W1A

The makers of Twenty Twelve were lauded for their Olympics satire, but no one was likely to mistake it for a factual programme. The same can't be said for sure about their latest venture, W1A, which pokes fun at the BBC. The Sun reports that Sarah Parish, who plays an inept head of output at the Beeb, reckons the spoof drama may be so realistic viewers won't know that the whole thing is meant to be a joke. The series also features Hugh Bonneville, who will again play Ian Fletcher, with the character moving from the Olympic Legacy project to the BBC to help it deal with "recent findings". All sounds a bit familiar. Parish said: "I did think people might watch and, for 10 minutes, think it's a documentary." Fingers crossed for a cameo from John Humphrys.

The modern BBC according to W1A

W1A, the highly anticipated follow up to Olympics comedy Twenty Twelve, spoofs the BBC. How right did they get it, wonders BBC insider David Quantick.

Hugh Bonneville interview

"We were filming in the lobby the other day, 20 of us milling around, and the chaps on the doors were chuckling watching us do it. Then I tried to get back inside to get changed and they wouldn't let me because I didn't have the right pass," Hugh Bonneville recalls.

Preview: W1A, BBC Two

Shitting on its own doorstep. A dog returning to its vomit. Liking the smell of its own farts. I'm not sure what the BBC's stance on W1A is, but I guess it is mainly about showing that they have the ability to laugh at themselves. The first episode in the eagerly anticipated semi-sequel to Twenty Twelve certainly sticks the boot into the Beeb but it is a designer boot, not a steel toe-capped one.

Hugh Bonneville on bringing blue-sky thinking to BBC

"I did have to giggle to myself when I found a producer hiding in a stairwell trying to do a deal with some contributor on the phone because it was the only place to get a bit of privacy. I think the idea of being able to go to your own thought-space in the BBC is probably a thing of the past."

W1A reveals absurdities of corporate life

'A lot of people care about the BBC,' replies producer Paul Schlesinger, who admits to having an 'enormous affection' for the place. 'Everyone has some investment in it - literally they pay the licence fee. It feels like an organisation that is in the spotlight a lot of the time and there is a lot of public interest.'

W1A lends a further comedic lease of life to Ian Fletcher (Hugh Bonneville) from the hit sitcom Twenty Twelve. The former Head of Olympic Deliverance has been appointed the BBC's Head of Values, with Twenty Twelve's PR guru Siobhan Sharpe (Jessica Hynes) trailing in his wake.

The rest of the cast and characters are all new, but the mockumentary format, inane narration, understated performances and comedy of social embarrassment are retained from Twenty Twelve.

Episode one got off to a very strong start, with Fletcher ineffectually grappling with such thorny issues as Cornish under-representation, Clare Balding dropping out of a proposed Countryfile/Bake Off hybrid show and the total absence of any desk or office to work out of. However, he hasn't tried to close BBC3 down, so at least that's in his favour.

W1A Preview

The tone of W1A is almost identical to that of Twenty Twelve, which is no bad thing as Twenty Twelve won a BAFTA for 'Best Situation Comedy' last year, and I see no reason why W1A can't and won't follow suit.

17 essential PR lessons from Siobhan Sharpe

"Totally. Yeah. Okay so the thing with this is. Okay. The thing is. Totally."

BBC goes meta with 'W1A'

John Morton, writer of W1A and Twenty Twelve, said he was "really surprised" by the free hand he had been given. "It does seem that we've not had any interference at all," he said. "I wouldn't have been surprised had people been more wary."