BBC Factual and BBC England has commissioned a new series for BBC One based around the British Army’s Catterick Infantry Training Centre in North Yorkshire.
Soldier: Made in Yorkshire (working title) is a 6 x 60 minute series documenting the progress of new infantry recruits.
It’s being produced by Label1, the indie behind BBC’s Hospital, and they’ve secured exclusive access to the training centre.
Cameras will follow the recruits over 26 week as they’re tested to their limits.
“At Label1 we’re well-known for our popular award-winning documentaries about the NHS and the education system. Now, we are privileged to be working with the British Army on this series about one of the United Kingdom’s most historic and personally transformative military training courses,” said Label1 co-founder, Lorraine Charker-Phillips.
Jack Bootle, Head of Commissioning, Science & Natural History at BBC Television, added:
“This is no game show – infantry training at Catterick is the real thing. If these young recruits can survive the course, they don’t just win bragging rights – they win a whole new life.
“It’s real-world drama at its most thrilling and uplifting, and I’m delighted to be working with BBC England and the award-winning team at Label1 to bring it to the screen.”
The Series Producer is Kim Rossiter and the Series Director is Paul Wells.
“The British Army is greatly looking forward to collaborating with the BBC and Label1 on this new documentary on the Infantry Training Centre’s Combat Infantry Course, which provides the skills required for young men and women to become the next generation of infanteers in the Army of tomorrow,” said a British Army spokesperson.
“The training environment is a testing one which will present these young recruits with challenges they never thought achievable prior to enlistment. There will be many highs and lows, some will fail in their endeavours but all will leave Catterick having had the experiences of a lifetime and having formed lifelong friendships.”
A transmission date has yet to be confirmed.
