Zeta Jones recruited for Dad’s Army

She will play a journalist sent to Walmington-on-Sea 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 Second World War sitcom, includes Tom Courtenay as Corporal Jones and Michael Gambon as Godfrey.

Toby Jones has already been announced in the role of pompous bank manager Captain Mainwaring - played by Arthur Lowe in the original - and Bill Nighy will play his deputy, Sergeant Wilson.

Other cast members include Inbetweeners star Blake Harrison as Private Pike and Danny Mays as the spiv Walker and there are roles for Sarah Lancashire, Alison Steadman, Mark Gatiss and Annette Crosbie.

They start filming this month in Yorkshire.

The show ran from 1968 to 1977, attracting 18 million viewers at its height, and the original cast made a film in 1971.

Some two million still people tune in for repeats of the old show which was the creation of Jimmy Perry and David Croft.