BBC comedy W1A offered a hilarious glimpse into the inner workings of the broadcaster, showcasing the controlled chaos that ensued behind the scenes.
The character of Ian Fletcher, portrayed by Hugh Bonneville, was first introduced to audiences in the series Twenty Twelve. This series humorously depicted the organising committee for the London Summer Olympics, and Bonneville's character was subsequently brought back for W1A.
Between 2014 and 2017, W1A graced our screens for three series, with David Tennant lending his voice to narrate the scenes of this spoof documentary series.
The series made a comeback with a one-off special that humorously tackled the Covid-19 pandemic, before the cast of this beloved BBC comedy series reunited for a new special for Comic Relief earlier this year.
Rumours are swirling that the series may make a return in a different format in the near future. With this in mind, what better time to catch up with the cast and see where they are now?
Hugh Bonneville - Ian Fletcher
Hugh Bonneville's character transitioned from preparing for the 2012 Olympics as the Head of the Olympic Deliverance Commission to reforming the BBC as Head of Values at the broadcaster.
Since his stint on W1A, Bonneville has remained a staple on British TV, but has also made a splash in Hollywood with roles such as Henry Brown in the Paddington film series, Muppets Most Wanted and Bank of Dave. He was recently seen in The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin, Douglas Is Cancelled and BBC drama The Gold.
Hugh, beloved for his portrayal of Lord Grantham in Downton Abbey, has received two Emmy nominations and a Golden Globe nod for the role. He also reprised his character in the feature films, including the 2025 sequel.
Jessica Hynes - Siobhan Sharpe
Jessica Hynes, who played Siobhan Sharpe, transitioned from the Olympics team to assist with the BBC's PR as a BBC Brand Consultant, despite not always being fully equipped for the task.
Post W1A, Jessica directed her first film, The Fight, and reunited with David Tennant in the drama There She Goes, where she portrayed a mother raising a daughter with severe learning disabilities.
Her other credits include Paddington films, The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin, Am I Being Unreasonable? Years and Years, and The Great Stand Up to Cancer Bake Off.
Monica Dolan - Tracey Pritchard
Monica Dolan portrayed Tracey Pritchard, a straight-talking Senior Communications Officer who prides herself on her ability to handle any situation.
Since the show ended, Monica has appeared in Wolf Hall, Alan Partridge, Inside No.9, Black Mirror, Mr Bates vs The Post Office, and Sherwood.
Jason Watkins - Simon Harwood
Jason Watkins played Simon Harwood, a key figure at the BBC known for his informal demeanour and strategic thinking.
Jason has had a prolific career in television, with appearances in Doctor Who, Call the Midwife, McDonald and Dodds, Line of Duty, Midsomer Murders, The Crown and many more since W1A ended.
However, 2024 has been a quieter year for Jason, with roles as Alfred in Batman: Caped Crusader and the TV drama Coma.
Sarah Parish - Anna Rampton
Sarah Parish played Anna Rampton, who was responsible for all BBC broadcasts across all formats and was notoriously difficult to please.
Known for her uncompromising nature and quick decision-making, Anna often made the wrong choices. Since then, Sarah has continued to work steadily in television, with roles in Broadchurch, Trollied, Industry, Piglets and Geek Girl.
Nina Sosanya - Lucy Freeman
Nina Sosanya portrayed Lucy Freeman, an experienced producer who was given opportunities to work on a variety of programmes she never imagined when she first joined.
Since then, Nina has appeared in Marcella, Killing Eve, His Dark Materials, Brave New World and Baby Reindeer.
Hugh Skinner - Will Humphries
Hugh Skinner played Will Humphries, who started as an intern at the BBC and eventually became Ian Fletcher's PA. He was always looking for something to do and was given menial tasks by staff.
Since W1A, Hugh has appeared in Fleabag, Poldark, Zog, The Witcher and the films The Invitation and Wicked Little Letters.
David Westhead - Neil Reid
Neil Reid, who played the unforgettable Controller of News and Current Affairs in W1A, was so loved that he was asked to deliver a farewell speech for a real-life BBC executive who was a fan of the show.
David, after featuring in The Coroner, Jericho, Reg, Bodyguard, appears to have taken a hiatus from his career, with only Enola Holmes 2 in 2022 being his recent role.
Rufus Jones - David Wilkes
Rufus Jones portrayed David Wilkes, the Entertainment Format Producer responsible for Britain's Tastiest Village. Since then, Rufus has bagged several film roles including Paddington, Stan and Ollie, Wonka and The Foreigner.
He recently appeared in Disney+ hit Rivals as Paul Stratton, as well as roles in Beyond Paradise, Four Lives and Hijack.
Ophelia Lovibond - Izzy Gould
Ophelia Lovibond played Izzy Gould, who started as the PA to Simon Harwood but her diligence saw her rise to Development Executive by Director of Better Anna Rampton. Izzy was one of the hardworking figures that made W1A work, often handling tasks others shied away from.
Ophelia has since featured in TV and film, with roles in Elementary, Feel Good, This England and Partygate. Marvel fans may recognise her as Carina in Guardians of the Galaxy and Thor: The Dark World.
