Episode 2 Special Forces - Ultimate Hell Week

Some of you may think you know what hell looks like.

Get up!

GUNFIRE

You have no idea.

With former soldiers of six of the world's toughest special forces,

we've created the ultimate military boot camp

to help shed light on the unique selection methods of these units.

For 12 days, 29 of Britain's fittest civilians will take this on.

Are you slow-witted!

There's something about competition.

I know that women aren't allowed in the special forces,

so I would like to think we could cut it.

Special forces is the biggest and most extreme challenge,

I think, that is out there.

You know, when you think special forces,

you think superheroes, really.

Go! Go!

'I'm Freddie Flintoff. As an elite sportsmen,

'I know that it takes grit and determination to be the best.'

-That's it!

-'I'll help understand their battle...'

Keep going, then use it.

'..and cheer them on every punishing step...' Go on!

..as our raw recruits attempt to push themselves

beyond their physical and psychological limits.

Only the very best will survive.

Go home now.

Taking them through hell are former officers from the US Navy Seals...

We were brought up to weed out the weak.

Up! Down!

..the Australian SAS...

-You've got the determination, the will to want to continue?

-Yes, sir.

Are you sure?

-..Russia's Spetsnaz...

-You are bleeding!

You are tired. Put your hands down.

..Israel's Yamam...

-Are you quitting?

-No.

-Can you survive it?

-Yes, sir.

-..NAVSOG from the Philippines...

-Back to zero!

..and, of course, Britain's SAS.

We're going to be bezzies.

Only then will the final winner emerge...

on Special Forces: Ultimate Hell Week.

This is where the fun begins.

This programme contains strong language.

Previously...

Get that face in the water.

..29 recruits were fully immersed in elite military training...

We're getting beastly.

-..led by our Navy Seals veterans.

-Do this until somebody quits.

Brooks quit before they even got started.

If that's what you want to do, ring the bell.

Bevan was beaten by the cold during break-out.

The beach made casualties of four more recruits,

Cobb, Owen, Simpson...

-Wipe that tear away.

-..and frontrunner Cherry.

At the final parade, Pounder and Lacey were under scrutiny.

-But it was Pounder who was sent packing.

-Pounder, you are dismissed.

Leave camp.

Now 22 remain.

ALL: Hooyah!

But who will make it through...

the next 48 hours?

It is 5:45 now, I'm just going to go give the Princess a shake.

Princess.

-Morning.

-Hello, sir.

It is day three for our civilian recruits.

Get everyone out.

METALLIC BANGING

Not only will their bodies be tested by punishing drills,

they will be living under a strict military regime,

in a specially-made base camp

run by our military-trained directing staff.

Day three in all special forces selection is psychologically

the longest day.

Everything, we're going to test everything.

You have to be quick, strong, mentally tough.

Mind-blowing. Absolutely mind-blowing.

Sleep-deprived, sore and battle-worn,

day three is when recruits start to question

their ability and motivation.

-Woke up soaking wet. Dripping wet from sweat.

-Really?

-Yeah.

-Fear.

-Yes.

Dropping out without reason is commonplace.

Our recruits are behind, I think they've had a good night's sleep,

and they're just getting warmed up.

If they thought they were put through the mill yesterday,

today is going to get a lot tougher and a lot more surreal.

Our new instructor's going to get up front, he's going

to get personal and he's going to try and mess with their minds.

For the next 48 hours,

our recruits will be under intense scrutiny and examination.

If they fail to impress the new instructor, they will be dismissed.

My name is Itay Gil. I'm from Israel,

and I'm going to be training you for the next 48 hours.

What I'm going to do to you is going to be real tough, hard-core action.

My name is Itay Gil, I served in the elite special forces

counter terror team called the Yamam, total 14 years.

Went into conflicts.

Top hand-to-hand combat, a weapons instructor.

Yamam is Israel's elite counter terror unit.

Founded in 1974...

..the unit's main functions include hostage recovery,

direct assaults and close-quarter protection.

The Yamam motto is "pre-emptive strike". We go to the enemy first.

As a covert unit, 99% of their operations remain classified.

And only 1% of applicants secure a place in the force.

I'm going to make them suffer so badly, they're going to cry,

their going to bitch and complain, but I don't give a shit.

I'm going to get the job done.

If you want to be a real recruit in the anti-terror unit,

first of all you have to have a weapon.

And you're going to have to carry it at all times.

You can never put it down on the floor...without my permission.

-Am I clear? ALL:

-Yes, sir.

Come straight out. Straight out.

Hold it like that.

OK, listen to me carefully.

Everyone take the rifle in your hands and put it above your head

and hold it.

The overhead hold is a punishing isometric drill, designed to improve

strength and make the weapon feel lighter during sustained use.

With the rifle weighing 4.6 kilos, even after just a few minutes,

recruits' muscles start to fatigue,

which is when strength of mind plays a vital role.

Oh, my, oh, my, Itay. This is going to be such a tough day.

Look at them, the mood has completely changed.

I would not want to swap with anybody right now.

Now, listen carefully.

In the Yamam selection, you're not a name, you are a number.

Lacey. Maguire. Spicer.

My biggest achievements would include winning ultra-marathons,

in terms of 100K.

It has always been a dream of mine to join the military,

since my father was a commander in the Navy.

Procter. Francis.

Didn't even start training, you're already bitching.

My partner sort of questions my ability,

so for me,

that's given me drive to make sure that I complete the task.

-Parker.

-Don't hit me on the head with that, right?

I'm 55. The age is good, the age is good. It mellows you out.

If you've got a wife and daughter

and they're coming at you from both angles, you just let it go.

Put your hands up. If anyone wants to quit right now,

this is the moment.

Everybody take your hands forward 90 degrees.

90 degrees, straighten them out. Straighten them out.

Do not move.

My training is real hard-core, no Vaseline.

You're going to be bitching and whining.

Straighten your hands, I said.

Drawing on his 14 years' combat experience,

Itay's devised his own challenges to push the recruits to the edge.

At the start of our selection,

each one of you is going to have an interview with me inside the tent.

I need to know who you are.

I need to know if you've got the balls, if you've got the spirits,

if you're tough enough to endure the pain.

If you're strong enough, if you have the will.

-Are you ready for that? ALL:

-Yes, sir.

So let's get rolling.

The interview is very important for the beginning of the selection

because we're looking for winners in the team.

Who is a natural born leader, people that will follow and listen to him,

although he doesn't have to raise his voice in commanding.

People that don't have big egos, but they are very capable.

1,000, sit down, please. What do you do for a living, if I may ask?

I'm a general manager of a restaurant.

How do you consider yourself in a team?

I believe I'm a great team leader, but I believe what also makes

a great team leader is someone who is willing to follow as well.

What does your family think of you being here?

-They think that it suits my character.

-I see.

-When was the last time you cried?

-My mum is currently

going through brain cancer, and that was the last time that...

-Sorry to hear.

-It is not a problem, I'm happy to talk about it.

As Itay interviews everyone individually,

there's no rest for the other recruits.

Instead, they must complete a fitness circuit...

..with a dual purpose.

It's not just about coming in with the fastest time.

What they don't know is it's more about their integrity, not fitness.

He wants to know whether they'll do it

when they think no-one is watching.

But, of course, somebody is watching.

The circuit includes push-ups, leopard crawls...

..tyre flips...

..burpees...

..and a 750m sprint.

All in the fastest possible time.

Itay has placed directing staff at the push-up and burpees station,

monitoring the rep count of each recruit,

to see if given the opportunity,

anyone will take the short cut and cheat.

I'm heading in to take a look.

-Take a seat, please.

-Meanwhile, the interviews continue.

During the Navy Seals phase,

52-year-old grandma Lycett showed resilience despite her exhaustion.

-I feel a bit sick.

-You're all right.

But she battled through...

CHEERING

..and was commended in the final parade.

Lycett, you sucked it up. That's a "hooyah" from me to you.

But how will she perform under Itay's instruction?

What brings an old lady to want to do special forces stuff?

I need to see how tough it actually is.

What's the most important thing in your life?

-Family.

-So if family is the most important thing for you,

-why are you here?

-I want to make them proud of me.

-Proud?

-My grand children.

-What have you done to prove you are strong?

Do you have anything you've done?

To prove you're strong? In your record?

No, sir.

As the recruits work through their integrity test, I'm heading near

the burpee station with directing staff, verifying the rep count.

He's a strong lad. He's just got his head down.

-He's just smashing it.

-He has done 50.

'Procter's done his full 50

'but Parker could find himself in trouble.'

-Has he done 50?

-No, he's well short.

'With only 44 out of 50.'

No, don't go.

Tell me what's the hardest thing you've ever done in your life?

Erm...

Three years of training.

-In what?

-In performing arts, sir.

And that you call is difficult? That's bullshit.

-Have you tried it?

-That's Hollywood. I don't need to try it.

What do you do for a living?

I'm a student and a stripper, sir.

What do you mean "stripper"?

Literally as it sounds, sir.

-Stand on a stage and...take your clothes off?

-Correct, yeah.

You only depend on your body and not on your brain.

Doing fancy stuff.

He's starting to fight.

'Falling well short on his burpees,

'Francis is clueless to the fact that he's been caught cheating.'

He's done, that's not 50.

That is nowhere near 50.

987, sit down.

Last in the chair is Lacey...

I don't really want a career.

..who marked his card with the Navy Seals veterans.

I said I didn't want to go to a medic,

I didn't want to sit in a tent

-because I don't want to leave my team.

-Shut up, Lacey.

An emotional outburst almost led to him being sent home.

You're a man who wears your heart on his sleeve.

You've got a lot going on internally, brother.

What will Itay make of him?

What's with the tattoos?

Childhood problems or something? What's this?

It's just the way that I express myself, sir.

Why? You can't talk?

I can, sir.

-How was your training with the Seals?

-Being totally honest, sir, it was...

Raise your voice, I can't hear you. I'm deaf, I've been shot.

Being totally honest with you, sir, it was difficult for me.

When was the last time you ever cried?

After the Seals training.

I don't see it as a sign of weakness.

It's just the way that I express myself.

What's the toughest thing you've ever done in your life?

The toughest thing I ever did in my life

was watch my dad pass away from cancer.

Sorry to hear.

So, we're going to go into the battlefield.

How do I know I can trust a guy like you?

I totally understand your concerns, sir,

-but I can get on with the task in hand.

-You can block it?

-I can block it out.

-We'll have to see that, won't we?

987, you are dismissed.

The integrity test is coming to an end.

And while it may have been physically gruelling,...

Heart's going, breathing's going. Yeah.

..the real test is to see if anyone cheated.

Most of them have done the 50

so I think Itay will be pleased with that.

However, there's a few that haven't

and he's not the type of bloke I'd want to cross.

Come on, quickly, fall in.

Recruits, how was your physical fitness test, everybody?

ALL: Good, sir.

Everybody completed everything? ALL: Yes, sir.

You know the drill. Rifles up.

993, stand over here.

995, 986, 983, on the line.

I'm going to ask all of you...

if you all...completed... all the drills.

Yes, sir.

995, do you know how many burpees you did?

51.

51? We counted 44.

983, how many burpees, did you do?

50, sir.

50? Well, we have a different result, and that's 34.

-No way, sir.

-No way?

You guys with the rifles, 90 degrees forward.

It doesn't matter what you tell me,

the video says you did not count right.

Or you decided to lie, you decided to bluff, not just to me,

you lied to your team-mates.

So, when we go to the battlefield,

we want people that I know I can trust.

-Am I clear? ALL:

-Yes, sir.

I am very disappointed. Straighten your hands.

And you don't bitch, you hear me?

You suffer the pain now and shut up.

This team now is going to be all punished just because of you.

-Are we clear? ALL:

-Yes, sir.

Go back into your positions.

I am going to be heading to the next drill.

You will all be joining me later on.

For now, you're all going to be taking some punishment.

You screw around with me, you're out.

Everyone, give me 50 push-ups right now.

'Listen, if this was real selection in Counter Terror Unit in Yamam,

they would have been burned out, expelled immediately.

There are no ifs or buts.

I can train a person to be strong but I can't train a person to be loyal...

and trustworthy.

Itay leaves the DS in charge to run a punishing, beasting session.

You can see where he's coming from.

If you miss one or two, you can maybe say you've miscounted.

But to be 16 shy is a big gap, isn't it? What would you put it down to?

I'm not going to justify it,

if the camera is saying it is that amount, then obviously it is.

I was tired, but...

Get back in, you're missing out here, pal.

-Get your feet up.

-Six inches.

Get your feet up.

One of the things that is starting to become evident now is,

you know, from being a real tight unit,

everyone working together, it's very individual now.

You see some of them, they're just single-minded.

I'm going to do my job, I'm going to do what I need to do

and make sure that I'm here at the end of every day.

So, it might cause a few problems.

OK, we are going to do press-ups.

When I say one, you go down. Push.

All the recruits are suffering.

But for Lycett,

the physical demands seem to be taking their toll...

..and she drops back from the rest of the recruits

to check in with the medics.

I just don't feel I can carry on, my running's not good.

Much as I'd like to... I've just not got the oomph.

Rather than seeing it as a long way off target,

go to the top of the hill and take it in small steps.

-And see how it goes?

-See how it goes.

I don't want to hold the group back.

Erm, I can take the knocks, being shouted at,

but maybe it is the age.

Erm...

It's just... Just not happening.

It's the hardest thing I've ever done. Give me childbirth any day.

What are we doing back here, Lycett? With me, let's go. Come on.

But as Lycett contemplates the decision...

Join your team-mates, get in there. Come on.

..she finds herself back in the action...

Get down, get your arses down, heads up!

..and back doing push-ups.

Women aren't allowed in Yamam as they are considered too weak.

You need to stay up with this, all right?

Because your name is getting flagged up. Make sure you stay up.

Age is significant, too,

as applicants need to be between 22 and 30.

At 52, with her age and gender against her,

can Lycett prove to Itay she's got what it takes?

Itay, what on earth is going on here?

Well, my friend, this is one of the most toughest challenges that we have.

There's two Land Rovers. They're in deep mud.

They actually have to get these Land Rovers and push them up,

all the way up over there, around 100 metres.

Keep in line.

Two teams of recruits will need to extract a Land Rover

out of a deep mud pit that is four metres wide.

The vehicle will need to be pushed 100 metres up an incline,

not forgetting it's a race to the finish.

-Is it actually possible to do?

-It is possible, I've done it before.

When I was in the service, we'd do this with an American Hummer

that weighs two and a half tons, and we push it 200 metres up a hill.

The exercise is not just a trial of strength,

Itay is using it to see which recruits, if any, will demonstrate

leadership and test strategic problem-solving within the unit.

Move all the way to me. All the way to me.

Keep it in. March all on the spot.

Everybody, turn to your right and face me.

OK, everybody, stand still.

Itay picks a red team,...

..and a blue team.

With Itay keen to identify individuals

and more importantly leaders, he has deliberately not picked

team captains to see who will naturally emerge in the role.

On the red team, Spicer is quick to appoint himself leader.

While on the blues, Martlew has been elected.

She showed her strength during the Navy Seals phase.

EXPLOSIONS

I know that women aren't really allowed in the Special Forces

so I like to think that we could cut it. We'll see.

I think emotionally it is going to be tough but we'll hack it.

But it looks like her leadership is off to a shaky start.

You've got to move the mud. Guys, listening! Guys!

You two take that left, then.

Lacey, do you want to take over?

Be confident because it is all about working as a team.

And what you say goes.

Go and get them.

Guys, listen up...

Spicer immediately launches into his leadership role...

Listen to me, number one, start from the right.

Four, come round to the left.

..while Martlew fails to give clear direction.

Right, guys, keep the front...

We definitely need that stone there because once you get a little bit

and it gets onto the stones, we can keep it going.

I want to see who is moving the car first. Come on!

Meanwhile, with one rather loud voice...

-SPICER:

-Listen to me at the front!

The reds are already starting to push.

One, two, three, push!

We're trying to put everyone together.

SHOUTS OF EXERTION

It's just keeping that energy and morale.

Three, two, one, push!

I've nominated myself to step up

so we're absolutely going to get the task done.

-MARTLEW:

-That bit is not moving.

You have a plan or you're playing with your balls.

What's going on?

Stripper McGuire flew under the radar with the Navy Seals veterans.

One,...

But the physical demands of the process are teaching him

a new appreciation of just how tough selection is.

When I was younger, I wanted to join the army and my mum always said,

"No, I don't want you doing it." Then other things came into play.

But, yeah, it has always been in the back of my mind.

-SPICER:

-Three, two, one, push!

THEY SHOUT OVER EACH OTHER

Three, two, one, push!

The red team, they're putting some proper elbow grease into this.

The Land Rover has started moving.

They are trying to pick it up at the back. It's a massive effort.

Under Spicer's authoritarian leadership,

the reds seem to be making headway.

But in the blue team, Martlew's not punching through as a leader.

OK, are we ready? Guys, stop talking! Are we ready?

You need to push the vehicle.

And everyone has got their own ideas.

We're going to use this like a carpet underneath the wheels.

-We've bricks as well, guys. We've got bricks.

-What are you up to?

Collecting firewood. I'm going to make a fire

and make a cup of tea for everyone cos everyone's working really hard.

It's never really been clear who is leading.

Everyone is kind of shoving in. Erm... But, yeah, it's...

It's carnage.

Blue team, you have not moved one millimetre. Come on, let's go.

The reds under Spicer have worked out the most efficient method

is to clear two tyre channels

and level the gradient from the bottom of the pit to ground level.

Come on. One, two, one. Push.

The strategy is starting to pay off.

Yes!

Spicer is powering the reds out of the pit.

Come on, you're nearly out.

-Again!

-Come on!

-Again! Push it.

Push. Come on.

Suck it up. Keep pushing. Work hard as a team. Suck it up.

Dig in.

GROANING

-MARTLEW:

-No, no, don't stop doing that. That is not helping.

-What's working best?

-Nothing at the moment.

-That's why it's still in.

-McGuire, how are you feeling?

Looking at the other team. Is it really morale?

No, I just want to get the car out now.

I ain't worried about them, I'm worried about this lot.

THEY GROAN

And with a glorious win for the red team...

..Spicer calls together a victory huddle.

Suck up the energy.

Just think to yourselves what we have achieved as a team.

Absolutely remarkable.

Five seconds. Five seconds. On my call, on three,

-we go and help the blue team.

-Yeah.

-OK, are you ready?

-Yeah.

Three, two, one, let's jump over.

One, two, three, push.

Wait, just two seconds. We've come to help.

There's a red and a blue team and a complete team.

We're going to get this fucking Land Rover out. OK?

Push, push, push!

Red team, blue team,

-stop, come outside of the mud.

-Guys, well done.

-Great effort, guys.

-Formation, please.

Red team won, red team came back and offered their help to the blue team.

And that's what brotherhood is all about in special forces.

You're not fighting alone, you're fighting with someone next to you.

When you go back to base, the team that lost

will wash and clean all the boots of both teams.

That is the penalty. Are we clear on that?

-ALL:

-Yes, sir.

-Dismissed.

Left, right, left, right, left, right.

You can only be a great leader

if you are willing to follow your team as well.

And, you know, those guys who backed my decisions came up with

some great ideas.

He was pretty good.

You know, you look at some of the decisions, you go, whoo,

he's the leader, let me get on with it.

How do you think the two teams went there?

The biggest struggle was using their brain.

They decided to use a lot of muscle.

There was probably one alpha male

-and he was leading most of the guys what to do.

-Spicer.

He turned out to be pretty good.

Is there anybody's performance you were disappointed with?

-Well, 990.

-McGuire?

-Yeah.

I don't think he gave us 100%. He is not excelling.

Not at this moment.

So, after 13 gruelling hours with Itay, McGuire's lacklustre

performance and Martlew's poor leadership are under scrutiny.

But at least someone has caught Itay's eye for the right reasons.

Spicer is the standout. In my experience of teams,

it's not always the loudest who make the best leaders.

The recruits return to camp but their day is far from over.

After a massive physical effort...

Pain is temporary, pride is for ever, and all that.

..a daily calorie burn of around 4,500,

and just a protein bar since 7am, the recruits are running on empty.

But Itay has instructed the DS to show no mercy.

This is a military training camp.

On a military training camp, we march.

Dismissed!

-March, March.

-50 burpees, away we go.

One person is not marching.

Off you go.

If it looks tough, it is only going to get worse.

As the losing blue team still have 22 mud-caked boots

to clean before dawn.

And they've got to be spotless.

Luxury. Shoe shining everyone's boots.

Cos when you suck and you come second, this is what you have to do,

you have to clean the winners' boots while they sit and watch.

I thought cleaning the boots would take about five minutes a pair

but they're taking ages.

They're turning the floodlights off in half an hour

and then we've got to carry on in the tents

with our head torches on.

I can't see me getting any sleep tonight. A dirty job.

A dirty end to a dirty day.

At midnight, it's lights out, and for some, a bit of well-earned kip.

While for others, there's still some dirty boots to be cleaned.

It's day four and a turning point in special forces selection.

Half four in the morning. Minimal sleep again.

We're living on about two or three hours a night.

I was so asleep.

A long way from home, short on sleep and food,

and with the merciless training regime, those who are still here...

I'm having a shower anyway.

..have psychologically adapted to the new environment...

Three minutes, guys.

..and stand more of a chance of mentally surviving the process.

Guys, there needs to be pillows fluffed up,

sleeping bag with the cords halfway down.

Spicer has taken yesterday's successful leadership

to another level.

I've literally put everything in order

-and it's all been moved around. Leave it.

-The towel is different.

The towel is different. It's not folded the same, is it?

That's like a rectangle, that's like a square.

I'm feeling better today.

They can't kill us, they can't get us pregnant.

So, you know, we'll handle it.

Left, right, left, right, left, right, left.

One, two, three, four.

But not long into the first march...

..Lycett falls behind again.

I'm going to have to pull out. I'm not keeping up.

Yeah, I'm upset I'm going. But, physically, erm...

it's just not happening.

With Lycett out,

that leaves just three females in the competition.

It's 26 hours into Itay's training

and the recruits are on their way to the next phase.

He's instructed they must travel

maintaining his punishing isometric weapon hold.

What we did yesterday was a warm-up. That was nothing.

Pushing the Land Rover out of the mud was nothing.

What you're going to go through today is much worse.

-Am I clear? ALL:

-Yes, sir.

I am going to give you slings because in this drill,

you will have rifles on you at all times, just like in the battlefield.

Itay's next challenge is the wounded soldier.

They'll have to carry one of their team-mates weighing

up to 90 kg up and down the hill three times.

When the soldier is wounded in the battlefield, no-one is left behind.

-Am I clear? ALL:

-Yes, sir.

I'll carry him even if I have to die when I do it.

But of course that is not the only reason it's been designed.

Take a partner, hoist them on your shoulder.

As well Itay grading the troops,

it's also a chance for them to see

how they stack up against each other.

Go!

Come on, go, go, go. Action! Move!

This will kind of shed the weak from the strong.

This drill simulates an emergency evacuation

all soldiers must be prepared for.

He's fucking dying! He needs the medic now!

Evacuate him! Come on, let's go!

The technique is important to limit further injury to the wounded,

while keeping one hand free to carry and fire a weapon.

Come on!

Are you finding this easy?

No!

How are you finding it?

Shit!

Go! Come on.

On your shoulders! Do not sit him down!

I did not say to let him go.

-Agh!

-Come on, nearly there. Nearly there.

HE GASPS

This your second or third?

How many? How many?!

HE GASPS

Don't put him on the floor.

I said, do not put him on the floor.

-Lift him up. Lift him up. Are you quitting on me?

-Hell, no.

Are you quitting on me? Get him on your head.

HE GASPS

You quitting on me?

You want to go to that ballroom dance?! Come on, let's go.

HE GASPS

HE GROANS

Let's go. Come on.

Last down the hill are Miller and Martlew.

-This your third one?

-Yes, sir.

Martlew, already on watch

after her failed leadership yesterday,

is still on Itay's radar.

THEY GASP

INDISTINCT

Do we have a problem?

-No, sir.

-Are we quitting?

-No!

-Definitely not.

-Are you sure?

-Yes, 100%.

-Are you made out of steel or are you a pussy?

-Made of steel.

-Sure?

-Yes, sir.

-You have an injury?

No, sir. It's the uniform has been aggravating my ribs.

-I see. That's life, isn't it?

-Yes, sir.

That was real, real tough.

That's probably the toughest I've done.

-I didn't think that guy was so heavy.

-Cheer up.

SHE MUMBLES TEARFULLY

Directing staff help Martlew with her uniform.

If you want to stay, you've got to get real about this.

You could wear your belt with that anywhere, and you can do that.

If you want to quit, that's fine.

-I don't want to quit.

-You're strong but don't use it as an excuse.

The recruits have only minutes to regroup before the next phase.

It's a team-based drill,

where Itay will only be picking the leaders.

Who have you chosen as the team captains?

Hellard and Dr Spicer.

The team captains...

-Team sergeants. They're not captains.

-Sergeants?

I apologise. You're getting tough, aren't you? Onto me now!

Save it, Itay! Save it for the troops!

It's an interesting choice with Hellard,

because yesterday, I don't think he did 'owt.

Hellard made friends

and proved his singing voice

during the Seals phase...

THEY SING

..but that's not a pre-requisite for leadership.

The ability to command is what Itay's looking for.

I'm not a tough guy.

I'd lose an arm wrestle to most grannies,

but I do think I'm tough enough to be in the special forces.

Hellard's lack of presence so far

is exactly the reason Itay has chosen him.

We always create these challenges.

We take someone that we think, he's not the best,

then you take someone, he's the best, or he thinks he's the best,

but then we challenge his authority.

Both of you are being appointed for this drill as sergeant.

Each of one you will pick out from the strongest

to the weakest. So you can choose whoever you want.

We'll see what is called natural selection.

With Itay wanting them to pick teams themselves,

this is the first time that they're judging each other.

They're picking the strongest down to the weakest.

Now, even as kids, this used to cause friction.

You always had your nose put out of joint

when you weren't one of the first picks,

and it's all about individuals today.

-Steggles.

-Karin.

-Procter.

-Brassington.

-Burns.

Miller male.

Lacey!

Miller female.

Fuller.

-Garren.

-McGuire.

Hunter!

-Anderson!

-Doran!

Murphy!

-So, all these four are the weakest?

-Sir.

Francis, Parker, Parrish and Martlew are the last men standing.

Francis.

Parrish.

Parker.

Martlew.

So Martlew comes in last, and Parker the final male...

This is natural selection.

I did not force anyone to choose anyone.

..both now under closer scrutiny from Itay.

They know I'm hanging.

I put everything into yesterday,

trying to redeem myself.

I had a job to even make it out this morning.

How has it been, being picked last by Hellard?

I don't understand why he picked me last.

-Are you going to push through?

-Yeah.

-Yeah?

Lucy's a very good friend of mine,

and she's the weakest at the moment.

You've got to put friendships to one side now. You're a leader,

-you're not here to make friends.

-No.

My friend is hurt and she needed someone to pick her up a bit.

I didn't pick her. I should have done.

Lead well. Cheers, pal.

He's upset, isn't he?

But he's got a position of responsibility.

He's got tears in his eyes, he's crying.

You cannot lead a troop in that position.

The teams are set,

and it's time for the next challenge,

King of the Hill.

See this sand pile?

See these sandbags?

We're going to be doing a real hardcore drill.

Sand at the base must be delivered

to the summit in individual sandbags.

The purpose - to build a protective fort

in as quick a time as possible.

Hellard heads up the blue team,

and Spicer is back as leader of the reds.

Let's go! Move it!

Sandbag carries are a well-practised military drill...

Let's go, Red team!

..as combat-ready forces...

Come on!

..recognise superior strength and conditioning...

Are we hungry for this, guys? Red team, we're hungry for this.

..can be the difference between life and death in the battlefield.

-We're building a fort?

-On top! Make a fort.

Make sure it doesn't fall down.

The scenario simulates what units would need to construct

when under fire in hostile territory.

Keep on going.

Go, go, go, go!

The two sergeants show very different management styles.

Oh, come on. Agh!

Hellard's softly-softly approach

means he barely registers as a leader.

People thank us individually.

Doesn't need much motivation.

I don't want shouting for the sake of it.

I'm digging deep for you guys!

Spicer, on the other hand,

likes to make sure he's heard at all times.

Guys, this is not full!

He also believes a good fort

is made with full bags.

We do not fill half-filled bags.

Guys, we do not fill half-filled bags.

But bringing bags down which are only slightly underfilled...

No more half-bags, guys.

..could cost the team time and the win.

Excuse me.

That's it. Go on!

The blues, meanwhile,

are moving fast,

and they have a secret weapon.

HE PANTS

For Hunter, an injury at the beach

nearly cost him his place.

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, so...we shall carry on.

But this task plays right into his skill set.

I won the coal-carrying title ten times,

world record holder for speed-marching with weights.

The hills are my domain, and I'm going to do well.

I don't want to be beaten by

somebody from the flat areas or down south.

Here he is, here he is.

It's a day out for you, this.

-Pleasure, Freddie.

-You're loving this. It's a day out.

While Hunter has a distinct advantage,

Parker is justifying his last-place pick.

Parker, you're slow as a turtle, man.

What's wrong?

Run, run!

I'm going...

They're bringing them all up here to build a fort,

however, they need a bit of architectural advice.

They're just building it up from the side. They've not build a doorway.

Will you just keep it strong, guys? Come on!

I'm digging hard for you.

We want this more than the blues.

I've got now a count of 52 for the blue

and 47 for the red.

I think someone's going to get their ass kicked.

I want some action!

We are losing at the minute.

But that is the key at the minute. It's not finished.

Keep digging, keep focused!

Keep working!

With still no improvements to the fort designs,

Itay calls a halt.

HE WHISTLES Everybody stop!

-Sandbags down.

-Rest there, rest there.

Everybody run right now over here. Right now!

49, 50, 51...

The bags are counted...

-Red team, what was your count?

-97, sir.

Blue team, what was your count?

102, sir.

So red team loses.

But the sandbag count is only half the story.

The brief to build a protective fort

has been disregarded by both teams.

Does this look like a fort?

Does this look like shelter?

Would this protect you in war?

Not currently, sir.

-What do you think?

-No...

This is a piece of shit.

I don't even see an entry.

Everybody, rifles up.

You guys have failed, the shelter is crap,

you guys worked slow,

you better do better on the next drill.

So, after that, Spicer, yesterday's hero,

has been knocked off his perch.

But everyone has failed

and the recruits will need to up their game

if they want to stay in the competition.

Move it. Get out of my sight. Move it.

Go...

It's starting to piss me off, the fact that I'm losing tasks.

Things are starting to rub people up the wrong way.

But losing's not the only thing

that's starting to change the dynamic among the recruits.

I think people are changing.

I can see the cracks in people.

There's a handful of alpha males creeping through,

appointing themselves as leaders and bossing everyone around.

It's almost projection, or reflection,

on how they're panicking within themselves.

After two hours of punishing hill sprints,

the recruits are rewarded with just a protein bar,

well short on the standard daily calorie intake.

Hunger is just another test for our recruits.

30 hours in,

what little energy they have will surely be needed

for Itay's most physical drill - krav maga.

Krav maga, literally translated from Hebrew

as "close combat",

deals with threat neutralisation

and simultaneous defensive and attacking manoeuvres.

Go!

Itay puts the recruits through a series of weapon drills

with knives...

Fight him! Stab him! Stab him!

..batons...and firearms.

Fight him off. Don't let him keep the gun.

But he's most interested in seeing them unarmed,

because Itay places a huge importance

on pure fighting ability.

You're only allowed to strike body.

Do not hit the mask, in the head.

Go, full force. Come on!

Come on, go!

Come on, kids!

What are you? A pussy? Get out of it!

The aim of any special force is to engage then defeat the enemy.

That's it! Yeah!

It's not about team spirit now.

It's every man for himself.

They're fighting each other, they're going at it.

It's survival of the fittest.

Krav maga is one of our most important parts

in the selection.

We need to know if our guys are hardcore,

if they can fight.

This is the number one skill I'm looking for.

And for Procter, with his tunnel vision,

it looks like nothing can throw him off his game.

Spending ten years working in social services,

and obviously having four sisters,

I don't think I actually have many buttons that can be pushed.

Procter is a machine.

This guy's a caveman.

He can wipe out anybody with his hands.

Parker is a disaster.

So soft. Should be pushing pencils behind a desk.

He doesn't have it.

And Steggles, who boxed competitively for ten years,

and can dead-lift 200kg,

has also made an impression on Itay.

Now training six days a week, sometimes twice a day,

so I think, in terms of the capacity of fitness,

I think mine's way up there.

We've also got Steggles. You can see he was a boxer, weightlifter.

He's got enormous power. He's way up there.

He's very good.

That's it. Use your hip and throw him round.

Come on! Don't let him get you.

Spicer hits the deck,

courtesy of anthropologist student Miller.

HE GASPS

It's OK. I'll get up.

-I'll get up. No, I want to go.

-Hang on.

I'm OK.

Just a bit winded.

-It's bad.

-You're staying with me, Popeye.

-No, come on, please.

Let me continue.

-Calm down, let him do his job.

-Take your time.

-Oh, fuck.

OK.

Deep breaths.

-That hurt?

-Yeah.

-How much pain are you in?

-Three.

That's a big wince for a three.

Despite being in significant pain,

Spicer is adamant he will not quit.

Seriously, I want to continue.

I know you want to continue,

but I want you to get out of here in one piece.

But because the blow landed close to the liver,

medics insist he needs to head to A & E.

And Spicer's not the only one needing attention.

The next patient is theatre performer Folarin.

During the fight, I got a sharp pain through my hand.

I kind of ignored it, carried on fighting

then my hand started shaking.

-Pain up here?

-Mm-hm.

If you get a pain there, it can be indicative

of a fracture of a little bone called a scaphoid.

-So we'll take you to A & E and get you checked out.

-Right.

-I can't do it one-handed?

-I'm not sending you back in there.

So Folarin must go to hospital, his future uncertain.

We had a couple of small injuries, in my opinion.

We go through this process every time when we're in training.

It's part of the deal until you get rough and tough.

There's less injuries to those who have more practice.

So worst-case scenario, if you do get pulled out?

-I'd be gutted.

-Would you?

Yes. I don't want to give up. Just keep pushing through,

making sure the team knows that if you're hurt,

you suck it up and fight again. Proving to Itay I will not quit.

-Good luck at hospital.

-Thank you.

Spicer did prove to have leadership skills,

he runs good, he's fit,

but when he comes to the hand-to-hand combat, krav maga,

he's a little bit soft, in my opinion.

Right. In double time. Double!

Come on.

Spicer and Folarin are potentially out of the competition

and if they do return, it'd be down to Itay to decide

if they can stay.

Either way, they'll miss out on his final drill.

What we are going to do now is a stretcher race.

This is your last chance to improve the way I look at you.

It's a race. Don't misunderstand.

This is a race.

Itay selects a red and a blue team.

The recruits must carry a stretcher with a 75kg casualty...

Slow it down! We're going to drop it!

..across a brutal 3.8km track.

Uneven ground on the left!

The route will take them across three bridges...

Move!

..two checkpoints and five stiles.

Itay's picked teams, but this time not a sergeant.

It's a classic tactic instructors use to see

if a leader will emerge, and how they'll work together as a team.

This is your last challenge

and your last chance to prove yourselves.

I will be waiting for all of you at the end.

For Parker, McGuire and Martlew,

the pressure is really on.

Lift the stretchers up right now.

On your shoulder.

Let's go!

It is one of the most demanding tests.

There's cardio, there's stamina, there's strength.

As special forces, they will have to maybe evacuate

their team-mates if they're injured,

the extraction point may be in the mountains, very hard terrain.

Go on!

Uphill! Uphill! Uphill! Uphill!

The blues approach the bridge first,

but the reds are hot on their heels

and with the stakes high, no-one wants to lose this race.

Wait, wait, wait, wait!

THEY ALL SHOUT AT ONCE

Go through, come on!

Shift!

Wait, you're fucking pulling me...

Wait!

Wait...

Go!

Come on!

-Fucking move!

-Come on, boys.

Oh, my! That was intense!

People are starting to argue with each other.

Quite a little bit of friction.

One thing we've not seen so far.

As they get tireder and tireder, I think it'll happen more often.

We need another one over.

One this side!

One this side. Right, listen, listen.

Listen!

Firefighter Murphy

has kept her head down in training

so far. This is an athlete who knows more than anyone

how important teamwork is to getting good results.

I played football from a really early age.

I played for England. That was one of my proudest moments.

They wanted to push you until someone quit,

and that is the mentality that I've been brought up with.

Whoever's not on this, get over the stile and get over that one!

-We can't wait...

-We've got to get people over there.

Neither team had chosen to select a leader. On the reds...

Lift it up! You've got to lift it up!

..everyone wanting to voice their opinion

has meant decision-making has suffered.

-Do you want to take over with the shouts?

-Let's drive it up the hill.

The blues have a different strategy.

-Keep going, keep going. You OK?

-Yep.

Let me know if you need a changeover.

And it seems to be paying off. They're in the lead.

Come on! That's it, Steggles. Excellent work, buddy.

Get this way. Another person... Two, three people.

-We're wasting time!

-How do you think we're going to...?

We can risk it over there.

Come on!

Come on. Keep going, guys.

Come on, Parker. Take your turn.

The team's carrying you right now.

Run right, run right!

Oh, no! Fucking hell!

Agh!

The stretcher race is a test of stamina.

A recruit who does not tire easily maintains his ability

to think and act even after long exertion.

This is a key combat requirement.

But some of the troops are starting to show the strain.

-That's it.

-Uh-uh. Uh-uh.

-That's it.

-Come on, guys, keep going. Come on.

Itay, just to give you an update.

Blue team have just powered it through this checkpoint.

Looking strong. Got a couple of stragglers - McGuire seems to be

a little bit ropey but apart from that,

they're all looking fairly strong.

ITAY: 'Copy that, thank you.'

INDISTINCT SHOUTING

-Over! Push!

-Right, go!

-Come on!

I can see now the blue team is coming first.

There's a gap between them of a few hundred yards.

Well, the recruits are going to come to this ending point.

Stay here. Don't lower the stretcher. Halt.

I'm going to look them in the face.

-What's their time?

-39.56.

They think they're done

but then I'm going to tell them they have to do another one.

Start it again, let's go. Move!

Let's go! Move! Again! One more.

That means we're messing with their brain, psychological warfare.

Come on, let's go!

Think this is a bit unfair?

This is life.

And just a couple of minutes behind but within striking distance,

the red team arrive at what they believe is the end.

-Halt!

-Stop.

-You've got to do it all over again. Let's go.

-Change over.

Move it, let's go!

While the blues power through and suck up the second circuit...

We've got ten seconds. We'll go again.

..and reds regroup to gather their strength...

Everybody take 15 seconds and a drink of water.

..but Parker has fallen behind.

Stand up, Parker. Stand up! Stand up. Deep breath in.

Come on, Parker.

Well, of course, they don't know that this whole drill is a bluff.

Stop there. Stay there, stay there.

After 200 yards, our guys are going to stop them.

Itay has told me he's seen enough.

For you, OK, it's over. About turn.

Steady it around, steady it around.

I've never been pushed as hard,

as physically in my life as what I've been pushed on this.

I actually thought this was going to come out of my chest.

These guys, I don't how they did it. They made it look so easy.

They just made it look like it was a walk in the park.

Listen in, get that stretcher, keep it up. You were last, guys.

-Itay has told me made...

-Change...

Listen in to my words of command!

Itay has said he's seen enough.

I hate losing. I'm not going to lie. I do hate it.

I think that was probably the hardest thing

I've ever done in my life.

-You look like you're on the edge.

-Yeah, I'm knackered, man.

I ain't quitting, though. But I'm tired. That was hard.

That's hard.

With an all-clear from hospital, Spicer's returned to camp,

but sadly Folarin's fractured wrist has been confirmed

and he's out of the competition.

Spicer may be back, but he faces an uphill struggle.

I just have to work hard now to get the guys' respect back.

I know they've had a long, hard afternoon.

With all exercises complete,

it's time to find out who will be dismissed

as they face Itay for the final time.

-Number 1000, Spicer. You're back from the dead.

-Yes, sir.

You missed a real tough stretcher race. What a pity.

Number 998, Procter.

Really excelled.

Procter was tough. Aggressive fighter. You did well.

Number 1001, Steggles.

Very good. I like his style.

He's got the right qualities.

There are some people here that are going to have to leave today.

You just can't do it, you're not built from the right material.

The person that I'm going to fail first...

He's a gentleman, but he was too weak.

He tried his best, but it's just not good enough.

His number is 995, Parker.

Sir.

You don't have that aggression and determination.

I think you're too nice.

The next person I'm going to fail did not prove

himself in the training today.

He did not fight on the stretcher run,

he did not show his best skills.

-His number is 990.

-McGuire.

McGuire, you let me down. You are a weak link.

A guy your mass, your size, you could fight a lot harder.

Therefore, McGuire and Parker,

you have failed. Please leave the camp.

It was a real honour to serve with the boys and girls in there.

Fantastic athletes.

I just...couldn't hack it.

Er, I think I'm probably too old.

Harsh words there from Itay. Do you think he was fair, though?

I think he was, you know, I think he was quite fair.

You've got some real leaders in the group,

and I didn't, it's simple, I didn't really pull my weight.

96 hours into the process,

and the battle for leadership is starting to emerge.

Spicer is beginning to ruffle some feathers.

Guys, just one last thing. With our weapons...

We're going to place them up against our bergens.

Obviously, muzzle facing up and the magazine facing to the right

or away from you.

-How's the bantz in the tent?

-Yeah, not bad, not bad.

We had a lecture on how to stow away our rifles from Spicer,

which was nice. He told us which angle they should be pointing.

I am so pissed off that he didn't have to do that

carry thing, cos that was insanely hard.

I think that's the hardest thing we've done since we got here.

Oh, definitely, and he's going to be fresh as a daisy tomorrow,

and we're all going to be dragging our heels and fucked and...

HE SNORES

I think Spicer is probably aggravating

the most people at the moment.

Not aggravating myself, but definitely aggravating some people.

SNORING INTENSIFIES

There's going to come a point, I think,

where some people are just going to be, like...fuck off. Ha-ha!

Next time...

-Go! Come on!

-The recruits face another painful 48 hours training

with NAVSOG from the Philippines.

Hit the water!

I feel like I'm drowning.

Strength must be proved...

-Fuck, my shoulder.

-Hellard, suck it up.

..weakness is exposed...

Push it up! Ho! Back to zero!

I felt so bad. I thought I was going to drown.

..but who will make it through the next two days?

This is the toughest thing I've ever done over this period of time.

I'm just going to run until I pass out.