Paddy Mayne's heartbreaking real reason for outburst in SAS Rogue Heroes season 2
The second season of SAS Rogue Heroes has returned to BBC One, opening with a poignant scene.
Following the capture of David Stirling, portrayed by Connor Swindells, Paddy Mayne, played by Jack O'Connell, assumes leadership. The series begins on a sombre note as Mayne pens a letter to his mother.
In the letter, Mayne reveals his inability to attend his father's funeral, stating: "Dearest mother, I write to you with a heavy, heavy heart to tell you that I will not be able to attend dad's funeral.
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"I applied to my superior officers in Cairo to grant me compassionate leave. For reasons they didn't care to explain, this permission was denied to me.
"As I'm sure you can imagine, Ma, this unexplained refusal left me in a poor frame of mind and has led be to become somewhat aggrieved."
Following this, viewers see him at the Palm Court Hotel in Cairo, Egypt, where he vents his frustration by flipping a table and smashing a chair.
His outburst continues, much to the shock of other hotel guests, as he rants about how "GHQ Cairo has got my f****** goat". When armed officers attempt to restrain him, he retaliates, knocking two men to the ground and engaging in a brawl with several others.
In reality, Mayne was indeed denied leave to attend his father's funeral, an event that triggered a significant emotional downturn for him.
As the conflict intensified, Paddy grew increasingly isolated, and the situation deteriorated further after the loss of his father.
Denied leave to go to his father's funeral, he spiralled into a pattern of alcohol abuse and brawling in Cairo.
In one particularly severe episode while intoxicated, he sought out renowned war correspondent Richard Dimbleby with the intention of assaulting him, but fortunately, his attempt was unsuccessful.
These events are detailed in a biography by Hamish Ross, which describes how Paddy turned into a solitary figure as the war went on, finding solace in literature over socialising.
His reclusive behaviour became more marked after his father's passing and being barred from attending the funeral.
The Daily Telegraph recounted his method of unwinding involved "wrecking hotels and fighting dockers".
His life came to a tragic end when, after drink-driving post a meeting, he collided with a farmer's vehicle. He was discovered deceased at 4am on December 13, 1955.
The series SAS Rogue Heroes can be streamed on BBC iPlayer.
