Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley and Timothy Spall in Arundel and Worthing: Here's everything we know so far about their new film

Big screen royalty Timothy Spall was spotted on Worthing promenade yesterday (Wednesday, October 5) and filming is continuing today.

The film star, who first rose to fame for his role as Barry Spencer Taylor in the 1983 comedy series Auf Wiedersehen, Pet, joins co-stars Olivia Coleman and Jessie Buckley on the set of period comedy drama, set in the 1920s.

A spokesperson for Adur and Worthing Councils said: “A section of Worthing promenade will be under limited access this week as another film crew is to use our picturesque seafront for an upcoming production.

“From Wednesday (October 5) to Saturday (October 8), vehicles and crew will be occupying various points along the stretch of coastline from CrabShack at the bottom of Warwick Road to the Lido, although limited access for pedestrians will remain available.”

In recent years, the film Stan & Ollie was filmed in the borough, while, in 2015, the councils assisted the BBC with filming for their police drama series Cuffs, which used Adur Civic Centre, Worthing Town Hall and Colonnade House as sets.

Olivia Colman also filmed a scene inside Worthing's Pavilion Theatre for Sam Mendes’ Hollywood film Empire of Light in March. Click here to read more.

During this week’s filming, the councils have asked that visitors to the beach ‘please give the production crew plenty of space’.

What will the film be about and is it a true story?

Directed by Thea Sharrock (known for Me Before You (2016), The Hollow Crown (2012) and The One and Only Ivan (2020), Wicked Little Letters will follow the story of a group of women who set out to solve the mystery of who is writing ‘scandalous and obscene’ letters to people in Littlehampton.

The film, which will be based on a true story, is an adaptation of Miriam Toews' novel.

Oscar-winning Olivia Colman was pictured in Arundel this week with co-stars Jessie Buckley (Olivier award-winner) and Dame Eileen Atkins (BAFTA TV Award-winner). Colman and Buckley both earned Oscar nominations for their roles in Netflix’s The Lost Daughter.

The film will transport Arundel and Worthing back to the 1920s with Blue Print Pictures changing and dressing the appearance of a number of shops.

The production company has reportedly made a donation to Arundel Town Council to compensate for the inconvenience caused by the road closures.

A spokesperson for Arun District Council said last week: “Having Wicked Little Letters filmed in Arundel is a fantastic opportunity to showcase a beautiful location and it’s a great spotlight on the district too.

"It has caused a lot of excitement across the district to have celebrities and film crews in town and we are looking forward to spotting familiar locations in the final film.”

Click here to see more pictures of some of the stars, including Olivia Colman, in Arundel.