Book description
In 1940, every draft of every film script had to be approved by the
Ministry of Information. Cast and crew were waiting to be called up at
any moment, travel was restricted and filming was interrupted by
regular bombing raids. And so it is that we find a disparate group of
characters whose paths would never have crossed in peacetime: Ambrose
Hilliard, a washed up old ham from the golden era of silent movies;
Catrin Cole, formerly an advertising copywriter drafted in to 'write
women' for the Ministry of Information; Edith Beadmore, a wardrobe
assistant at Madame Tussauds; and Arthur Frith, peacetime catering
manager turned wartime Special Military Advisor.
This distinct group find themselves thrown together in the wilds of
Norfolk to 'do their bit' on the latest propaganda film - a
heart-warming tale of derring do, of two sisters who set out in a
leaking old wooden boat to rescue the brave men trapped at Dunkirk.
All completely fabricated, of course, but what does that matter when
the nation's morale is at stake? Newly crowned actor, script-writer,
costumier and military attaché must swallow their mutual distaste,
ill-will and mistrust and unite for the common good, for King and
country, and - in one case - for better or worse...
After a brief career in medicine, and an even briefer one in
stand-up, Lissa Evans became a comedy producer, first in radio and then
in television. She co-created
Room 101
with Nick Hancock, produced
Father Ted
and co-produced and directed
The Kumars at Number 42
. She lives in north London.
