SOME thought they were kidding when it was announced a new Dad's Army movie was set to film in Bridlington.
But as these first pictures to emerge from the set of the classic comedy remake illustrate, Captain Mainwaring and his trusty Home Guard troops are very much real and ready for action.
The pictures, taken earlier this week in Bempton, near Bridlington, show several key cast members manoeuvring through the windswept East Riding countryside, no doubt countering the threat of imminent Nazi invasion.
Roger Marriott, 50, who runs the Manor Farm Holiday Cottage in Buckton, near Bempton, said: "We hoped they would film here when it was announced filming was going to take place in Bridlington.
"It fantastic for the area and great publicity for the area.
"Catherine Zeta-Jones or any of the stars only need to ask if they want to stay at Manor Farm."
Among the major cast members spotted on set on Monday were Hull acting legend Tom Courtenay, who plays Lance Corporal Jones, and Michael Gambon, who plays elderly medic Private Godfrey in the movie.
Both men were wearing full Home Guard uniform, while extras were seen wearing camouflage outfits.
Gambon seemed, bizarrely, to also be carrying a Polynesian- style flower garland into battle.
Also spotted briefly on set as night fell was Hollywood A-lister Catherine Zeta-Jones, who is believed to be playing an American reporter called Rose Winters who sets pulses racing among the troops.
Other actors, including Inbetweeners star Blake Harrison as Private Pike and Danny Mays as the spiv Private Walker, were also in Bempton preparing to film outdoor scenes.
Harrison was wearing Pike's famous scarf while Mays sported Walker's trademark moustache while puffing on a cigarette.
The company was set to finish filming around Bempton's rugged cliffs yesterday before moving to Bridlington's Old Town to film indoor scenes.
Next week the production is due to shoot in Bridlington's historic High Street, which is standing in for Walmington- On-Sea, with 300 extras taking part in a major crowd scene.
Preparations are already under way in the street, with modern double yellow lines and shop frontages being removed or restored to a 1940s vintage look.
The film is being helmed by director Oliver Parker, who helped relaunch the St Trinian's movie franchise and made box office hit Johnny English Reborn starring Rowan Atkinson in 2011.
British talentTHERE is a considerable amount of British talent behind the new Dad's Army.
As well as a formidable array of actors, including Toby Jones and Bill Nighy, there's plenty of talent behind the camera, too. The screenplay has been written by Hamish McColl, whose film credits include Mr Bean's Holiday.
He also wrote the acclaimed theatre production The Play What I Wrote, about Morecambe and Wise.
The producer is Damian Jones, known for bringing The Iron Lady, which starred Meryl Streep, and The History Boys to the big screen.
