Duxford 2009 - Press Release

Imperial War Museum Duxford was delighted to be chosen as a filming location for a brand new six-part documentary to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the Second World War.

Home Front Britain with Jim Carter is a brand new series that tells the story of the Second World War on the Home Front through a rare collection of Ministry of Information wartime films.

Imperial War Museum Duxford was chosen as the most appropriate Second World War site at which to film sections giving contemporary historical relevance to the Ministry of Information films. Instantly recognisable wartime icons based at Duxford and featured in these film sequences include the Lancaster bomber, Spitfire, B-17 Flying Fortress, the V1 Bomb and Duxford’s perfectly recreated Second World War Operations Room.

At the time of the outbreak of the Second World War, few people owned a television. The main methods of communication were the wireless and the picture houses. In order to reach as wide an audience as possible with news and information, The Ministry of Information employed the cream of Britain’s film makers, actors and writers – including JB Priestly, E M Forster, Laurence Olivier, John Mills – to produce these essential propaganda messages.

Presented by celebrated actor Jim Carter (Red Ridings, Shakespeare in Love, The Golden Compass, Cranford), Home Front Britain with Jim Carter is a fascinating journey back in time and a unique opportunity to see how these fascinating films played a crucial role in the British war effort.

Set in the beautiful Cambridgeshire countryside, historic Duxford is a living, breathing aviation museum and home to the best preserved Second World War Royal Air Force airfield in the world.

Home Front Britain with Jim Carter can be seen on the Discovery Channel. The series runs for six weeks commencing on Friday 11 September at 10.00pm.