The cast will include Ben Chaplin (Mad Dogs), Michael Palin (Life of Brian), Julian Rhind-Tutt (Green Wing), Steve Oram (Kill List) and Emilia Fox (Silent Witness).

The official synopsis reads: “In the bombed- out ruins of Ypres in 1916 Captain Fred Roberts and Lieutenant Jack Pearson discovered a printing press.  They used it to produce The Wipers Times – a humorous, satirical and subversive trench newspaper which proved hugely popular with soldiers – though not entirely with their superior officers. Braving constant bombardment and bitter fighting, The Wipers Times survived the Somme and made it through to the end of the war. Roberts and Pearson were highly decorated – yet were unrecognised in their lifetime. The Wipers Times is a story of the extraordinary resilience of the human spirit in the face of overwhelming adversity.”

Janice Hadlow, Controller BBC Two, commented: “Just like the original Wipers Times, this new history drama will be filled with jokes, spoofs and amazing examples of courage behind the laughs. I am delighted to be bringing such a brilliant drama and cast to BBC Two.”

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