Michael Palin to star in BBC drama The Wipers Times

BBC Sign in blue lighting, Broadcasting House, LondonThe Wipers Times stars Michael Palin, Ben Chaplin, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Steve Oram and Emilia Fox.

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. – Janice Hadlow, Controller of BBC Two and BBC Four

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 90-minute one off drama tells the story of the extraordinary resilience of the human spirit in the face of overwhelming adversity.