DVD RELEASE: Pre-order Your Copy Of W1A Today

The Region 2 (UK and Europe) DVD of W1A will be released on Monday 29th September 2014.

The brand new sitcom from the BBC is another creation by the team behind the award winning spoof documentary Twenty Twelve and follows the ongoing career of the former head of the Olympic Deliverance Commission, Ian Fletcher. Hugh Bonneville returns as Fletcher, with Jessica Hynes reprising her role as PR guru Siobhan Sharpe. David Tennant once again provides the voiceover.

W1A

With the London games of Twenty Twelve successfully delivered, W1A follows former Head of the Olympic Deliverance Commission Ian Fletcher (Hugh Bonneville) at the start of a new chapter of his life as Head of Values at the BBC, a key and very specific senior new post which has been created in the light of recent learning opportunities at the corporation.
Ian’s task as Head of Values is to clarify, define, or re-define the core purpose of the BBC across all its functions and to position it confidently for the future.
Upon arrival Ian feels that there is something very exciting about the BBC and that he is now at the centre of something genuinely important. The really exciting thing is to think that part of his job is to try to establish where that centre is and also exactly what it is in the centre of.
However Ian will not be alone, as he is joined by a number of other BBC colleagues who are already there as well as by Brand Consultant Siobhan Sharpe from PR Company Perfect Curve (Jessica Hynes)- an expert in all aspects of communications theory except in how to apply any of them.

The new series on W1A begins on BBC Two tonight at 10pm

Pre-order your copy of the DVD from the BBC Shop here

UK PREMIERE: Watch Episode 1 Of W1A Narrated By David Tennant Tonight

W1A begins BBC Two this evening from 10pm. The four part series follows the latest career move of former head of the fictional Olympic Deliverance Commission, Ian Fletcher (Hugh Bonneville). With the London Games of Twenty Twelve safely delivered he begins a new role as Head of Values at the BBC. Jessica Hynes also returns as PR Consultant Siobhan Sharpe. Filmed in a spoof fly-on-the-wall documentary style, the show also features a voice over by David Tennant

W1A - Episode 1/4
Wednesday 19th March
10.00 - 10.30pm
Ian Fletcher’s first challenge on arriving at New Broadcasting House, on his brand new and much-improved folding bike, is to find somewhere to sit in a building aggressively over designed around the principle of not having a desk.

Ian finds himself holding the hottest of hot potatoes when Mebyon Kernow activist Nigel Trescott complains that Cornwall and the Cornish are shamefully under-represented on the BBC.

Things get worse when BBC Spotlight South West presenter Sally Wingate goes public with her feeling that her failure to progress to a national presenting role might be part of the BBC’s institutionally anti-Cornish bias.

Ideas of how best to limit the damage lead to PR company Perfect Curve’s Siobhan Sharpe suggesting getting Sally to do something on Springwatch or some kind of Bake Off.

Meanwhile, producer Lucy Freeman is having meetings with Head of Output Anna Rampton and Entertainment Format Creative David Wilkes about a forthcoming new flagship show - Britain’s Tastiest Village - which according to David is “kind of Britain’s Got Talent meets Countryfile with a bit of The One Show thrown in just in case.”

Anna wants a progress report and there’s good news and bad news. They’ve virtually got Alan Titchmarsh on board now, but the very bad news is that it looks like they’ve lost Clare Balding - “words you never ever want to hear” - as the dates of How Big Is Your Dog, a new show she’s doing for ITV, have changed at the last minute.

Ian Fletcher is played by Hugh Bonneville, Siobhan Sharpe is played by Jessica Hynes, Anna Rampton is played by Sarah Parish, Lucy Freeman is played by Nina Sosanya, David Wilkes is played by Rufus Jones, Nigel Trescott is played by Simon Greenall and Sally Wingate is played by Karen Ascoe.

W1A is written and directed by John Morton (Twenty Twelve, People Like Us), produced by Paul Schlesinger and executive produced by Jon Plowman.

VIDEO: Preview Clips From W1A Featuring David Tennant

The BBC have released a selection of preview clips from the first episode of new comedy W1A. The series follows on from the award winning spoof documentary Twenty Twelve and sees Hugh Bonneville and Jessica Hynes reprising their roles as Ian Fletcher and Siobhan Sharpe, capitalising on their success in bringing the London Olympic Games to fruition by taking on new roles in the BBC. David Tennant also returns to supply a deadpan narration.

In the first clip, Ian Fletcher chairs the first ever meeting of the Way Ahead Task Force Group:




The second clip sees Ian reunited with Siobhan Sharpe:

The third clip finds Ian attending a digital handshake session for new BBC staff



W1A begins tonight at 10pm on BBC Two

Episode 1

With the London games of Twenty Twelve successfully delivered, Ian Fletcher starts a new chapter in his life as head of values at the BBC.

Ian's first challenge on arriving at New Broadcasting House, on his brand new and much-improved folding bike, is to find somewhere to sit in a building aggressively over-designed around the principle of not having a desk.

Ian finds himself holding the hottest of hot potatoes when Mebyan Kernow activist Nigel Trescott complains that Cornwall, and the Cornish, are shamefully under-represented on the BBC.

Things get worse when BBC Spotlight South West presenter Sally Wingate goes public with her feeling that her failure to progress to a national presenting role might be part of the BBC's institutionally anti-Cornish bias.

Ideas of how best to limit the damage lead to PR company Perfect Curve's Siobhan Sharpe suggesting Sally should do something on Snog, Marry, Avoid or some kind of Bake Off.

Meanwhile, producer Lucy Freeman is having meetings with head of output Anna Rampton and entertainment format creative David Wilkes about a forthcoming new flagship show - Britain's Tastiest Village - which, according to David, is 'kind of Britain's Got Talent meets Countryfile with a bit of The One Show thrown in just in case'.

Anna wants a progress report and there's good news and bad news. They've virtually got Alan Titchmarsh on board now, but the very bad news is that it looks like they've lost Clare Balding - 'words you never ever want to hear' - as the dates of How Big is Your Dog, a new show she's doing for ITV, have changed at the last minute.

For more information about the series, including character profiles and cast interviews visit the BBC Media Centre

W1A Preview Gives a Glimpse Of David Tennant's Lines

Ian Fletcher (played by Hugh Bonneville), the former head of the fictional Olympic Deliverance Commission in Twenty Twelve makes a very welcome return to TV screens next week in new sitcom W1A. Following his great success in bringing the 2012 London Olympics into fruition Ian has now been headhunted by the BBC and takes up a new role as Head of Values. He's joined by another familiar face from his past as PR guru Siobhan Sharpe (Jessica Hynes) is also on board. The four part series is created by John Morton (Twenty Twelve, People Like Us) who once again uses his trademark mock-documentary style to poke fun at the jargon and bureaucracy of large organisations. 

David Tennant returns to deliver a deadpan narration, and the preview of the series in The Independent gives a first glimpse of some of the lines that he will be delivering:

On Ian Fletcher's new role:
"...a key and very senior new post specifically created in light of recent learning opportunities at the Corporation."

That as the leader of the BBC's Way Ahead Task Force Group, Ian has:

"...the chance to put the value of values literally on the agenda."

On a new BBC One show: 

"...the dream team of Alan Titchmarsh and Clare Balding. It's 'Countryfile' meets 'Bake-Off' with a bit of 'The One Show' thrown in, just in case. Its aim is to change the face of Sunday night TV, for better or for worse."

W1A begins on BBC Two on Wednesday 19th March at 10pm

Read the preview by The Independent here

CONFIRMED: Broadcast Date And First Episode Details Of W1A Narrated By David Tennant

The BBC have now confirmed broadcast details for the first episode of W1A, the follow up to the comedy series Twenty Twelve. As we posted earlier today the programme will air on BBC Two on Thursday 19th March at 10.00pm

The four part series follows the latest career move of former head of the fictional Olympic Deliverance Commission, Ian Fletcher (Hugh Bonneville). With the London Games of Twenty Twelve safely delivered he begins a new role as Head of Values at the BBC. Jessica Hynes also returns as PR Consultant Siobhan Sharpe. Filmed in a spoof fly-on-the-wall documentary style, the show also features a voice over by David Tennant

W1A - Episode 1/4
Wednesday 19th March
10.00 - 10.30pm
Ian Fletcher’s first challenge on arriving at New Broadcasting House, on his brand new and much-improved folding bike, is to find somewhere to sit in a building aggressively over designed around the principle of not having a desk.

Ian finds himself holding the hottest of hot potatoes when Mebyon Kernow activist Nigel Trescott complains that Cornwall and the Cornish are shamefully under-represented on the BBC.

Things get worse when BBC Spotlight South West presenter Sally Wingate goes public with her feeling that her failure to progress to a national presenting role might be part of the BBC’s institutionally anti-Cornish bias.

Ideas of how best to limit the damage lead to PR company Perfect Curve’s Siobhan Sharpe suggesting getting Sally to do something on Springwatch or some kind of Bake Off.

Meanwhile, producer Lucy Freeman is having meetings with Head of Output Anna Rampton and Entertainment Format Creative David Wilkes about a forthcoming new flagship show - Britain’s Tastiest Village - which according to David is “kind of Britain’s Got Talent meets Countryfile with a bit of The One Show thrown in just in case.”

Anna wants a progress report and there’s good news and bad news. They’ve virtually got Alan Titchmarsh on board now, but the very bad news is that it looks like they’ve lost Clare Balding - “words you never ever want to hear” - as the dates of How Big Is Your Dog, a new show she’s doing for ITV, have changed at the last minute.

Ian Fletcher is played by Hugh Bonneville, Siobhan Sharpe is played by Jessica Hynes, Anna Rampton is played by Sarah Parish, Lucy Freeman is played by Nina Sosanya, David Wilkes is played by Rufus Jones, Nigel Trescott is played by Simon Greenall and Sally Wingate is played by Karen Ascoe.

W1A is written and directed by John Morton (Twenty Twelve, People Like Us), produced by Paul Schlesinger and executive produced by Jon Plowman.

Click here for the BBC W1A media pack featuring character profiles and video interviews

Source: BBC Media Centre

Start Date For W1A Narrated By David Tennant

The first episode of W1A, the follow up to award winning sitcom Twenty Twelve will be aired on BBC Two on Wednesday 19th March at 10pm. The new series, created by John Morton, will comprise of four 30 minute episodes.

The spoof fly-on-the-wall series sees Ian Fletcher, played by Hugh Bonneville, taking up a new post as the Head of Values at the BBC, described as 'a key and very specific new senior post, which has been created in the light of recent learning opportunities at the Corporation.' The former head of the Olympic Deliverance Commission will be joined by another familiar face in the form of Perfect Curve's Siobhan Sharpe (Jessica Hynes), now in post as the Brand BBC Consultant.

There's a whole host of new characters to aid Ian in his new venture played by Sarah Parish, Jason Watkins, Monica Dolan, David Westhead, Nina Sosanya, Rufus Jones, Hugh Skinner, Ophelia Lovibond, Jonathan Bailey, Max Olesker and Iván Gonzalez. David Tennant once again provides a deadpan voiceover.

The BBC Media Centre have produced a media pack including character profiles and interviews with cast members. Click here to read more.

The series start date is pending final confirmation by the BBC and May be subject to last minute schedule changes. 

Check out a first look at the new series here: