Home Info News Gallery Forum Links Other Feedback
Ultimate Force


Taken from the Ultimate Force (Series 1) DVD Booklet

Introduction

Ultimate Force is a no-holes barred action adventure drama series delving for the first time into the world of Britain's elite Special Air Service (S.A.S) in spectacular fashion.
This first six-part drama series was co-devised by Rob Heyland with former Bravo Two Zero trooper and best selling author Chris Ryan.
It follows the missions of Red Troop Special Air Service (S.A.S) lead by tough and charismatic leader Sergeant Henno Garvie (Ross Kemp) and his team constantly putting their lives at risk for their country.
The regiment are second to none and the challenges that await Red Troop are unpredictable at best. From infiltrating an anti-capitalist group plotting an assassination, to outwitting the mastermind of an armed bank robbery, there are many missions facing this unique fighting regiment.


S.A.S Red Troop Elite

Sergeant Henno Garvie (Ross Kemp)

Intelligent, unflappable and brave, henno is the respected leader of Red Troop. An S.A.S trooper for 12 years, he has served in the Gulf, Falklands and Northern Ireland. He as a wife and two daughters, but the Regiment is his great love.

Jamie Dow (Jamie Draven)

Jamie joined the army to escape a prison sentence for car theft after an unhappy childhood. He passed S.A.S selection at the first attempt. A crack shot, his potential is spotted immediately by Henno, but Jamie is a loner and rarely lets his guard down.

Pete Twamley(Tony Curran)

Glasgow-born Pete has been with the S.A.S for 12 years and is the father of the team, ever loyal to Henno. An expert in explosives, he is happily married to his childhood sweetheart - and Mrs Twamley is the only wife readily accepted among the troop.

Ricky Mann(Danny Sapani)

Ricky was the first black sergeant inthe Irish Guards and is an expert at adopting different personas. He's easy going and warm but can possess the coldness of the best contract killer. Ricky's culinary skills are displayed in extraordinary circumstances.

Jem Poynton (Elliot Cowan)

Jem is a glory hunter who loves fast cars, designer clothes and women. he's a natural athlete and excellent sniper who served with the Green howards in Pakistan, South Georgia and Canada before joining the S.A.S. He has a fragile ego and can be jealous.

Alex Leonard(Sendhil Ramamurthy)

Alex was adopted by the Leonard family as a young child and enjoyed a privileged upbringing. He resigned his commission as an air force officer to take the gamble of S.A.S selection and joins his brother Sam in Red Troop.

Sam Leonard(Anthony Howell)

An ex-public schoolboy, Sam joined the S.A.S becasue he has a strong sense of justice, rather than ambition to become a high-ranking officer. He is proud when his brother Alex joins Red Troop and feels protective towards him.

Captain Caroline Walshe(Alex Reid)

A high achiever, Caroline reached the rank of captain at just 25 and was posted to the S.A.S. A skilled interrogator, communications expert and man-manager, she is also a tomboy who is determined to match the men. She is single - her career comes first.

Lieutenant Dotsy Doheny(Jamie Bamber)

Dotsy was educated at Eton, Cambridge and Sandhurst before joining the Guards. He became Commander of Red Troop at the age of 28 following S.A.S selection. Dotsy is inexperienced compared with Henno and Twamley, but is keen to prove himself.

Colonel Aiden Dempsey(Miles Anderson)

Dempsey grew up in Rhodesia, the son of a civil servant. his impeccable military career includes leading the British Forces advance on to Iraqi soil in desert Storm. Now in charge of 22nd Regiment, he always puts the welfare of his men first.

Mick Sharpe (Laurence Fox)

Mick is a sergeant in the Parachute Regiment who failed his first attempt at S.A.S selection. Adopted as a child, all his attempts to find his birth mother and father have failed. He is determined to pass selection on his next attempt, despite a fear of water.

Box 500 (Tobias Menzies)

Box 500 is an MI5 officer who often gets called in on S.A.S operations to dig out information about the targets. Highly intelligent, with a detailed knowledge of technology, he is a liked and valued asset to the team.


Interview With Jamie Draven (Corporal Jamie Dow)

Jamie Draven was 'tortured' during the making of ULTIMATE FORCE - but riding in a helicopter and driving high-powered cars on a skidpan in his role as an S.A.S trooper more than made up for it.

"It was fun - I was really up for all those things. It was good to go to work every day and have a laugh. Episode one in the killing house and doing the bank siege was fantastic. We had a lot of time to prepare and I think the episode's got a lot of heart".

"The combat blacks we wore are very cool and everyone wanted to take them home. Even wearing the respirators was amazing because you're in a world of your own. It was nice to wear the gear and feel the part".

In a later episode, however, Jamie's character Jamie Dow is kidnapped by Irish terrorists during a shootout, taken to a safe house in the Republic and badly beaten in an effort to break him down.

"The lads who played the IRA were all really good. They smacked me about a bit and I got one or two real bumps and bruises. It was graphic but there's no way round it. If you're going to do something about toture it has to look right".

Jamie was the first actor to be approached about starring in ULTIMATE FORCE and the role appealed immediately.

"Jamie arrives in Red Troop and Henno looks at him and thinks he is someone who can be the best so tries to guide him through. I was interested in how a young guy from a poor background comes into the S.A.S. He's trained for a long time and he wants to do his job. But once he gets there, he has to kill with no questions asked. It's interesting how he deals with it, especially as he's got no-one at home to speak to about it".

Jamie shot to fame in the smash-hit film Billy Elliot and he has also attracted considerable acclaim for his roles in Butterfly Collectors, with Pete Postlethwaite, and Messiah, with Ken Stott.

He says: "Ultimate Force is the first time I've played a soldier. Everything has to be contained and controlled. You have to hold in your emotions and keep a cool head because you've got a job to do".

Jamie put himself through a programme of fitness training and running to be in top condition for the five-month shoot. he also went on the training weekend, organised by ex-S.A.S soldier Chris Ryan.

"Chris was there with another mate from the S.A.S and it was good to spend time with them and listen to their stories. Chris is just a normal guy full of tales but you've got to think what he did - it's pretty amazing. He's an ordinary bloke, but he did an extraordinary job".

"When you speak to him about the S.A.S and what he experienced, I don't know if he blanks it out, but he talks about it like going to the shops and buying a pint of milk. It takes a very special person to be able to do that. But they are professional soldiers and the reason they're in the S.A.S is because they're the best of the best".

Insurance restriction meant Jamie was unable to do all his own stunts in ULTIMATE FORCE.

"When you read a script and you see what's in it, you want to do everything that's there, so I was a bit disappointed we didn't get to do more. I'd like to know more of what the guys do at the end of the day. Do they switch off or tell the wife and kids how their day's been. Hopefully more of that will come out in the future".