GIGN - France Special Forces - Ultimate Hell Week

Here, under the scorching African sun...

SCREAMING

..we have created the ultimate military boot camp.

Oh, my God.

..with veterans of six of the world's

fiercest Special Forces units.

22 of Britain's toughest civilians

are about to enter a fortnight of hell.

-Get it up!

-I'm trying...

-Get it up, Flynn!

SCREAMING

Each and every one of them believes they have

what it takes to make it to the end.

I've never quit anything in my life.

Whatever comes my way, I will get through it.

I don't ever give up.

Standing in their way are former operatives

from the South Korean Special Forces...

What is going on here? Get up!

You want to quit?

..the US Army's Green Berets...

If you throw up, stick it in your pocket and keep going.

Argh!

..Grom from Poland...

Do not move, do not talk.

Two minutes, prepare your bergen.

..the South African Special Forces...

Get up! I want it done now!

..the Australian SAS...

Yes, yes, yes. Come on, come on, come on.

..and, GIGN from France.

-Fighting stance!

-ALL:

-Argh!

Living under a strict military regime,

our recruits will experience the unique selection methods

to understand the characteristics and skills required

to become a member of one of these elite units.

Go!

It's happening.

Who has the inner strength to make it to the end...

We're not going to stop until somebody quits.

..and to win Special Forces - Ultimate Hell Week.

From this point on, you're in my world!

This is tough!

14 recruits were put through a brutal examination

with a veteran of the South Korean UDT.

Forced to spend hours in the freezing Atlantic Ocean...

Suck it up!

..the injured Burch was the first to leave...

Burch, I quit.

..closely followed by Flynn.

I hit a wall.

'The instructor pushed live wire Ferguson to his limit...'

Ferguson, what happened, man?

'..and Palama couldn't take any more...'

-I want to quit, Tana.

-Go.

..before the strict regime proved too much for Blowes.

I'm out, you can stick it up your arse.

It's the penultimate stage of our Special Forces selection course.

Just nine recruits remain

and as they await the arrival of their next instructors,

each one knows the smallest mistake now

could cost them a place in the final.

There's only a few of us left, and it's crunch time.

I'm quite amazed that my body is still going.

I just want to make it to the end now.

Can everybody hear me?

-Can you hear me?

-ALL: Yes, sir!

So, this is Toto, and I am Tana.

We come from

the Groupe d'intervention de la Gendarmerie nationale.

In short, GIGN.

The GIGN are an elite law enforcement arm

of the French National Police, specialising in covert surveillance,

hostage rescue and the targeting of organised crime.

Formed in the wake of the massacre at the Munich Olympics in 1972,

the GIGN are deployed inside and outside French borders.

With over 1,800 missions to their name,

they have developed into one of the most effective

counterterrorism units in the world.

When I tell you fighting position,

I want all of you to take whatever fighting position you want.

-Fighting stance!

-ALL:

-Argh!

I'm sorry, but some of them just aren't scary, are they?

We expect you to be full power all the time,

to give everything you have.

-Qui veut-etre le leader?

-Who wants to be the leader right now?

Who wants to be the leader right now?

-HE CLAPS

-Come on, wake up, guys!

Vous, hesitation.

You are the leader. What's your name?

Allan!

A doctor from Cumbria, Allan is used to being the boss.

I've got my own practice. As GP partner I've got 12, 15 employees.

But here in South Africa, his leadership style

hasn't always been popular.

What we'll do then, it's 13 minutes past, we'll give each other

-two more minutes.

-He's stressing me out,

-I can't deal with it.

-I can't deal with it either.

He told us to, "man up" earlier, and that...

And in peer evaluation during our South Korean UDT phase,

his fellow recruits didn't hold back.

Who do you most not like on your team?

-Allan.

-Allan.

-Allan.

-Allan.

-I pick Allan.

-Allan.

Parrott isn't even trying to contain the fact

that she's laughing at Allan being chosen as captain, again.

-Leader.

-Team leader, come here.

This is Merlot,

your French friend! You have to protect it,

-to carry it.

-You.

-You take Merlot.

-Come on, get there!

Allan. These two bags are team bags.

They must be with you all the time, too.

Take the bags, quickly.

Our recruits are already carrying 20kg in their own packs,

they've now been lumbered with a 5kg rock

and two extra bergens, weighing 17kg each.

-Let's go.

-Allez!

-Follow us. Come on.

Now, I've met so many different Special Forces experts

during this process, but what can you tell me

about you guys and the GIGN?

GIGN is different from the others, because it is not really military.

OK? We are police-based.

Usually, you spend one year to train,

to attend the selection.

La groupe est la tete.

Fitness is part of it, true, but this is not important.

The group and the brain, these are the two elements more important.

As a storm threatens overhead...

Come on, come on, come on, come on, come on!

..our recruits have just 48 hours to prove to Tana and Toto

they deserve a place in the final. To size them up,

Tana and Toto have selected an exercise

straight from day one of GIGN selection.

Recruits must move in tactical formation

over three square kilometres of rugged scrubland.

Tana and Toto will set tasks to test leadership

and teamwork.

Helicopter! Helicopter!

Come on, come on!

Seven seconds! Go, quickly, quickly!

First up, they're ordered to commando crawl

-over the rocky ground.

-Come on, get on the ground!

-On the ground.

-And, within minutes, recruit Mok is struggling.

-You're injured?

-My knees, yeah.

OK, stop.

-Come here.

-Both my knees... It's OK, though. I can carry on.

Personal trainer Mok is a woman on a mission.

I'm here to break the stereotype that vegans are weak and skinny,

and are all hippies!

Despite struggling under the former South African Special Forces,

and the ex-Polish Grom operative, Mok is still here ten days in.

Everyone here is super fit.

We've got marathon runners, we've got tri-athletes,

-we've got ultra-marathon runners.

-I don't do any of that!

She's hoping sheer determination will get her to the final.

There hasn't been a point yet where

I've thought about giving up, at all.

Guys, what did we say about teamwork?

Mok has a problem with her knees,

and she's been dragging Merlot for the last 600 metres!

This is not the teamwork!

Do you understand?

Stop thinking only about yourself!

-Come on, team leader?

-Come here, team leader, Allan!

Come here.

On the knees. Here's your mission.

You take this log, you organise your team and you follow Toto.

You don't forget Merlot, you don't forget the two team bags.

During brutal marching, GIGN instructors continually

set new tasks to observe how a leader reacts under pressure.

Allan's new orders are to transport a 100-kilo log

half a kilometre, to a water-filled ditch.

And he must issue them quickly and decisively.

-Merlot?

-Where is he?

-Merlot, here.

-Where?

-There!

-OK.

Right, you're rear, watching the rear.

-OK? Defence at the rear, that's your job.

-OK.

-Carry Merlot.

-Allan, Allan.

That doesn't even make sense, you need to be carrying the log.

No, you're going to be at the back just watching.

You're carrying Merlot. You can help out if somebody's having problems with the log.

No, no, no. He needs to carry the log. If anything, I carry Merlot.

-I'm at the back.

-You sure?

-Yeah.

-OK, fine.

-He needs to be carrying the log.

-OK.

-Quickly, guys, quickly.

-I can do both...

-Or I... One minute.

-He's doing both!

End of discussion. He's doing both.

Just one leader.

Durance, Durance! You're there, on the log. OK?

Wait. Sparks, Durance, me, and...

Where's Parrott?

After over a minute,

Allan has still not taken control and mobilised his team.

So, a bit of tactics. You give your orders, you don't need to shout.

-You go, "Hey, guys, can you hear me?"

-Yes.

-OK?

"This is what we are going to do, do, do, we are going to do this,

"and this, and this. Everybody understand?"

-Up.

-OK, listen up, everyone, listen up.

We're going to get the log across the hole, like a bridge.

One, two, three...

OK, let's go.

A bit of a pack horse situation going on.

I'm carrying one of the team bags as well as my own bag.

The lightest recruit at just 57kg,

mother of two Donoghue has repeatedly proved her resilience.

I'm very good, strength-wise. Obviously, I don't look it.

The big surprise is probably Donoghue.

Donoghue has a fire within her.

After a tough time under Ken from South Korea...

Donoghue, you don't look too good, do you want to quit?

..the firefighter from Leeds dug deep...

-First one in.

-First one!

..and came out on top.

Her secret weapon is her mental strength.

Joshua was my second child.

He was quite a big child, and I had to have a C-section.

And the anaesthetic failed, so I was laid on the table being cut open,

and I could feel everything.

It's mind over matter.

Parrott, Donoghue, and Thompson,

you're in the hole. We're going to carry that log that way,

we're going to cross the river.

Drop it, drop it. Yes.

-Yes! Is good for me. Yes, is good for me. OK?

-That's better!

-Good job, Allan.

-After a shaky start, Allan got the job done.

I'm pleased, actually.

I think he needed it. You know, I've always said he's a really good guy,

he just got himself a little bit overexcited the other day.

So... So far, so good. He's doing really well.

So, now, change leader.

Yes. A new leader?

Sparks, come here.

You've been rotating the leadership role, why's that?

Yes, it's easy to just follow the flow.

But, it's more difficult to organise the flow. Does it make sense?

Mm-hm. What is the reason behind the physical element of what

-it is?

-To put them in the red zone.

Because, as soon as you're in the red zone, it's physiology.

-Your heart is pumping.

-Right.

Your blood flow is different. It acts on your brain,

and then your brain has to take over and say, "Cool down, cool down,

"think straight, think straight."

The change in leadership, it changes dynamics to the group

really, really quickly. And...

There's going to be some people who haven't been leaders yet.

It's going to be really interesting to see how they work out.

It's the first time I've ever officially been made a leader, yeah.

I feel fine about that, I'm very comfortable. I, erm...

-I enjoy doing this stuff.

-Team leader, let's go!

OK, guys. Come in, come in, come in.

We're going to take these tyres, two per tyre, over to that location.

And every move rookie leader Sparks makes will now be assessed

-by Tana and Toto.

-You see where Toto is?

-Go now, let's go.

-Durance and Mok on the first one,

Thomson and Downers on the second one...

..Allan and me on the third.

And there's one extra person, is that OK?

Wait a second, what about these two bags?

-Yeah.

-Ah-ha!

In his haste to get moving,

Sparks nearly forgets the two extra bergens.

That's nonsense, that would make sense -

-put it on my back.

-It's fine, it's OK.

-But he's got Merlot as well.

-Are you OK?

-Let's go, let's go.

Recruit Onyiuke is now carrying an additional 34kg.

With a 5kg rock already in his pack,

the 28-year-old project manager is now carrying

nearly 60kg in total, two thirds of his own body weight.

The one on my back isn't strapped in.

It keeps leaning to the left.

But it's doable, I can do it.

People need to try and not be a hero and take too much.

Switch their minds on, and think about what they're doing,

rather than trying to carry ten things at once.

Strength athlete Downham's morale took a big hit under Rafal,

a former member of Polish Grom...

Probably the lowest of the low.

..when a fellow recruit was sent home for assisting her.

-I dismiss you.

-I suppose I feel partly responsible.

But a strong performance under Terry from the US Green Berets

got her back on track.

Downham's physical ability is a key part of her confidence.

I sometimes feel like I've got one up on a lot of women.

I'm always about what my body can do,

rather than what my body looks like.

-Just in here?

-Yes, yes.

One, two, three, down. OK.

For the final task,

all nine recruits and 11 bergens, totalling nearly 220kg, must

squeeze through two lengths of buried concrete pipe.

GIGN units often perform tactical assaults on ships and planes,

so a recruit who cannot handle confined spaces

will not make the grade.

I'm claustrophobic, so being in small spaces like that scares me.

Adventurous Sparks is an accomplished ocean rower.

Rowed across the Indian Ocean in 71 days.

First-ever unsupported row from Australia to the Seychelles.

Four world records.

He's conquered two of the world's oceans, but, so far,

the claustrophobic has avoided facing his biggest fear.

-So, you know that box?

-Yeah.

I've basically got padlocks in that.

I wouldn't have got in. I would not...

-I would have been on the plane home.

-For Sparks to complete the exercise,

he's got no choice but to go through the pipes.

Good, you're doing very good. You're nearly there.

-Two...one metre. Keep going, keep going.

-Very good, very good.

Very good.

-Very good.

-You're there, you're there.

You're free now! You're free. Let's go.

100% focused on overcoming his fear,

Sparks gets himself through both pipes as fast as possible.

Look at me, look at me. Just look in front, you're doing good,

you're doing very good. You're nearly there!

-Good job.

-Thanks.

-Better outside?

-Yeah.

-Go back to your job.

Don't forget you have your team behind you.

Just crawling through tunnels there, with bergens.

Bit of water and that.

I'm a little bit claustrophobic, but that wasn't too bad.

Come on, allez!

Go, go, go, go, go!

Sparks, help your team, help your team-mates.

Gather the bags. There's always something to do,

make everybody's life easier.

Don't stand doing nothing.

OK, I've got it from here. I've got it from here.

Disciplined by Tana for resting, Sparks gets back to his team.

He joins them in hauling the remaining bergens

through the obstacle.

Come on, come on, come on, come on, come on!

After three and a half hours, the brutal marching is over.

-Thanks.

-Bodies are patched up...

-Allan.

..and food parcels are distributed.

Our recruits haven't eaten since 6am,

and will have burned up to 3,500 calories already today.

Chicken breast in brine.

May stay there, in the tin!

But during GIGN selection, to test the resolve of the candidates,

only simple rations are provided.

I'm munching my lunch.

-And Onyiuke is looking for bad guys!

-Yeah.

-But...

There's not a huge amount in the ration pack to eat, so...

I'm going to eat this biscuit, then let Onyiuke get his lunch.

Take over.

I look forward to it.

I'm starving.

Although the GIGN value physical fitness,

a huge part of their training is psychological...

..as our recruits are about to find out, with their next exercise.

Wow. This looks pretty spectacular.

Lashed on top of a 20-metre rock wall in a disused quarry,

the plank is an eight-inch-wide steel girder.

To complete the next exercise, our recruits must walk to the end,

and perform tasks when instructed.

We have so many missions where heights are involved.

Like, when you're a sniper,

you get on top of a high building,

and then you have to do your mission.

If you're afraid of heights,

-it's useless.

-So, it's that simple, if you can't do this,

-then you're not going to make it?

-Yes, it's that simple.

And with the final so close,

all recruits know that the smallest mistake could send them home.

I'm up first. I'm not particularly scared of heights, but I don't think

it will be as simple as just walking along the plank.

I'm sure they've got some other surprises for me.

When the GIGN run the plank phase of selection,

recruits are strapped into a safety line.

If they fall, they fail the task.

First to face the plank is Mok.

OK, Mok.

Stop, Mok.

Stop.

Mok.

The end of the plank, is it possible for you?

-Yeah.

-OK.

As you want.

I don't think she'll go further.

-She didn't give up.

-She was...

It was decent.

One of the GIGNs seems to have a little black notebook.

We all want to complete the test and make sure

he writes good things in his little black book.

Next, it's 24-year-old postgraduate Parrott.

Can you touch your shoes?

-OK. Up.

-What's he going to ask her to do now, a backflip?

-OK, come on.

-Though hesitant,

Parrott becomes the first recruit to complete the plank.

Now it's the turn of Durance.

I'm all right, but I don't know

how I'm going to perform on this one,

because I've never done anything like this before.

GP Allan understands how Durance could be at a disadvantage.

Hearing's very much connected with balance,

so it will be really interesting to see how he does

on what looks like quite a narrow beam.

You see, he's there. He's got a good pace going.

-He's moving quite quickly now.

-Yes, he's doing good.

-That's pretty straight, no?

-Yeah, yeah, he's doing good.

-Oh, there he goes.

-Very good.

-He did very good.

-I wanted to get to the end at least.

-Yeah, and you did.

-Yeah.

-You did.

-I just lost my balance.

Next up is Sparks...

-Turn around.

-..who was singled out during the brutal marching.

-Yes, very good.

-This time, he makes the grade...

Where is the car?

At two o'clock, at the bottom.

..as does firefighter Donoghue.

The sixth recruit up is extreme sports enthusiast Thomson.

Are you jumping...canopies?

I jump off cliffs into deep water.

So, it's easy for you?

I hope so.

Thomson has consistently ranked as a top female recruit.

She's a multi-talented athlete...

I trained him dance when I was younger.

Then, in 2011, I won a European gold in sports karate.

I finished ninth in the UK Pro Surf Tour last year.

..and has enjoyed the process so far, despite the hardship.

I love being in vain. Physical pain motivates me.

My aim is always to finish on top, always.

That's all I ever want.

Thomson is an absolute legend.

You could put her up to anything and she would have a go.

She'd probably do it without a harness.

Very good.

-She's on it.

-Whoa, look at her go.

-Look at her, she looks really comfortable.

-She's flying.

I think that's the quickest we've had anyone get to the edge, right?

-Yes.

-Touch your shoes, please.

-Easy for you.

-Look at this.

She's a freaking ballet dancer, isn't she?

-Nothing to say.

-She's got this, right?

-Yes, she's got it.

-Is that her done?

Yeah. Yeah.

I surf and snowboard, so I'm kind of used to being stood

in that side-on position in movement.

So, I'm kind of glad it was wobbling.

I think that played to my favour.

The standout performer so far, Thomson made the plank look easy.

That's exactly how you were on that.

-Just ran out.

-Just running out.

But those following her are not finding it quite so simple.

Yes, you...

Come back.

Now you turn.

He's nearly at the end.

Go on, Allan, stay there, stay there.

Turn around - the left, Allan.

Yes. Very good.

-Relax.

-The final recruit is Onyiuke.

Onyiuke's last and he's been consistently strong, hasn't he?

How is he with heights, has he ever spoken about them?

Very scared. He's very scared.

It's a tough one. I can feel the tension building on the inside.

I just feel, like, nervous.

Karate blackbelt Onyiuke is the most

physically powerful recruit on the course.

Though he struggles in water, he overcame his fear under Kim,

a veteran of the South Korean UDT.

But, so far, no Special Forces expert

has exposed his one big weakness.

I'm really afraid of heights, so anything to do with

really high places, I sort of like... My legs turn to jelly

and I get really shaky.

Step here, please.

OK.

As the last recruit, Onyiuke must contend with failing light.

Focusing on the eight-inch-wide beam will be even tougher.

He just took a massive breath.

-You turn around on the left.

-OK.

-OK.

-Go, turn and you keep on at the end.

Well, he's definitely battling some demons.

Come with me.

Touch your shoes.

Yes. Very good.

Relax.

Relax.

OK.

Very good. Come up.

-Good job.

-It was very scary.

My legs couldn't stop shaking.

Like every time I sort of turned, I...

Yeah, it was just very scary.

When I turned to the side, I couldn't see the bar,

I couldn't see anything. I just had to rely on my instinct, really.

I'm just glad it's over, that's all.

How were you able to get through it then,

if you have such a real issue with heights?

Well, in karate, we have like a stance called, "kiba-dachi."

It's like a horse straddle stance.

I just tried to focus on "OK, like, I'm not here,

"I'm like at the dojo, doing that," all the way through and back again.

And that's what I just literally had in my mind all the way through.

Just like, "You're not here, keep calm, breathe,

-"and just get the work, get the task done."

-Sure.

-Yeah, and somehow,

miraculously, I was able to complete it without falling off.

-That's great. I'm really happy for you. Well done, man.

-Thank you.

As the recruits head back to base camp,

Tana and Toto need to discuss their efforts so far

and who doesn't deserve a place in the final.

Who would you say, at the moment, is doing really well for you?

-For me, Onyiuke.

-Yeah.

-Very good.

-He's actually scared of heights.

-Yes.

-He did brilliantly up there.

When he came back,

-he had...

-He was crying.

-Yes.

-Thomson was way too easy.

Not even funny. Him, you could see that

-it really got him.

-And he found that control?

-Yes.

-That's exactly what we're looking for.

-Yeah.

-And how about the bottom two? Because, I mean,

they're the two people I imagine you'll be looking at quite closely.

For me...

Mok, I don't know.

-She doesn't really seem focused.

-I thought you might have said that

about Mok, just based on how she performed here,

Because she was one of the only people that actually came off.

Now, is there anybody else that is standing out to you

as being at the bottom of your list right now?

-J'ai vu Sparks.

-On the pipe, he didn't think he went through,

then he took his bag and relaxed

while his team-mates were still in the water.

So, he wasn't enough for the team?

Yes, he wasn't. But, this afternoon, he came back.

So, if Sparks has progressed, who hasn't?

He did good, but I don't know if Allan has the strength.

-I don't know if he is resistant enough.

-Right.

After a full 14-hour day of our GIGN training,

the recruits are trying to catch up on some much needed sleep

when they are rudely awoken.

-Attention.

-Attention.

Grab your bergen.

We'll come back for you.

What's going on, then, guys?

They've just taken Mok.

Mok.

Mok.

Unfortunately, you're going home.

Some of the people show more will then you.

-You understand?

-Yes, sir.

-Thank you, Mok.

-Thank you, Mok.

-Thank you, sir.

-Just like GIGN selection,

she's been pulled from the course with no warning.

I've absolutely had an amazing time.

Super grateful that I've been able to get this far

and experience as much as I have.

As the numbers get smaller and smaller,

they are able to watch us as individuals a bit more.

Argh!

I kind of saw it coming,

but definitely proud of what I've achieved.

With Mok gone, there's no rest for the remaining recruits.

-Attention!

-Attention!

In five minutes, I want your bergens ready, everything waterproofed, OK,

ready for a field task. Does anyone not understand?

You can relay back to him.

It needs to be a blur. You really need a sense of urgency now, OK?

Mok's been taken.

So, we don't know what's happened to her, which is pretty horrible.

-Got three minutes.

-Mok's bed, can we just sort that out?

OK, guys, fall in.

OK, bergens lined up nice and neatly. Take a seat.

This is your first mission as a GIGN member.

You will be the next team leader.

Life has taught 35-year-old Durance to be resourceful.

Of course, I was deaf,

school for me was quite hard.

I was lucky I had the right friends to help me and obviously I used to

copy their notes all the time.

Though he has struggled with communication,

he's a fierce competitor...

-Don't break my foot, Durance!

-..with a point to prove.

I want to inspire all disabled people out there.

You can achieve anything.

Last Monday, in Cape Town, a French diplomat had his daughter kidnapped.

What don't you understand?

-I'm talking too fast?

-I heard something about French diplomat.

Yes. His daughter, his daughter.

-His daughter? Thank you very much.

-Yes. Daughter...

Yes.

-..was kidnapped.

-..was kidnapped.

Yes. Her name is Isabel Duplus.

The perpetrators will have a meeting tonight.

Position yourself at strategic locations in order to observe,

listen and report everything.

Rock and roll.

Our recruits have been thrown

straight into a simulated GIGN operation.

It's a two-part mission.

Phase one is surveillance,

and phase two is hostage rescue.

For phase one, recruits must gather intelligence on a criminal group

who are holding a woman hostage.

They've split into four two-man teams

and will deploy to different observation points

to gather intelligence.

As mission leader,

Durance must have all eight recruits at the RV point by the gate

at 6am sharp. For the 35-year-old horticultural engineer,

operating at night presents a unique challenge.

Even in the dark, there's always going to be an issue for me.

No matter what. So, yeah,

it limits the lip-reading

so, I have to be really, really close.

The four teams roll out to take up their covert positions.

Tana and Toto will play the role of the criminal gangs

throughout the night.

They will be on patrol and if any recruit gives up their position,

the mission will be failed.

Basically, you have to keep watch all night and our aim is to...

-Go, go, go!

-..record everything we see.

Be careful, be careful.

Recruit Parrott has a history with officer training with the TA,

but left feeling she had unfinished business.

I have previous military experience.

I did really enjoy it, but it wasn't the right time for me.

So now, you know, I've got my uni out the way,

I feel like I can really give this everything.

Under US Green Beret Terry,

she proved she could handle sleep deprivation.

And though she is small, she's got plenty of fight.

Nice, Parrott, let's go, girl.

We are in OP-4, and we have to monitor this part of the road

and the gate for any activity.

Any pedestrians, any vehicles, any security.

We have to lock it down, so that at the point of extraction,

we've got as much information as possible.

Step-by-step, they will start to get tired.

But we're going to make a lot of movements for them to adjust,

get tired and then they have to wake up.

The goal of this training is to test their sleep deprivation and to test

their ability to analyse the situation and get intelligence.

All these scenarios are based on reality.

You spend one night observing an Op point

and you assault it in the morning.

Our recruits have been in position for over three hours.

It's been raining heavily since midnight.

The strong winds have also dropped the temperature to just above zero

and still, our recruits have seen little action.

It's really windy. The ground is wet and I feel very, very cold.

Honestly, I think I may have snoozed off once or twice already.

Just keep that between you and I!

Literally, there was like one second,

because I've been checking my watch every, like, couple of minutes,

and my eyes just went out of focus, just...

Shh, shh, shh.

There's a man with a gun.

And it's a big gun.

After nearly four hours of inactivity,

our sleep-deprived recruits must now focus

and gather valuable intelligence.

He wants the one million dollars.

-One million.

-Where is she from? Is she French?

-Yes. Doesn't matter.

He wants to kill her.

We have so far got chatting, right out here,

having a conversation.

Not sure what they were saying, but...

They've spent nearly six hours out in the elements.

Now leader Durance has 12 minutes to gather his teams

and make the RV point, ensuring they all avoid detection.

We're going to meet at the gate for our extraction point at six -

0600 hours.

Two have gone.

But en route, Team Three's Parrott spots a problem.

I saw two of our team members run past.

Suffering from a lack of sleep,

Team Four's Sparks and Donoghue are heading in the wrong direction,

away from the RV point,

and they run straight into Tana and Toto.

Go down. On your place. Allez, go, go, go, go.

Everyone. Let's do it.

Sparks and Donoghue catch up with the others

and all eight recruits arrive at the RV point,

but they are two minutes late.

You take your team to your base camp.

-Your barrack.

-My base camp?

-You mean...

-The barrack, where you sleep.

The barracks, yeah.

After a chaotic end to the mission,

all eight recruits head back to the block.

They collate their intelligence and await further instructions

from Tana and Toto.

There was a big mistake from team number four, who,

on its own initiative,

gave up its position.

So, we stopped them, asking what was going on.

The answer was interesting, because they say, "Yeah,

"we thought our team leader was compromised and we decided to move."

We made it clear that your rally point is the gate.

So, that was a mistake.

-Attention!

-Attention.

Team leader. What do you have for us?

Two armed men, with guns,

and one man raised his torch and blinked it three times.

OK, OK, stop. Give me this.

Give me everything.

-Super retour.

-Yes.

Very good data collection guys, great, OK?

Par contre, la mission est foiree.

But the mission is as failed.

Do you know why?

-Number Four.

-Number Four.

You must have left your location around 0555,

because it was nearly six o'clock when we saw you.

In one way, you got lucky, because we stopped them.

If we don't stop them, suddenly, it's a huge mess,

because you go there and say, "Oh, where are they?

"Where are they?"

So, should we have stayed where we were?

Yes.

Team Four must now take responsibility for the failure

-of phase one of the mission.

-A bit of confusion towards the end.

We made the decision, but it was obviously the wrong decision.

I don't feel like I've got anything to prove.

I'd go, you know, as soon as they told me to go,

and I would put my hands up and say I tried my best.

So, I'm not worried about any of that.

I don't think anyone's safe.

Our recruits have now not slept for over 27 hours,

but they are given no time to rest.

The sleep deprivation,

I think that might affect me significantly.

I'm really worn out. I've got, like, a slight headache as well.

Erm, I really can't think straight.

So, I think that might affect me today,

hopefully not too much but then, we'll see.

Despite failing the surveillance phase of the mission,

it's straight into phase two -

a tactical assault and hostage rescue operation.

One, two, safe.

But first, they must undertake weapons training.

Be careful. Be careful.

Slowly.

Now, with all the skills that you're teaching our recruits this morning,

what are you hoping that they take from this session?

First of all, as you just mentioned, we just have one morning,

so we're trying to be very fast, but still very safe.

What could actually go wrong?

First of all, shoot each other.

Second point, shoot the hostage, which is a failure.

Third point, forget a team member.

These are, right now, the three key points of this afternoon.

This is something that you've always done, and I imagine in the GIGN,

when you did this for the first time,

-it must have been really difficult.

-Yes, it's hard, it's true.

But this is why you want to join this unit,

for this kind of adrenaline.

Do you think that doing things this way round,

giving them a night of sleep deprivation

and then something this difficult and that requires this much focus,

-will separate the weak from the strong?

-Yes, without any hesitation.

A GIGN candidate would have at least one year of tactical weapons

training before they are put on active duty.

Our recruits have had just two hours.

And now it's time to find out just how much they've learned.

Can you talk me through the exercise?

Yes, we're going to do that. So...

Led by Toto,

our recruits will conduct an armed search of a five-roomed building.

They will have targets, they will engage them, and they will hit them.

OK.

This is why we are doing this, to test how well they will react.

Go.

Rooms one to four each hold paper targets.

Once the target is shot, the room is cleared...

..and our recruits can continue their search.

In the fifth and final room, they'll find the hostage,

but a hostile gunman will be lying in wait.

SCREAMING

-Shoot. Down, hostile.

-OK.

This was different, because you had someone shooting back.

-Yes.

-You don't expect a real target.

-Mm.

Toto will enter first,

he will go down.

So, that'll be the place to see how they react.

Yeah. We have a hostage over here.

How are they supposed to protect the hostage?

Take the balaclava off.

Who are you? What's your name? Then check her out quickly.

If she's fine...

-HE WHISTLES

-..outside.

-And out. Awesome.

All right, well, that's going to be difficult

and somebody's going to get shot, that's for sure.

Right on cue, Mother Nature adds her own slice of drama.

The storm that's been building since yesterday morning

kicks in with full force.

Now running on 30 straight hours with no sleep,

our recruits have been split into two teams.

First to take on the kill house

are Parrott, Sparks, Onyiuke and Downham.

-It's really not nice.

-Conditions are far from ideal.

It is absolutely tipping it down with rain.

Body armour and facemasks will protect our recruits

from plastic rounds travelling at 40 metres per second.

After a poor performance in the overnight observation,

Sparks has been given the opportunity to prove himself.

He's team leader and second-in-command to Toto.

I was made leader of the group for this exercise.

Looking forward to it. Not the greatest conditions,

but we'll do our best. Hopefully we'll be able to deliver the goods.

I'm not feeling too nervous, but I know as soon as we get inside,

I will be feeling nervous.

Sparks, Parrott, Downham and Onyiuke begin their assault.

Go!

Onyiuke is on point.

The targets are down, and room one is clear.

-Clear!

-Splitting the team,

they efficiently clear rooms two and three...

..and the fourth follows quickly.

Now, room five.

-Hey!

-Hey!

-Down!

-Down!

-It's an aggressive entrance, and the hostile is down.

-Hostile!

-With Toto hit, Sparks is in charge...

-What's your name?

..but Downham is the first to the hostage.

Are you all right? Let's go, let's go, let's go.

Sparks has the hostage in his possession.

-Move!

-Come on!

OK, hostage evacuation!

Despite Toto's cries for assistance,

Onyiuke nearly leaves the house without him.

Hey, it's me! Go, go, go!

Team One has Toto and the hostage to safety in two minutes.

Come on, come on!

With the storm still raging, it's the turn of Durance, Thomson,

Allan and Donoghue to take on the hostage rescue.

-Get the equipment - all the armour first.

-So, Toto's the team leader,

if something happens to him, then I take over as team leader.

I'm just nervous about if the situation gets out of control,

we're not really sure what's in there, how many people are in there,

what kind of weapons are in there, etc.

So, anything could happen, so I think that's where the nerves are.

Sleep deprivation, yeah,

it's affecting our ability to concentrate.

All the training we had this morning

we have to now put into action.

Yeah, feeling a bit overtired, so that includes me, yeah.

I've been up for a while, now.

So, yeah, I just hope my brain will be working inside.

Team Two approach the house.

Thomson is first in through the door.

-Clear, Toto, clear.

-Go!

-Rooms one and two are clear...

-Clear, clear!

..and three and four are down.

Now they're outside the room holding the hostage and her captor.

-Hey! Hey!

-Hey!

Toto's hit, but the recruits back out of the room.

Come on! Come on!

As second-in-command, Thomson takes over.

-Upstairs!

-Hostage, are you Isabel?

Are you Isabel Duplus?!

-We're going to get you out!

-Thomson and Donoghue have the hostage.

Come with us, come with us.

But in the confusion, Allan drags the injured Toto away from the exit,

-and into a dead-end.

-Where you going?

Go, go, go, go!

This way! We need to get back to the entrance.

-Come on!

-Help me! Hey! Come on!

-Go!

-It's my leg, it's my leg!

-Go, go, go!

After three minutes and 15 seconds,

they have the hostage and Toto clear of the kill house,

but they're a full minute and 15 seconds slower than Team One.

The hostage rescue exercise is complete

and back at base, Team One's leader is happy with his afternoon's work.

I think I did a fine job.

There wasn't a huge amount that was required from me.

Just in, out with the hostage, but it was enjoyable.

But Thomson is concerned about how she led Team Two.

Allan, more than anyone, he likes to step up,

even when he's not really in control.

I was shouting, and he was flustering and flapping around,

and ended up in a bit of chaos.

I'm feeling anything but confident about my position today, actually.

If I'm at the top, I'm thriving.

If I'm at the bottom, then I know my mind will start to crumble.

I feel like I've, kind of, been bumped to the bottom of the pack

now, so I'm pretty worried about tonight.

It's now a massive 37 hours since our recruits last slept,

but Tana and Toto are not finished yet.

They're about to crank up the psychological pressure

to a whole new level.

In the final phase of selection,

prospective GIGN operatives are ordered to don a bulletproof vest,

and take a live round to the body from 15 metres.

If they refuse, they are expelled from the process.

Putting their lives in the hands of comrades

is the ultimate test of trust.

Our recruits have been asked to sign waivers,

giving consent to be shot with live ammunition, and all eight agreed...

..but Tana and Toto are not prepared to shoot civilians with live rounds,

and will actually be firing blanks.

But as far as our recruits are concerned,

they'll be staring down the barrel of a loaded gun.

-Is it safe?

-If it was safe, they wouldn't be making us sign the form.

Oh, God.

I would have sat in this seat, wouldn't I?

Blindfolds and ear defenders add to their disorientation,

and prevent recruits from knowing who goes through with the shooting,

and who quits.

Sparks is being led in right now.

He's currently blindfolded,

as he has no idea where he's headed for this incredibly testing task

and he's about to find out if he has the mettle

to do what he's literally signed up for.

-How are you?

-I'm fine, thank you.

A bit nervous.

Why?

-It's pretty scary.

-It's going to be fine.

Put that through.

It's the weirdest place for me to be right now,

because with every single task that they've had,

I've been able to at least see what's going on.

Right now, Sparks is all alone in that dark room,

and the only way I'm going to know if he goes through with it or not is

-when I hear that bang.

-Hands on your back.

They stay on your back, they do not come in the front.

-Are you happy to continue?

-Yeah.

GUNSHOT FIRES

Well, the gun's gone off, it's happened, he did it.

So, next up it's Parrott.

Now, she has been pretty consistent the whole time she's been here.

Is she going to pull out in the last minute?

Well, we're about to find out.

-You OK?

-Yeah.

-Do we continue?

-Yeah.

Stand still.

GUNSHOT FIRES

One by one, our recruits are asked to step up...

..stand in the firing line...

GUNSHOT FIRES

..and face the GIGN's final test of courage.

The last recruit is Downham.

GUNSHOT FIRES

Congratulations.

It was a blank ammunition, but we still do it for real.

But you did it, you stepped up, very good.

Displaying incredible commitment,

all eight of our recruits pass the final phase of our GIGN training.

Jesus, Allan, there's more grey hairs now!

Well done, everyone. I think that is everyone.

I was convinced that somebody would say no.

Everyone's here to make it to the end.

And we've done some pretty horrible things,

the past, you know, ten days.

You know, it's all going in the mix, what's that when it's at home?

I never thought I'd get this far,

but I'd now be really disappointed if I didn't get to the final...

-Mm.

-..and that's the first time I've even thought that.

If I don't get through to the final, I'll be gutted, really gutted.

All eight recruits have shown incredible physical

and mental resolve to get this far.

But for Tana and Toto,

it's their performance over the last 48 hours that matters.

Now we are, obviously, one step away from the final.

So, has anyone in particular stood out for you as an excelling recruit?

-Thomson.

-Yes.

-So what is it about Thomson specifically, do you think,

that makes her so strong?

-Sa volonte.

-Her will.

OK, well, let's go to the other end of the spectrum.

At the beginning, we were thinking that Onyiuke would have been there.

The plank killed him, because,

for people who have never done this kind of thing,

it's like you run a marathon, that kills you physically and mentally.

So, after that, the night outside, the wind,

this morning he was at the bottom of it.

Sparks, so far we don't know,

we don't feel him.

At some point, he was doing good,

but maybe not constant enough.

So, is that what it is, is it consistency that you're looking for?

It's all about that.

Help me! Hey! Help me, come on!

Allan was surprised by the last room,

with the hostage and the bad guy, a little bit froze up.

He doesn't have it as a killer.

So, you are getting close to the final.

The further you get, the more we have to pick up on details.

If you go tonight, that just means

that you didn't have this...thing to go further.

So, Sparks...

..you have your equipment.

Thank you very much.

-Have a safe return.

-Thank you.

I didn't think that I would drop out at this stage,

but it happened and you've got to deal with it.

At the same time, it's a serious disappointment.

'I've definitely pushed myself the hardest I've ever been.'

If I die, I love you, Mum.

I found it really hard and emotionally taxing, and obviously,

physically, incredibly demanding.

So, I've dealt with it, and it is sad,

and I would have liked to have carried on,

but that was their decision.

-Pleasure.

-Thank you very much, mate.

-You've been a real champ. Well done.

It's amazing to make it to the final.

Yeah, I think for everyone here, we've all done well to get this far.

Anyone could win it.

Now, I'm one of the last men standing.

It's an amazing feeling.

Somehow, I'm still here.

Pretty ecstatic right now.

I've been deemed worthy to make it to the final, so I'm happy.

Yeah, I'm really, really pleased. Really pleased.

I think this is the hardest thing I've ever done.

Next time,

it's the final.

Our seven remaining recruits will be put through their paces

by a former operative of the Australian SAS.

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes! Come on! Come on!

Endurance will be tested...

-I can't breathe.

-Go down!

..and the pressure reaches breaking point...

-Stop

-BLEEP

-around!

..as only one of the team can be a winner.