly,
is in the medical room with Chief Medical Officer Sundeep.
Have you not been drinking properly?
If you're not taking enough water in,
which is pretty much what it sounds like,
you're not going to have enough circulating blood.
At least I've got a clear reason that you will have fainted today.
So, I need to talk to the Chief.
Fingers crossed.
Overall, what a fucking day.
I'm pretty disappointed.
Number 16.
Out of the group, I would put him at the top at the moment.
Number one, big lad but physically weak.
I was surprised he was at the back.
Number 13, for me, she's had a reality check today.
You know, she kept on going until she dropped, so she has had a shock.
But, listen, I'd like to bring in number 13.
She needs a rude awakening.
Everyone happy? Yeah.
Number 13.
Let's g0!
Stand up.
Turn this way.
Stand still.
Sit.
Do you know what? You've spun my head today.
We saw that today.
Sometimes that's just not enough.
I'll give you some brutal honesty.
You need to toughen up.
Talk to me.
What was it like growing up?
OK. And, now you're female?
You've done the brave thing. You have come here.
That shows courage. We were looking for that.
Remember, in our world,
it doesn't matter how rich, how poor, what religion.
If you pass selection, you were in, OK?
No, I don't want to see you give up.
This time here is for you, no-one else.
Guard?
Walk.
She deserves a second chance,
and she actually deserves a little bit of fucking motivation
cos everyone has been fucking against her all her life.
For a long time, I didn't think people like me,
being black, could join the SAS.
Growing up, I wasn't accepted.
By joining the army, it made me tougher.
It made me more resilient,
and it made me make sure I treat everybody
how I expect to be treated...
You alright?
...cos I've been the other side of it, and it's not nice.
The 19 remaining recruits are about to face
one of the most dangerous operations undertaken by the Special Forces -
extraction from an oil rig.
Across the globe, wars are fought to protect our economic assets.
The oil rig is designed to test our recruits' bottle.
Their ability to operate at height,
to work at speed and precision.
And, also, to be able to follow orders.
In the Special Forces, if you can't do all those things,
you'd be flying home from an operation in a coffin.
OK.
Look up.
That's fucking high.
Stand by...
“So!
This is an oil rig.
So, this is a prime target for the enemy.
What we're going to do now is the extraction method.
As quick as we can.
Fast, efficient.
We will tell you once, and once only, what to do.
No excuses.
You fuck this up, you're off the course.
Simple as that.
And when I say go, it will be in single file.
Is that understood? Let's go.
Move, go. Go! Move it!
Fuck me.
This is some scary shit.
To get to the extraction point, the recruits must climb 150 feet.
Fuck's sake.
This is not for me at all.
Number two, let's go.
Move!
Yesterday, number two, john,
disappointed the DS by failing the first task.
One of my biggest fears is heights.
I can't stand heights.
So, in order to move, you start to raise it up.
That position there, where you can see the end of the rope.
Your left hand goes across your face.
And deep open water.
I think it was watching jaws when I was younger, I think.
I'm not sure.
OK, stop shaking.
OK, step off.
Move down. Feet through, there you go.
The recruits must abseil13O feet as quickly as possible...
Pull your right arm up.
Pull your right arm up!
Go on, go! Let's g0!
Keep it going, let's go!
What the fuck is wrong with you?
Get in there now!
...before unhooking themselves...
...and dropping the final 20 feet into near freezing water.
The DS expect the recruits to complete
the abseil in under 15 seconds.
Number two, John's descent takes 50.
What, Staff?
Wait there, number five.
Fucking hell. The line.
Next up is number five, Anthony.
I lost my mum when I was 11 years old.
Staff.
A couple of times, Staff.
I think losing a parent at that age, it does make you grow up.
It makes you grow up quick.
You don't have that person to rely on, to go to.
I've not done this before, Staff.
Not like this, Staff.
It's made me more determined and it gave me
something to channel my anger towards.
But I also think it's pushed me and given me drive.
Number five, Anthony, completes the task in 12 seconds.
Sorry, Staff.
To take control of an oil rig is very dangerous.
There is no time in a conflict situation to think and hang about.
It's all about speed, aggression and surprise.
Next to go is number 13, Holly.
I love heights, but am I nervous and scared at heights?
Yeah, a little bit.
Three and a half years ago, I got into arial dancing.
You've got no more opportunities now.
No more fuck-ups. No, Staff.
And, that was the best decision I ever made, because, from day one,
I walked in, and, straight away, there was just this
feeling of absolute acceptance.
Bring your hand to the position it is now in front of your body
or higher and you'll go even faster.
If you want to slow it down, you pull it that way.
Yeah? Yes, Staff.
And it's what's helped me cope.
It's given me that focus in life to keep going.
Feed it through. There you go, you've got it.
You've worked it out. And that's it.
That's it.
Start to build up some momentum.
Control it.
NOW, away you go. Go!
Yeah, she was.
Yes, she was.
Number 13, good effort!
Holly completes the task in 12 seconds.
Good start, weird ending.
Number one, let's go.
The final recruit to go is number one, Ricky.
Being a firefighter is a dangerous job.
Remember, don't let your fingers get too close to this
cos you'll feed your fingers through it,
then we'll have a problem. Or you'll have a problem. Yes, Staff.
I think you learn very quickly
what your limitations and capabilities are.
Step off, there we go. You have control. Away you go.
And it's important to know that we do all have limitations.
All the way.
Away y0l1 9°-
Go!
Build up some speed. Let it go, go on!
Fucking hell.
Go on.
In just five seconds, Ricky completes the task.
See, I told you the fireman would show us how it's done, didn't I?
It's the fastest time of the whole group.
Yeah, feels good.
Get that fire on in that wet room.
Get everyone's wet room stuff straight in there.
Well done, everyone.
Mate, I've got two wet pairs of socks.
Suffering with a knee injury, number 11, Rebecca,
voluntarily withdraws herself from the course.
18 recruits remain.
Yeah, I agree.
Mate, he come down the rope well.
Got in the boat, hauled himself in, switched on.
I think he needs more pressure.
Oh, 100%, yeah.
Even though you were pretty useless going up that hill,
I sort of still saw something in your eyes today.
I'm not quite sure what.
But, I want to know why you came here in the first place.
So, it's been a tough three years.
I just lost my mind completely.
I was suffering from PTSD.
I'd start crying and I had no idea why.
What happened?
I was one of the firefighters at the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017.
There was one particular incident where we tried to rescue someone
and we had to turn back, literally outside the guy's front door.
And that guy died.
And it sort of really haunted me for a long time.
You always want to rescue everybody, you know?
You want everyone to survive.
And, on that night, 72 people didn't.
You know, it's fucking heartbreaking.
And this course, to me, was a chance to sort of, I guess,
start a new chapter in my life.
My own experiences in situations,
sometimes it is what it is.
Once you have gone through that shit bit,
the bit where you feel horrendous
and you're shit with everyone else around you,
then you need to start focusing on the future,
because, ultimately, time ain't stopping still for no fucker.
Yeah. Do you know what I mean? Yes, Staff.
Guard!
He seems a decent character, doesn't he?
I think he will go far. Yeah, I hope so.
I quite like him.
I don't like how fragile I can be sometimes.
I can be quite easily hurt.
Keep moving forward, and keep being positive.
You've got this. Good lad.
Off you go.
I do have some demons
and I'm hoping that, during selection,
that I will be able to confront those.
But firefighters leave incidents
and incidents don't leave firefighters.
And when things don't work out how you want them to...
...it hurts.
Yeah, mate.
All right, just listen to me a minute. Duty steward is number 15.
Once you've had your food,
at ten o'clock, be on parade on the square, OK?
Dressed as you were on the rig.
The top you had on earlier on, all your kit you had on,
no fleeces, with your armbands on. That's everybody.
Shit. I don't know what to do with my wet stuff.
Procedures and orders are there for a reason in the Special Forces.
They're there to make sure that you do a job properly.
What? The wet clothes or these?
No, these clothes you've got dry.
Wet. But this is what we had on the rig, though.
We changed into these.
Changed into this, didn't we?
It's key to listen to the details because, ultimately,
what we're telling them is there to keep them alive.
As duty recruit, number 15, Alan,
must ensure the group follow the correct detail given by the DS.
What do you mean?
If I want you on the parade square good to go at ten o'clock,
as you were this afternoon in the same rig.
Was you in this, this afternoon?
What was you in then?
ALL: Yes.
Where's the duty recruit? Get out here.
Are you lot thick or something?
Were you told to be out here good to go? Yes or no?
Yes, you were.
What's your dry kit for, number 9? Resting, Staff.
Resting, isn't it?
When I say go, you will disappear into the accommodation,
you will grab your wet kit and you'll be back out here.
Is that understood? ALL: Yes, Staff.
Stand by. Go. Move, move!
As punishment for coming out in the wrong kit, the DS will now
beast the recruits until one of them voluntarily withdraws.
Put your kit down in front of you.
Move. Hurry UP!
Do you know what,
I've lost my voice after two days of shouting at you fuckers.
All of you, get in the press-up position
and hold the press-up position.
Get in the fucking press-up position.
Shower of fucking shit.
Making me go around like I'm some cunt.
Cos you can't switch on.
Shower of fucking shit everywhere.
Right, when I call your number out, you will sprint
out of the parade square and to me, is that understood?
ALL: Yes, Staff.
Number 1, move. Move!
Get in there and fucking lay down.
Fully submerge yourself. Fully submerge yourself.
Right, get out.
Get changed into your wet kit and stand on your number. Move.
Number 10. Move.
Get in there, fucking fully submerge yourself.
All the way down. All the way down.
All the way down.
Get up.
Number 13, move.
Get in there, fully submerge yourself.
Don't think you can pull the wool over my eyes!
Stay there.
I gave you your second chance, number 15,
by telling you up there to fucking get in the same kit.
In there.
Fully submerge yourself.
Don't want to be here, give me your numbers and fuck off.
Grab your kit, get off my parade square.
Do you want me to treat you like cadets, then I will.
Embarrassing.
To bring an end to the beasting...
Stay there.
...number 1, Ricky, hands in his number.
You chose the easy option tonight.
After being told not once, but twice.
Pay attention to detail
and you won't have this fuck up that you've got now.
Right, when I say go,
pick up your kit and disappear off my parade square. Stand by.
Go. Move, move, move!
Move.
No, that wasn't your fault, mate. Wasn't your fault.
Nothing against you, mate. We all made that decision together.
Yeah.
Let's do...
Whoever's wet first, let's dry them first.
It is, brother.
Mel, are you ready? Yeah, I'm coming out.
Number 5!
Can somebody give rne a hand just to get the logs, cos Anthony's away?
Thanks, mate.
Sit still.
THEY LAUGH
Sh!
INAUDIBLE
You're going to have to try.
INAUDIBLE
Control your minds.
Get up! Keep going!
Get a grip of yourself. Move!
As a Special Forces operator, you can't let fear rule you.
Ignore the distraction.
Just block out the pain.
You can't carry on. It's as simple as that.
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