The first cut of the film was delivered to investors in 2019. It originally consisted predominantly of scenes set in 1940s London focusing on a young Joan Taylor. The investors were uncomfortable with the film's focus on World War 2, and insisted the flashback sequences be cut back significantly to accommodate much more of the present-day plot with the elderly Joan Taylor, whom fans of The Catherine Tate Show would recognize. New footage, greatly expanding the modern-day road trip sections, was filmed without director Josie Rourke at a low-cost, with animation sequences also used to fill any gaps. As a result of these additions, Rourke had her director's credit removed, and the released cut of the film simply does not have a director credit.