Based on an astounding true tale of a bold World War Two mission, this film recounts the real-life events that altered the trajectory of the war and is set to air on BBC tonight.

Operation Mincemeat, featuring Colin Firth, Matthew Macfadyen, Jason Isaacs, Kelly Macdonald, Penelope Wilton, Johnny Flynn and Mark Gatiss, revisits the peculiar circumstances where the Allied forces employed unconventional tactics to mislead their German adversaries in 1943.

Tasked with breaking Hitler’s grip on Europe and orchestrating a massive assault on Sicily, the Allies grapple with a seemingly impossible challenge – safeguarding their enormous invasion force from potential annihilation.

The onus of ensuring the mission’s safety rests on two courageous intelligence officers – Ewen Montagu, portrayed by Colin Firth, and Charles Cholmondeley, played by Matthew Macfadyen.

They devise what could be the most audacious strategy to feed false information to the Germans – using a deceased man as their covert operative.

Drawing from actual events, Operation Mincemeat narrates the remarkable story of a daring concept that shifted the course of the war, risking thousands of lives and pushing the two men behind the improbable plan to their limits.

Released in 2021 and directed by John Madden, the film is based on the eponymous book penned by Ben Macintyre.

Operation Mincemeat enjoyed modest commercial success whilst earning praise from reviewers, with one noting “the story itself is so absurd and is told with enough surprises and dry humor that it’s constantly engaging”. The film boasts a respectable 83 per cent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, reports the Mirror.

One reviewer said: “Operation Mincemeat is a stylish dive into history with a fantastic cast ready to show off their chops at any given moment.”

Another added: “A ripping yarn full of intrigue and exacting detail…The perilous nature of the plan, which could have gone wrong at a hundred turns, is duly highlighted by director John Madden, who manages to inject a tense sense of adventure in the proceedings.”

A third critic noted: “Sometimes a shamelessly retro wartime romance is all the escape you need and Colin Firth and Matthew Macfadyen add class and wicked humor to this fact-based WW2 spy thriller about how British intelligence used a corpse to put one over on Hitler.”

Audiences were equally impressed. One viewer said: “Director John Madden never disappoints. More cerebral than many WWII stories, this intelligence drama has wit and a delightful cast.”

Another wrote: “Operation Mincemeat is such an intelligent and engaging film all the way through. It’s not an action-packed, stereotypical war film. It’s a drama, a beautiful re-telling of a story I’d never heard.”

Meanwhile, a third viewer added: “This is the second or third time I’ve seen this movie, and it still captivates me in a way I think could be missed if you’re not paying attention. It is a significant story told through the depth and intellect of its characters, as developed by very detailed writing, and is most definitely a slow-burner. The intrigue and suspense come as the story presses on, becoming bigger and more important as it does so. The source material being what it is, the prologue adds a sheen to the gravitas the film manages to achieve by the end.”

Operation Mincemeat is being shown at 9pm on BBC2 on Friday, January 2.

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