BBC W1A sequel with Hugh Bonneville confirmed after 8 years
Titled Twenty Twenty Six, the brand new sitcom will focus on the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
In the six-part mockumentary series, Bonneville will reprise the role as he takes on a new title, the BBC's director of integrity for the World Cup.
Following rumours last year, the broadcaster announced the news fans have been waiting for in a mock press release, stating Fletcher's latest appointment as Director of Integrity at the global football tournament.
The character was first introduced in 2011 series Twenty Twelve, which followed an organising committee for the London Olympic Games and later inspired W1A in 2014.
Is there a follow-up to W1A? Find out what Twenty Twenty Six is about
The BBC shares: 'Having previously held a leadership role on the London Games of Twenty Twelve and a spell in W1A as the Head of Values at the BBC, Ian Fletcher (Hugh Bonneville) is now bound for the greatest stage in world football.
'Next year's tournament will be the biggest ever. Hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico with 48 countries taking part and 16 venues thousands of miles apart across the whole of North America; what could possibly go wrong? Ian Fletcher is about to find out, as he joins the Twenty Twenty Six Oversight Team in Miami as its Director of Integrity.'
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Character Ian Fletcher said: "I'm thrilled at the prospect of joining the Oversight Team in Miami for this unique event. And in terms of the Integrity role, to borrow a soccer analogy, this is a rare opportunity to set out your own goals and then score them on the global stage.'
W1A sequel Twenty Twenty Six cast list revealed
Bonneville's character will join the Twenty Twenty Six Oversight Team in Miami, with a cast including The Day Of The Jackal's Nick Blood, Fresh Off The Boat star Chelsey Crisp and Designated Survivor's Paulo Costanzo.
Stephen Kunken, best known for playing Ari Spyros in Billions, also joins the cast alongside The Inbetweeners' Belinda Stewart-Wilson.
Did you watch W1A as well as Twenty Twelve? (Image: BBC)
How to watch W1A sequel Twenty Twenty Six on TV
Twenty Twenty Six will consist of six 30-minute episodes and will be available to watch on BBC One and iPlayer – a release date is yet to be announced.
W1A became a hit with viewers, and in 2013, Bonneville was nominated for four TV Bafta award,s and the original series took the Best Situation Comedy award.
The show also starred The Crown's Olivia Colman, who won the 2013 Bafta for Best Female Performance in a Comedy.
Director John Morton commented: '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.
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'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.
'I'm thrilled and hugely grateful to the BBC for giving me the chance to follow him again, this time all the way to Miami, and I literally can't wait to see what happens.'
You can watch all episodes of W1A and Twenty Twelve on BBC iPlayer.
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