Fans of the BBC comedies W1A and Twenty Twelve can expect more exquisitely awkward chaos in a new tongue in-cheek TV offering which sees Hugh Bonneville return as the ever-composed Ian Fletcher. The new show entitled Twenty Twenty Six sees Ian bag a snazzy new job title and navigate the high-stakes world of international football – what could possibly go wrong? Set against a major tournament spanning Canada, Mexico and the United States, the series is a sharp, knowing look at what happens when big events meet even bigger egos.
We sat down with Hugh to get the inside info on what to expect from the show....
What’s the premise of Twenty Twenty Six?
‘A return for me to the role of Ian Fletcher, who has now been dropped into an international football organisation as director of integrity, overseeing a huge multinational tournament. The scale is bigger, the pressure higher and, naturally, plenty threatens to go wrong.'
Has Ian changed?
'He likes to think so. In evolutionary terms, he’d place himself somewhere between amoeba and fully formed modern human. His guiding principle remains unwavering calm, holding steady while everything around him teeters on the edge of chaos. A professional balancer of the unbalanceable.'
Do we see any personal growth this time?
'There’s the faintest glimmer of emotional awakening, but it’s very faint, and slightly complicated by the small matter of Ian recovering from a detached retina. So there is progress, but in Ian’s own unique way.'
Why is he such a joy to play?
'That constant low-level panic beneath a composed exterior. The ticking clock, the impossible deadlines, the meetings where promises are made and quietly doomed. Leading a team like that, while everything hurtles towards disaster, that is where the comedy lives.'
Where there any standout moments?
'A surprisingly heated debate about microchips in footballs spirals beyond control, and a colleague’s unfortunate slip of the tongue on live radio snowballs into viral mayhem. Everyday mishaps, magnified to glorious absurdity.'
Is comedy di****fferent from drama?
'Not at all. The key is treating everything as deadly serious. The characters never see the joke because, to them, there isn’t one. Life is inherently serious… even when it becomes completely farcical.'
Have you got any real-life football skills to draw on?
'A brief and memorable stint as an Under 11 B team goalkeeper, equipped with a padded top, and largely occupied with staying warm rather than saving goals. A career highlight: standing still in a green, slightly duvet-like kit.'
Why should we watch Twenty Twenty Six?
'It offers a more cheerful alternative to the news and still captures just how chaotic the world can feel.'
What does 2026 have in store personally?
'A firm plan to wash my hair in June– an appointment not to be missed.'
When can I watch Twenty Twenty Six?
Twenty Twenty Six will air on BBC1, on Friday 10 April and will be available to stream on the BBC iPlayer.