Soldier, a five-part documentary series will air on the Beeb next month with exclusive access inside the British Army.
Colonel Shaun Chandler, Commander Headquarters Soldier Academy (North):
“I am delighted that Soldier is coming to BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Six months of filming with the recruits and instructors of D1 Platoon at the Infantry Training Centre Catterick has resulted in a fascinating documentary covering infantry training showcasing the recruits growing in strength and confidence as they face their futures as infanteers in the British Army.”
With behind-the-scenes insight into the Infantry Training Centre in Catterick, North Yorkshire, cameras follow a platoon of fresh-faced infantry recruits as they take on a gruelling six-month training course that will push their limits physically and mentally to see if they have what it takes to fight on the frontline in the British Army.
The hour-long episodes chart the transformation of the young men and women as they leave friends and family behind, swapping nine-to-five jobs and video games for real-life weapons and an army uniform. Only the very best will pass.
Amongst the recruits is a 20-year-old whose mother is a pacifist, a 17-year-old former fast-food restaurant worker, a 21-year-old ex-aspiring footballer from Middlesbrough, and an 18-year-old woman who hails from a military family and is eager to follow in the footsteps of her father. Women have only been permitted to join frontline infantry roles since 2018 and they must meet the same standards as men.
The 45 recruits tackle punishing obstacle courses, handle and fire weapons, undergo rigorous inspections, and crucially, learn how to kill at close quarters using only a bayonet.
Jack Bootle, Head of Specialist Factual Commissioning at the BBC:
“Soldier takes viewers behind the scenes at ITC Catterick and into the heart of the British Army. I’m delighted to bring this revelatory series to BBC One and iPlayer, and I look forward to viewers watching our new recruits transform from kids to close combat warriors.”
Soldier airs its first episode on Thursday 5th October at 9pm on BBC One. From the same day, all episodes will be available on BBC iPlayer.
