Sky1 says goodbye to Basra

Sky1 HD has commissioned a documentary chronicling the withdrawal of British forces from Basra, Iraq between March and May 2009. Goodbye Basra (working title) will hear from British troops prior to, during, and post withdrawal and will expose what current and ex serviceman feel about the role they played in the Iraq war, what they feel they achieved in the area, as well as detailing their own feelings and thoughts on what they experienced fighting thousands of miles from home.

The film is an emotional history of British troop’s experiences in Iraq and will reveal how service personnel feel about how they are perceived by the British public and media since the invasion 6 years ago.

With exclusive access to Army regiments - including 5 Rifles, B company – and by using observational filming on the ground in Basra, archive material, and interviews with soldiers on the ground Goodbye Basra is an honest and candid account of one of the key events in one of the most controversial wars in modern day history.

Emma Read, Commissioning Editor, Sky1 HD, Sky1, Sky2 and Sky3 comments; “As per other ground breaking factual commissions on Sky1 Goodbye Basra seeks to do something new and challenging. To present a different viewpoint of the Iraq war that is little heard in the media; the experiences and thoughts of the serving squaddie, all in their own uncensored words.”

Charles Furneaux, Executive Producer, Kaboom Film and Television: “The experiences of British soldiers who have fought in Iraq over the last six years have been extraordinary, and little heard or read about. The regular soldier has a compelling story to tell.”

Goodbye Basra will air on Sky1 and Sky1 HD in autumn 2009.