BBC Soldier: what is it about, when does it air and are all the episodes available online now?

Eight new military recruits are put through their paces in the new BBC docu-series ‘Soldier,’ created by the team behind  the award-winning BBC series 'Hospital.' The series offers an intimate and eye-opening exploration of the journey these recruits undergo as they prepare to serve their country.

Set at the Infantry Training Centre in Catterick, North Yorkshire, the series follows these recruits as they leave behind friends and family to embark on a challenging six-month training course.

Among the recruits are individuals from diverse backgrounds, including an ex-aspiring footballer, a former fast-food restaurant worker, a 20-year-old whose mother is a pacifist, and an 18-year-old woman from a military family eager to follow in her father's footsteps. Notably, since 2018, women have been allowed to join frontline infantry roles and must meet the same rigorous standards as men.

The recruits are put through their paces with punishing obstacle courses, weapon handling and firing, rigorous inspections, and the critical skill of close-quarters combat using only a bayonet. 

Under the guidance of Lieutenant Wahab, Sergeant McIntosh, and Corporal White, the recruits confront the harsh realities of becoming frontline soldiers, especially with war unfolding in Europe for the first time in a generation. 

Some recruits will excel, achieving things they never thought possible, while others will face challenges from the outset.

When does ‘Soldier’ air?

The first episode airs on Thursday, October 5, at 9 pm on BBC One, with subsequent episodes airing weekly

Are all the episodes available on BBC iPlayer already?

If you don’t have the patience for episodic viewing, or just want to get ahead of everyone else regarding the series, then all five episodes are available to stream now on BBC iPlayer.