‘Twenty Twenty Six’ marks the long-awaited return of Hugh Bonneville as Ian Fletcher, as the former BBC Head of Values takes on a new challenge, this time on the world stage, as Director of Integrity for the upcoming global football tournament.
From the team behind ‘W1A’ and ‘Twenty Twelve’, the new six-part comedy for BBC One and iPlayer finds Fletcher embedded with the Twenty Twenty Six Oversight Team in Miami. With 48 countries playing across 16 venues stretching across the USA, Canada and Mexico, what could possibly go wrong?
Having survived the chaos of the London Games and life inside the BBC, Fletcher is now tasked with bringing integrity to one of the most ambitious sporting events ever staged. “To borrow a soccer analogy,” he says, “this is a rare opportunity to set out your own goals and then score them on the global stage.”
Joining Bonneville in the cast are Nick Blood (Day of The Jackal, Slow Horses), Chelsey Crisp (Fresh Off the Boat, Ten Percent), Paulo Costanzo (Designated Survivor, Royal Pains), Stephen Kunken (Billions, The Handmaid’s Tale), Jimena Larraguivel (Patience, RSC), Alexis Michalik (A Love Story) and Belinda Stewart-Wilson (The Inbetweeners, Stay Close).
The series is written and directed by John Morton, who said:
“I wasn’t sure what Ian Fletcher had been up to recently. The last I heard he was still recovering from a serious Mindfulness Course in Somerset. So, it’s great to hear that he’s made it back and has re-emerged in his natural habitat at the centre of a well-known institution, but now on the world stage and facing his biggest opportunity yet to get things right.”
Jon Petrie, BBC Director of Comedy, added:
“We’ll miss Ian’s invaluable contribution to the BBC as Head of Values but how could he resist getting the call-up to be a part of one of the most expansive and ambitious sporting events in the world. We wish him, and the team, all the best.”
‘Twenty Twenty Six’ is produced by Expectation for BBC One and iPlayer, with additional support from OKRE regarding climate and health expertise. The producer is Catherine Gosling Fuller, and executive producers are Paul Schlesinger, Nerys Evans and John Morton. BBC Studios will handle global sales.
‘Twenty Twenty Six’ will premiere on BBC One and iPlayer. If you want to keep track of this or any other shows, you can add them via our Never Miss system, and you’ll be notified when it gets a UK premiere date.
