The Paras

The Paras was a 1983 BBC TV documentary series about British Parachute Regiment recruits of 480 (Training) Platoon undertaking their basic training at the Depot of the Parachute Regiment (Depot Para) at Aldershot Garrison between January and June 1982.

480 Platoon on P company in April 1982

The Paras
GenreDocumentary
Created byGlyn Worsnip
Written byFrank Hilton
Presented byGlyn Worsnip
Theme music composerConn Bernard
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original language(s)English
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes7
Production
Producer(s)Bill Jones
Editor(s)Graham Dean
Camera setupDave Gray
Running time60 minutes
Release
Original networkBBC1
Original releaseNovember 1983

The series was broadcast on BBC1 in November and December 1983. It was later repeated in 1984, with an update on the platoon members' lives in the last episode.

Written and presented by Glyn Worsnip,[1] it was shot in the fly-on-the-wall style, giving the viewing public a unique insight to military life. Production of the programme started just prior to the Falklands War.

The series was accompanied by a book of the same name written by the principal researcher Frank Hilton [2]

The series was accompanied by a score of military music written and arranged by Conn Bernard.

Some of those recruits passing out in 1982 went on to have long and distinguished careers including Dean Ward and Rod Stoner. In addition one of the platoon staff corporals, Al Slater was later killed in Northern Ireland whilst a member of the SAS. This incident and some of this involvement in the SAS were described in two of Andy McNab's books Immediate Action and Seven Troop.

Production credits
  • Written and presented – Glyn Worsnip
  • Camera – Dave Gray
  • Sound - Mervyn Broadway
  • Dubbing Editor – David Matthews
  • Dubbing Mixer – Ken Haimes
  • Title Music – Conn Bernard
  • Graphic Designer – William Blaik
  • Production Assistant – Caroline Savage
  • Research – Frank Hilton, Chris Wilkie
  • Film Editor – Graham Dean
  • Producer – Bill Jones

Episodes
Episode Title Produced by Written by Original air date
1"480 Platoon"Bill JonesFrank HiltonMarch 1983 (1983-03)
The recruits of 480 (Training) Platoon form up at Browning Barracks, Aldershot and are introduced to army life.
2"The Maroon Machine"Bill JonesFrank HiltonMarch 1983 (1983-03)
Basic tactics and fitness training in the Aldershot area
3"Basic Wales"Bill JonesFrank HiltonMarch 1983 (1983-03)
Battle Camp at Sennybridge Training Area, Wales.
4"'P' Company"Bill JonesFrank HiltonMarch 1983 (1983-03)
Pre-Parachute (P company) selection in Aldershot.
5"Wings"Bill JonesFrank HiltonApril 1983 (1983-04)
Basic Parachute Training at RAF Brize Norton.
6"Ready For Anything"Bill JonesFrank HiltonApril 1983 (1983-04)
Advanced Tactics training.
7"Down To Earth"Bill JonesFrank HiltonApril 1983 (1983-04)
The recruits are posted to Northern Ireland on operations. (The 1984 repeat included an extra 10 minutes update on the original recruits 2 years later)
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gollark: I would use it if I had something for which it would make sense to use it.
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gollark: It WAS.

References
  1. The Independent - Glyn Worsnip
  2. Hilton, Frank (1983). The Paras. BBC. ISBN 978-0-517-07197-7.


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