‘The most painful TV experience I’ve ever had!’ Hugh Bonneville on his excruciating office comedy
Before achieving widespread recognition as the dignified father in "Paddington" or the beloved patriarch in "Downton Abbey," Hugh Bonneville masterfully embodied British awkwardness in the BAFTA-winning satire "Twenty Twelve." He is now making a comeback as the perpetually embattled manager, Ian Fletcher, facing new adversaries that include a Trump-like figure, the World Cup, and his clumsy former intern.
When initially asked to step back into the role of Ian Fletcher—the central character in John Morton’s acclaimed workplace satires "Twenty Twelve" and "W1A"—Bonneville experienced a complex emotional response. "On one hand, I was absolutely delighted," the actor revealed, known for his roles as respectable figures. "Conversely, I was terrified, as it truly was the most agonizing and dreadful television experience I've ever had."
In "Twenty Twelve," Fletcher demonstrated his administrative prowess as the "Head of Deliverance of the Olympic Deliverance Commission," guiding his team through the chaotic preparations leading up to the 2012 London Games. Subsequently, in "W1A," he took on the position of "Head of Values" at the BBC, where he navigated through a series of increasingly absurd and disastrous events.
Nine years later, a visibly fatigued Fletcher is once again immersed in an endless succession of meetings, now holding the title of "Director of Integrity" for an undisclosed international football organization that is orchestrating an equally unnamed international football tournament. According to Morton, the production deliberately refrains from identifying the tournament's "blindingly obvious" real-world inspiration, citing "an overabundance of caution" on their part.
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