Ian Fletcher begins his new gig as Head of Values at the BBC as John Morton's Twenty Twelve follow-up W1A swings into action.

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Surrounded by a new team and some familiar faces, the former Head of the Olympic Deliverance Commission (played by Hugh Bonneville) is starting a new chapter in his life in a key and very specific new senior post, created in light of recent learning opportunities at the corporation. It's all very straight forward, really, as Ian sets out to clarify, define or re-define the core purpose of the BBC across all its functions.

Bolstered by some esteemed colleagues, what could possibly go wrong? Meet the team before you watch tonight to find out...


47190

Name: Ian Fletcher

Played by: Hugh Bonneville

Role: Head of Values - tasked with redefining its role in a digital age. Or something.

Most likely to say: "So, that's all good"

Weakness: Crippling inability to fold up his bicycle

According to Hugh... "We're not deriding the BBC but we're having an interesting look at the way some decisions are reached, which ranges from hot desking to the way programmes are put together. The characters resonate through other organisations. This could just as easily be about the NHS or elements of Whitehall."


47192

Name: Siobhan Sharpe

Played by: Jessica Hynes

Role: Brand BBC Consultant - Twenty Twelve's marketing guru of PR Company Perfect Curve is now selling us what we pay for already

Most likely to say: "I totally am listening... what it is is, you guys aren't saying the right stuff."

Weakness: No idea how to put any of her many communications theories into effect


47191

Name: Anna Rampton

Played by: Sarah Parish

Role: Head of Output - recruited from ITV, she's sure she's right, even when she's wrong

Most likely to say: "No"

Weakness: Although delivered with conviction, Anna's decisions leave a lot to be desired.

According to Sarah... "She's really good at appearing to know what she's talking about. Everybody over-talks and Anna under-talks so she's one of those people you feel awkward around because she'll say very little but she'll say it in a very intimidating definite way. She's not talking because she doesn't know what she's talking about."


47188

Name: Simon Harwood

Played by: Jason Watkins

Role: Director of Strategic Governance - the Director General's self-appointed right-hand man.

Most likely to say: "Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant"

Weakness: Bragging about having the DG's ear

Simon is an important figure at the corporation and underneath his apparent informality and almost relentless bonhomie he is probably one of the BBC's most strategic Directors.


47193

Name: Tracey Pritchard

Played by: Monica Dolan

Role: Senior Communications Officer - a lifer at the BBC, she's seen it all. And she's Welsh.

Most likely to say: "I'm sorry I'm not being negative or anything, but..."

Weakness: Too straight talking for her own good.

According to Monica... "She's quite excited because she's been working at the BBC since August 1994 and now it's 2014 so her 20th anniversary is coming up - I think she's hoping there might be some sort of celebration organised by her colleagues..."


47189

Name: Neil Reid

Played by: David Westhead

Role: Current Controller of News and Current Affairs - a BBC stalwart with responsibility for a vastly complex operation in a fast-moving digital age.

Most likely to say: "Why don't we just get Bruce Forsyth to present Newsnight and have done with it. Then everybody's happy."

Weakness: Tends to be the last to know when breaking news stories he was unaware were about to break are then subsequently broken on his programmes.

According to David... "Neil's job is largely on the newsroom floor so he tends to come into contact with all the other characters when they're in damage limitation meetings. Something's always gone slightly wrong or monumentally wrong. Neil's job is to ride that."


47186

Name: Lucy Freeman

Played by: Nina Sosanya

Role: Producer - experienced in her role, Lucy has inherited some unlikely projects due to "rationalisation"

Most likely to say: "I think we're almost there."

Weakness: An inability to climb from her lowly position on the food chain

According to Nina... "She's somebody who actually gets things done as opposed to just talking about getting them done. The other characters talk a good game and Lucy is the person who actually ends up doing the work. She does her job very well and she's a very optimistic character, she's not cynical. In this world she is quite a rare item."


47187

Name: David Wilkes

Played by: Rufus Jones

Role: Entertainment format producer - David has theoretically devised the corporation's next big Sunday night format, Britain's Tastiest Village

Most likely to say: "I know we haven't started yet but can I just say, I never want this lunch to end."

Weakness: More than likely to change the face of Sunday night television for the worse


47194

Name: Will Humphries

Played by: Hugh Skinner

Role: Intern - "nice but dim" and not exactly sure what he's doing there

Most likely to say: "Yes... say again?"

Weakness: Unable to process coffee orders

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According to Hugh... "He's not particularly bright but very well-intentioned. He's an intern but he doesn't really have a job so he spends his whole time walking around trying to find a job. I don't think he knows the Charter rule is impending - he doesn't know who Lord Reith is either. I don't think he's thought much past the next ten minutes."

Authors

Susanna LazarusAssociate Editor, RadioTimes.com
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