W1A is set to return to our screens (Picture: BBC PICTURE ARCHIVES)
Mockumentary W1A is set to return to our screens after seven years.
The BBC show’s first iteration came as London 2012 Olympics lampooning comedy Twenty Twenty, which introduced Ian Fletcher – played by Hugh Bonneville – a management official tasked with overseeing preparations for the event.
He was joined by blundering PR official Siobhan Sharpe, played by Jessica Hynes, as they worked together to untangle mess after mess, which were often a result of their own errors.
Then came the follow up in W1A, which saw former Olympic head of deliverance Ian working as the BBC’s head of values.
W1A, written by John Morton, aired from 2014 for three years, with its last episode released in October 2017.
Now actor Sarah Parish – who appeared as head of output bully Anna Rampton in the beloved series – has revealed another series is being written, although she will not appear in it.
The BBC mockumentary last aired in 2017 (Picture: BBC/Jack Barnes)
Sarah Parish – who played Anna Rampton in the series – revealed the news (Picture: BBC/Jack Barnes)
‘John Morton, the writer, is so brilliant and so fabulous at picking out the subtleties of the horror of working in an institution that big, but he did it brilliantly,’ she said on That Gaby Roslin podcast, adding: ‘It was a joyful thing to be in.’
She continued: ‘It’s being written I think – maybe I’m talking out of turn, I don’t know. So Ian Fletcher will continue.
‘And I thought probably Siobhan could go with him because wherever Ian goes, Siobhan goes as well and does all his PR really badly.
‘So I’m hoping that those two characters will have another rebirth into another series.’
The Industry star added: ‘I won’t be in it.’
Looking back at when they were filming the mockumentary, the Trollied actor remembered fondly: ‘Most employees at the BBC thought we were making a documentary, they didn’t find it remotely funny.
‘We were basically just living their every day life.’
Last year actor Hugh and Jason Watkins momentarily returned as their W1A characters to poke fun at the BBC’s decision to take Gary Lineker off Match Of The Day following a tweet in which the pundit criticised the government’s immigration policy.
The show aired for three years (Picture: BBC/Jack Barnes)
The Downton Abbey star sent a tweet to Jason in character as Ian, discussing his proposed plans for Match Of The Day with Jason’s Simon, suggesting Lord Alan Sugar or former prime minister Boris Johnson could step in as pundits pulled out.
‘Right no yes it’s all perfectly under control: Alan Sugar’s going to present (Match of the Day) and if Ian Wright does end up playing truant, (BBC chair) Richard Sharp says Boris Johnson will stand in for £800,000,; Paddington film star Hugh tweeted.
‘So that’s all good.’
After former Arsenal footballer and pundit Wright pulled out of appearing on Match of the Day, closely followed by ex-Newcastle striker Alan Shearer, The Crown actor Watkins responded.
‘Yes no brilliant brilliant brilliant Ian,’ he tweeted.
‘I mean you’ll know how you want to deal with this but Timmy sweating a little as, (did you know?) Boris is asking for the 800k PER SHOW. He knows less about football than he does about throwing a party. And Alan supports Spurs!
‘Ah now no yes, it’s a knotty isn’t it? Shearer going behind the bike shed too now. Says HE won’t do (Match of the Day) (Hates being left out!)’
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