The BBC has announced a one-off programme in which Stacey Dooley will follow a group of Ukrainian citizens as they come in the United Kingdom and train alongside the British Army to prepare for war.
Ready for War, Stacey Dooley? The 36-year-old will get to know the recruits as they go through five weeks of intensive training to prepare them for deployment to their home country’s frontlines in the struggle against Russia.
Among the young people the new mother encounters along the road are florist and gardener Mykola and welder Pasha, both of whom describe their backstories as well as their reasons for and concerns about going to war.
Speaking about the recruits, Stacey said: ‘These raw recruits go through one of the most relentless training programmes the British Army has ever devised.
‘The Ukrainian men I came to know over a few short weeks were incredibly impressive.
‘I think of them every day and hope their training will keep them alive.’
According to the BBC, the hour-long BBC Three and iPlayer documentary had ‘exclusive and unprecedented access’ to the British Army’s ‘training mission’.
Throughout the training, recruits “learn to live and to be lethal,” according to the broadcaster, as they prepare for life on the frontlines.
‘This film delivers first-time access to the British army’s intense training programme for Ukrainian civilians and offers a unique insight into how young people prepare to be frontline soldiers,’ said Clare Sillery, BBC Head of Commissioning, Documentaries.
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‘Stacey’s ability to grapple with the emotional and psychological challenges they face during this process is why she continues to be so popular with viewers.’
Executive Producer for True Vision, Brian Woods, lauded Stacey for her ‘gift for building meaningful relationships with everyone she encounters’.
This comes after the acclaimed documentary filmmaker delivered her first child in January with Strictly Come Dancing‘s Kevin Clifton, 39.
Stacey returned to work barely a month after giving birth, and the couple named their first daughter Minnie.