A big screen adaptation of Lissa Evans’ novel, Their Finest Hour and a Half, is now in pre-production with cameras due to roll in August.

The romantic comedy is set during WWII, when filmmaking was precarious – not only were those involved likely to be called up at short notice, but all scripts had to meet the approval of the Ministry of Information – a situation which brought together an eclectic bunch of writers and crew.

Bill Nighy, Gemma Arterton and Sam Claflin star in the feature, which comes from BBC Films, Number 9 Films and Wildgaze Films. Lone Scherfig directs from Gabby Chiappe’s screenplay; executive producers are BBC Films’ Christine Langan and Ed Wethered.

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