The ladies of Great Paxford return!

Filming has begun on the second series of ITV Studios World War II drama, Home Fires.

Set in the summer of 1940 in the village of Great Paxford, Home Fires – inspired by Julie Summers ‘Jambusters’ – follows the women of the Great Paxford Women’s Institute during the war years, as they unite and discover inner resources that will change their lives forever.

The six-part series, created and written by Simon Block (The Eichmann Show), stars Samantha Bond (Downton Abbey) and Francesca Annis (The Little House), 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).

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. .

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

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.

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

Filming on the second series of Home Fires has begun in Cheshire this week for broadcast on ITV in 2016.