BBC is reviving the beloved comedy Twenty Twelve, 14 years after its debut, under a new title Twenty Twenty Six. The show, created, written and directed by John Morton, first aired on BBC Four in 2011 before moving to BBC Two. The revival positions the satirical look at staging a major sporting event against the backdrop of a North American-hosted tournament.
Hugh Bonneville will reprise his role as Ian Fletcher, with Hugh Skinner returning as Will Humphries. The ensemble also features EastEnders' Nicole Sadie Sawyerr, Sex Education's Joe Heweston, Blitz's Erin Kellyman and Everything I Know About Love's Marli Siu. David Tennant will again narrate the series. The project marks a continuation of Morton’s collaboration with the BBC and signals a fresh chapter for the loosely scripted, mock-documentary style the show popularized during its original run.
In the BBC’s press materials, Twenty Twenty Six is framed around the Twenty Twenty Six Oversight Team in Miami, where its members confront the logistical and political furor of delivering a global tournament. Ian Fletcher is described as joining the Oversight Team as its Director of Integrity, a role that places him at the center of the production’s comical chaos. Will Humphries, now elevated from a hapless intern to a trusted figure within Ian’s orbit, returns as a driving force alongside a new and familiar cast. Skinner, who previously played Will in W1A, voiced enthusiasm about returning to the world of Ian Fletcher. "It’s been absolutely ages since I played Will in W1A," he said. "He’s still on the whole, completely useless and I’m thrilled to be having another go. It’s been a complete joy being back with the cast and crew, old and new, and I am so looking forward to seeing what audiences make of the Twenty Twenty Six Oversight Team."
The revival also brings a broad slate of new faces, expanding the original ensemble with contemporary talents and familiar faces from British television. Nicole Sadie Sawyerr from EastEnders, Joe Heweston from Sex Education, Erin Kellyman of Blitz and Marli Siu from Everything I Know About Love are part of the lineup, with David Tennant continuing to lend his narration. The mix aims to blend the show’s iconic backstage mockumentary style with fresh perspectives on the modern era of mega-events.
John Morton, the creator, expressed exhilaration about reuniting the project with the BBC and taking Ian Fletcher on a new journey: "I’m thrilled and hugely grateful to the BBC for giving me the chance to follow Ian again, this time all the way to Miami, and I literally can’t wait to see what happens." The production’s creative leadership remains anchored by Morton, who has described Twenty Twenty Six as both a homage to the original and a fresh take on an era-defining global event.
Expectation’s Creative Director, Scripted, Nerys Evans, added: "I’ve been a fan of John’s writing for such a long time, especially seeing the different challenges he creates for poor Ian Fletcher, so beautifully portrayed by Hugh Bonneville. We’re thrilled to be collaborating on Twenty Twenty Six, I can’t wait to see what he’s got in store for Ian this time."
The original Twenty Twelve launched in 2011 and ran for 12 episodes across two seasons, later airing on BBC Two and earning a place in the public’s affection for its wry, behind-the-scenes look at the pressures of Olympic spectacle. Its cast included Hugh Bonneville, Amelia Bullmore, Olivia Colman, Vincent Franklin and Jessica Hynes, among others, with a larger recurring ensemble. The show won Best TV Sitcom at the 2011 British Comedy Awards; in 2013 Olivia Colman earned BAFTA recognition for Best Female Performance in a Comedy Programme, along with additional honors from the Broadcasting Press Guild and RTS.
As Twenty Twenty Six moves toward its release on BBC One and BBC iPlayer next year, the project positions itself as a continuation of the satirical tradition that accompanied London’s 2012 Olympics—reimagined through the lens of a multi-year, mega-event that now unfolds across a North American landscape with 48 participating nations and 16 venues. The BBC has stressed that the tournament’s scale will be a key backdrop, with the narrative following the Oversight Team’s attempts to navigate coordination, integrity and the inevitable chaos that accompanies such an undertaking.
The return of Twenty Twenty Six is part of a broader trend in British television to revive classic formats with contemporary talent, aiming to appeal to both longtime fans and new viewers drawn to high-profile guest appearances and cross-genre casting. While the new series nods to its predecessor through core characters and a similar tone, it also promises updated humor and current cultural references that reflect the changing landscape of global sports and media.
With Bonneville back in the fold and a mix of fresh performers, Twenty Twenty Six seeks to recapture the charm of the original while offering a refreshed take on the pressures of delivering a world-stage event. The project’s development signals a renewed appetite for ensemble comedies rooted in workplace satire, administrative misfires and the human foibles of those who manage large-scale productions. Fans remain eager to see how the new configuration handles the balance between spoof and sincerity, and whether it can sustain the wit and warmth that defined the show’s early years.