Second series of Home Fires from ITV Studios begins filming

Second series of Home Fires from ITV Studios begins filming

Six new episodes of ITV Studios World War II drama, Home Fires, begin filming in Cheshire this week.

Following on from the success of series one, acclaimed British actresses Samantha Bond (Downton Abbey, Outnumbered) and Francesca Annis (The Little House, Cranford) are reunited with an impressive ensemble cast including Ruth Gemmell (Penny Dreadful), Claire Rushbrook (Whitechapel), Ed Stoppard (Cilla), Chris Coghill (EastEnders), Clare Calbraith (Vera), Fenella Woolgar (Spies of Warsaw), Mike Noble (Mr Selfridge), and Daniel Ryan (Mount Pleasant).

It's the summer of 1940 and the village of Great Paxford is caught up in the nightmare of the Battle of Britain. Two weeks after the defeat at Dunkirk, the German army is advancing through France and Britain is bracing itself for invasion.

Throughout the series the residents at the heart of this rural Cheshire community face their own personal challenges and conflicts as reputations are tarnished, loved ones lost, and shocking secrets are discovered. However it's the war years and the women, under the auspices of the Great Paxford Women's Institute, unite and discover inner resources that will change their lives forever whilst helping maintain the nation's fabric in its darkest hour.

New characters and friendships will also emerge as exhausted and battle-hardened Czech soldiers arrive to set up camp just outside the village.

Produced by Louise Sutton (Death in Paradise, Midsomer Murders) Home Fires also stars Antony Calf (New Tricks), Philip McGinley (No Offence), Rachel Hurd-Wood (Perfume: The Story of a Murderer), Leila Mimmack (Frankie), Jodie Hamblet (My Mad Fat Diary), Danish actor Alexandre Willaume (Rita), Will Attenborough (The Hollow Crown), Brian Fletcher (The Passing Bells), Frances Grey (Shetland), Claire Price (Rebus), Leanne Best (Ripper Street), Mark Umbers (Mistresses), Gillian Dean (Doctors) and Daisy Badger.

Inspired by the book Jambusters' by Julie Summers, creator and writer Simon Block (The Eichmann Show, The Shooting of Thomas Hurndall) has devised the second series with Executive Producers, Francis Hopkinson (Wallander, Lucan, Jekyll & Hyde) and Catherine Oldfield (Collison, Fingersmith, Foyle's War). Simon will also serve as Executive Producer and will write episodes for the new series alongside Glen Laker (Vera, Holby City) and Marston Bloom (New Tricks, Casualty).

Robert Quinn (Jekyll & Hyde, Primeval) returns to the team to direct episodes 1-3, whilst John Hayes (Strike Back, Game of Thrones) joins and directs episodes 4-6.

Home Fires has been recommissioned for ITV by Director of Drama Steve November and Controller of Drama Victoria Fea.

The first series averaged 6.2 million viewers and a 24% share when it debuted on ITV earlier this year. Broadcast for the second series is expected in 2016.

LINK:	http://www.itv.com/presscentre/press-releases/second-series-home-fires...
	See more stories from itv

Most recent headlines