<P> On 2 December 2013, it was announced that a full 5 - episode series would air in 2014, following Dawes' first deployment to Afghanistan as an army medic attached to a British Army infantry section based from a small UK / ANA shared FOB somewhere in Helmand . Iwan Rheon and Ben Aldridge joined the main cast as Private Dylan "Smurf" Smith, who is also Molly's previous one night stand, and team leader Captain Charles James respectively . The series began airing on 21 September 2014 . </P> <P> On 21 June 2015 the BBC announced that Our Girl would be returning for a second series . Michelle Keegan took over as the show's lead, replacing Turner, playing the new character of Lance Corporal Georgie Lane . Series 2 began airing on BBC One at 9pm on 7 September 2016 . Both series 1 and series 2 were filmed in South Africa . </P> <P> In the moments following the final episode of series two, the BBC subsequently announced that the series had been commissioned for a third run . Michelle Keegan, Luke Pasqualino and Ben Aldridge were later confirmed to be returning to the cast, with newcomer Shalom Brune - Franklin and Rudi Dharmalingam being amongst the new cast members for this series . Unlike previous series, a total of twelve episodes were commissioned; to be shown in three blocks of four episodes, each covering a different "mission". Filming for this series took place in Nepal, South Africa and Malaysia . Our Girl: The Nepal Tour began broadcasting on 10 October 2017 . </P> <P> The one - off 2013 special sees 18 - year - old Molly Dawes (Lacey Turner) from the East End of London decide to join the army, deciding her life has no purpose on discovering that her boyfriend has been cheating on her . She initially keeps this decision a secret from her family, which comprised her controlling father Dave (Sean Gallagher) and doting mother Belinda (Kerry Godliman), encouraged only by the manager of the recruitment office, Sergeant Lamont (Paul Fox). When the truth is exposed, Dave demands she changes her mind, threatening to disown her from the family if she does not; leaving Molly to make the heartbreaking decision to step away as she heads off to training camp . Here, Corporal Geddings (Matthew McNulty) initially doubts Molly's strength as a potential soldier, but she strives to prove herself and eventually earns the respect of her peers, even reuniting with her mother Belinda when she visits her to apologise for Dave's actions . </P>

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