ROSS KEMP IN AFGHANISTAN
UPDATE: To watch a video clip from the first episode of this series, click here.
Candid and brutally honest, this landmark five part series is Ross Kemp’s very personal account of British soldiers at war. The series gives an unprecedented insight into the heat of a war zone. Filmed in stunning HD. A British TV first for a war zone.
Ross Kemp journeys to Britain’s front line in Afghanistan with his BAFTA winning documentary team to experience first hand the British Army’s attempts at bringing peace to one of the world’s most dangerous war zones and to witness the Army’s attempts at bringing about a sea change in this hugely volatile region.
A hard hitting and thought provoking documentary series for Sky One Ross Kemp in Afghanistan focuses on the British Army’s deployment in Helmand Province and features exclusive access to the Vikings – 1 Royal Anglian.
The series chronicles the experiences of British soldiers as they adapt to life in a hostile environment, battle against a fanatical enemy; the Taliban, and attempt to win the hearts and minds of the local population. Ross also meets soldier’s families in the UK to see how they cope when their loved ones are away as well as meeting the families of soldiers who didn’t make it home alive.
During three separate deployments, Ross lives through some of the most extreme and stressful conditions imaginable. On the front line there’s the constant threat of attack from the enemy, not to mention the intolerable desert environment with sand storms and temperatures well into the 50’s. Ross isn’t in a hermetically sealed bubble miles from the troops. He spends weeks with them; he eats when they eat, he sleeps when they sleep; he gets shot at when they get shot at. Ross experiences exactly what the soldier’s experience.
Ross comments; “Conditions in Afghanistan are intolerable. The heat is stifling and there’s the constant threat of snipers, RPG attacks and land mines. During one engagement between B Company and the Taliban we were pinned down by enemy fire in open ground; bullets fizzed by inches from our heads, hitting the ground on either side of us. It was the most frightening experience of my life. I’ve never hugged the ground as tightly as I did when that happened. It’s definitely the closest I have ever come to dying. I was so scared.”
Filmed in High Definition – a television first for a war zone – Ross Kemp in Afghanistan offers a unique perspective on the war and allows the audience to witness the conflict in HD and Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound. The broadcast will also include a red button commentary from director John Conroy.
Director John Conroy comments; “Filming under such pressures is immense. This is the first time a HD camera has been taken into a war zone and used in this way. It’s delivered some truly amazing pictures and audio. During the contact where Ross and I were pinned down by the Taliban you can hear the bullets fizzing past us, getting closer and closer. It was terrifying. It’s a big piece of kit, but was well worth it.”
Travelling through the war-torn Helmand Province with 1 Royal Anglian, Ross discovers first hand what it’s like to fight on Britain’s front line and participates in a range of the Battalion’s activities - from protecting convoys to major offences in the Sangin Valley; Guarding the hydroelectric dam in Kajaki to house to house clearances in Taliban held villages.
For most of his time with 1 Royal Anglian, Ross finds himself alongside ‘B’ Company, a group of roughly 130 soldiers. Men like Lance Corporal Pete Toynton from the Fire Support Group and Company Sergeant Major Tim Newton. These men are only too aware of how dangerous Afghanistan can be. During their time in Afghanistan The Royal Anglian Regiment have taken the brunt of the fighting and have lost 9 men since the conflict began.
Candid and brutally honest, this is Ross Kemp’s very personal account of British soldiers at war. How will he cope, faced with the harsh conditions experienced on a daily basis by the highly-trained soldiers of the British Army?
Ross Kemp in Afghanistan is exclusive to Sky One and Sky One HD. Mondays at 9pm from January 21st.
January 22nd, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Enjoyed this quite a bit, good non-patronising piece of journalism…
February 5th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
its ace lol
February 5th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
why isnt there any food??????
February 5th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
My fella is a soldier and spent his last tour in Afghanistan. Not in the Helmand but in the north instead. Apparently getting supplies dropped into the green zone is highly dangerous since they run they risk of being blown out of the sky. The army teach their soldiers how to survive on nothing. Its not good but they really do go without washing for weeks on end. My fella was meant to go back to Afghan in March, but to the Helmand. He is going to Iraq (again) now. I thought it was not as dangerous as Afghan but apparently it is. I dread him going but what can you do? He will push four months and then come home for two weeks R & R before returning for a final two months. And what do our brave soldiers get in return from our lousy government? A pittance of a salary and no respect. I feel ashamed of the UK. What did the soldiers fight for during World Wars I & II? You get more respect in the UK if you are a scrounger and a criminal. Oh, or a sleazy footballer/pop star or talentless wannabee. I hope that Ross Kemp being out in Afghanistan will show ignorant people what really goes on but I don’t hold my breath as I am sure not that many people are watching. Well, it’s not Big Brother or I’m A Celebrity, so why would they?
February 11th, 2008 at 11:06 pm
i think this is the best thing on tv its better than finding things out from the newspapers he is showing wot war is realy like well done
February 12th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
my cousin appeared in this series, as he is a member of B company. at first he was skeptical of this documentry and ross, but now thinks its the best thing ever as it shows what it was truly like over their……………. it was hell!!!!
February 13th, 2008 at 3:41 am
Massive respect for Ross Kemp! I’m sure he’s given eveyone who watched it a huge insight into the realities of what our troops are actually going through out there. We all know there’s a war going on -but up until now it’s generally been confined to the press and media. This programme has quite literally given a voice to those on operational duty. It’s an all too real dipiction of war and the soldiers envolved in it.
My husband’s served in both Afghan and Iraq, I know only too well the feelings of fear and dread that countless others go through when a loved one is on tour. My heart goes out to the families and friends of those brave men who were lost.
Being an army wife I know only too well the exact same fear and dread that countless others go through when a loved one is away on tour. And my heart goes out to all the families and friends of those brave men who were lost.
Unless it’s been experianced first hand I don’t believe anyone can really comment on what it must be like for the serving forces. Bu
February 18th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
As an ex sqaddie and my son now in the army, I must say Ross Kemp has brought the true harsh really of modern day conflict to the general public. Pity this wasnt shown on ITV or BBC. We need more out spoken people like Ross to fight for the soldiers (not forgetting the other services)pity it wasnt the PM or MPs who sit in their ivory towers in London wanting large pay rises out there on the front line…….well done Ross.
February 19th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
It was sad, about the blue on blue, but very honest and real of the guys to explain this is what happens in war, when you are fighting the enemy that close.
Ross filming the action of the fast air support shows just how close & effective it can be, those guys didnt whinge when their mates were hit, they got on with it they are true heroes, brought tears to my eyes as an ex squaddie I feel for them, and their families.
http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk
February 19th, 2008 at 11:19 pm
My husband is in The King Royal Hussars or KRH and has been for 13 years he has done 2 tours of Bosnia and 2 tours of Iraq.
Ross Kemp and his team as well as the soldiers in Afghanistan have done a amazing programme it was a very touching and moving . My heart goes to the families of the brave fallen men and that knock on the hopefully I’ll never receive.
Thank you for opening the publics eyes for what our brave men and women do for their country. I bet if the politians did what Ross Kemp did it would open their eyes and relise that our soldiers don’t get paid enough, nor do the families whos loved ones are killed.
February 28th, 2008 at 11:07 pm
To loobyloo. My husband served 25 years in the armed forces so I know where you are coming from but I think you can rest assured that a lot of people have watched this series and respect the brilliant job Ross Kemp has done with showing the actual role. His empathy for the situation was amazing. Good luck to your husband and all our men who are fighting in afghan, iraq, bosnia, kosovo to name a few.