Ross Kemp in Afghanistan - Second Series - Ross Kemp: Return To Afghanistan

Ross Kemp: Return To Afghanistan

Following the first series, Kemp's next project was to be a documentary on drugs in Thailand for Sky. Kemp stated he would love to return to Helmand in six months or a year to document any progress made in the region by the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission.

Reports in September 2008 that filming of a follow-up series in Afghanistan was underway, and indicated that it as to be a two part series of 60 minutes each, to be provisionally titled Ross Kemp: Return To Afghanistan. It was later confirmed that the second series like the first was to be a five part programme, and was to premiere on Sunday 1 February 2009.

In the follow-up series, Kemp is embedded within Delta company of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (5 SCOTS), the 5th battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, deployed to Afghanistan as part of 16th Air Assault Brigade. In Afghanistan 5 SCOTS were based in the town of Musa Qala(also spelt Musa Qaleh). Kemp and his crew spent 3 weeks with 5 SCOTS, arriving in Musa Qala on Sunday 17 August 2008, having recently finished filming in Belize for Ross Kemp on Gangs. Despite being a Scottish Regiment, 5 SCOTS are based in Canterbury in the county of Kent, in the south east of England, and in a similar vein to the background of series 1 where Kemp had personal roots in East Anglia, Kemp had also previously lived in Maidstone, Kent, for five years from 1989.

5 SCOTS had been in Helmand Province since March 2008 on a seven-month tour. As well as 5 SCOTS, in the follow-up series Kemp also spent two weeks with Victor Company of 45 Commando Royal Marines, who had deployed to Afghanistan in October 2008. During the second series he was also thought likely to patrol with soldiers of the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (The Tigers), the Royal Irish Regiment and the Afghan National Army.

In motivation for creating the second series, Kemp stated that with the follow-up he wanted "to see whether the sacrifice they made was actually worth it, if this is a situation that's winnable, how long this situation will go on and to get to meet 5 SCOTS".

Musa Qaleh was held by the Taliban during the time of the first series. The town was described by the MOD as "a much sought after target for both ISAF and Taliban forces and scene of the heaviest fighting in the country". It was recaptured in December 2007 by ISAF and the Afghan National Army in the Battle of Musa Qala. While it was held by the Taliban Musa Qala was described by the MOD as "a key staging post for arms and drugs transported to and from Pakistan and Iran", who stated that the Taliban want to regain control of it because of its tactical importance. Producer Matt Bennett said of 5 SCOTS, "They’re very much at the sharp end of pushing back the Taliban and opening up that area around Musa Qala.", while Kemp stated "Progress in Helmand rests and falls on what happens in Musa Qaleh. The Taliban surround it on all sides.". Kemp was also keen to document how the soldiers worked with the local population of the town.

At the beginning of episode 1 of the second series, 5 SCOTS and Kemp are ambushed by the Taliban within 30 minutes of his first patrol, targeted by small arms fire and RPG rockets, as well as mortars. Kemp is extricated to safety by crawling 50 metres along a ditch. In a later contact, after coming under fire, Kemp unwittingly ran into an area Kemp described as "probably" featuring the pressure plate devices used to detonate IEDs and mines, necessitating 30 steps back to the cleared area. During the filming for the second series, 100 metres from the crew a 22 year old Royal Marine was fatally wounded by the explosion of a buried booby trap.

Speaking of the situation in Afghanistan since his visits in 2007, "it's a very different war since I was here a year ago but the fighting with the Taliban is as intense as ever. The war's changed in that the Taliban are using far more IEDs (improvised explosive devices) and anti-personnel mines.", and "I found the fighting was just as intense as it was when I was there with the Royal Anglians. In fact, it's actually more dangerous now with the IED threat.". Kemp described how the Taliban had now apparently taken to engaging from a distance, and planting IEDs and mines in areas where troops are likely to take cover, such as in ditches, switching from conventional tactics to a greater use of booby traps and suicide bombers.

Kemp stated that the equipment standards for British soldiers in Afghanistan, especially with new armoured vehicles, were "far better" than seen in the original series, although he stated the number and use of helicopters and fast air support was still not adequate, and the campaign needed more troops. On the subject of troop numbers Kemp stated "It’s impossible to hold the ground without more men. But the Americans have promised thousands more this summer, so there’s hope on that front." and that "I wouldn't say the war is winnable in Afghanistan — that's the wrong word. Can we contain the Taliban and make life better for the locals, if we get more troops? Yes, I think we can."

5 SCOTS returned to their Howe Barracks base in Canterbury in October 2008. Meeting them on their return, Kemp said of the soldiers of the battalion that they were "a fantastic bunch of lads with a great sense of humour. They really are a tribute to the British army. There was no point when they did not take the fight to the enemy."