‘Now listen everybody. I have some very important news: filming has begun’

Clive Dunn, Arthur Lowe and John Le Mesurier in Dad's Army

A mini city of trailers and lighting units sprung up in the car park at North Landing on nearby Flamborough Head over the weekend, ahead of the first day of shooting yesterday.

A cast including Catherine Zeta Jones, Sarah Lancashire, Bill Nighy and Michael Gambon, are due to make appearances in the next five weeks.

The 300ft cliffs at Bempton is set to become the White Cliffs of Dover, while Bridlington’s High Street will stand in as the fictional Walmington-on-Sea.

A nearby hotelier said crew had been coming in for coffees and meals: “The car park is full of wagons.

“About 15 vehicles set off this morning towards Bridlington with a Jack Jones Butcher’s on the back of a trailer and another with an old car. As far as I know they are shooting up at Bempton at some stage, and apparently they are going to be a week down at North Landing.”

Catherine Zeta Jones will play a journalist sent to write about the men’s exploits in the film which is directed by Oliver Parker and sees the hapless volunteers in search of a spy.

The cast for the film, based on the hugely popular TV show, includes Tom Courtenay as Corporal Jones and Michael Gambon as Godfrey. Toby Jones will be pompous bank manager Captain Mainwaring and Bill Nighy will play his deputy, Sergeant Wilson.