Ian Fletcher lands himself a new role ahead of BBC One's new comedy Twenty Twenty Six

Oh, right, so he'll now be Director of Integrity? I see, yes, very good.

The BBC has rather excitedly today announced that its former Head of Values, Ian Fletcher has been appointed to an exciting new role as Director of Integrity for and upcoming global football tournament.

Having previously held a leadership role on the London Games of Twenty Twelve and a spell in W1A as the Head of Values at the BBC, Ian Fletcher, played by Hugh Bonneville, is now bound for the greatest stage in world football. And we'll follow his journey in a new six-part comedy for BBC One, apltly titled Twenty Twenty Six.

Next year’s tournament will be the biggest ever. Hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico with 48 countries taking part and 16 venues thousands of miles apart across the whole of North America; what could possibly go wrong? Ian Fletcher is about to find out, as he joins the Twenty Twenty Six Oversight Team in Miami as its Director of Integrity.

Oh his new appointment, Ian Fletcher said "I’m thrilled at the prospect of joining the Oversight Team in Miami for this unique event. And in terms of the Integrity role, to borrow a soccer analogy, this is a rare opportunity to set out your own goals and then score them on the global stage."

Hugh Bonneville will reprise his role as Ian Fletcher and joining him in the cast are Nick Blood, Chelsey Crisp, Paulo Costanzo, Stephen Kunken, Jimena Larraguivel, Alexis Michalik and Belinda Stewart-Wilson.

Speaking about Twenty Twenty Six, the show’s writer and director John Morton said "I wasn’t sure what Ian Fletcher had been up to recently. The last I heard he was still recovering from a serious Mindfulness Course in Somerset. So, it’s great to hear that he’s made it back and has re-emerged in his natural habitat at the centre of a well-known institution, but now on the world stage and facing his biggest opportunity yet to get things right. I’m thrilled and hugely grateful to the BBC for giving me the chance to follow him again, this time all the way to Miami, and I literally can’t wait to see what happens."

To which the BBC's Director of Comedy, Jon Petrie, added "We’ll miss Ian’s invaluable contribution to the BBC as Head of Values but how could he resist getting the call-up to be a part of one of the most expansive and ambitious sporting events in the world. We wish him, and the team, all the best."

Made by the team behind W1A and Twenty Twelve and produced by Expectation, Twenty Twenty Six will be written and directed by John Morton, produced by Catherine Gosling Fuller and executive produced by Paul Schlesinger, Nerys Evans and John Morton.

Nerys Evans, Creative Director, Scripted at Expectation added: “I’ve been a fan of John’s writing for such a long time, especially seeing the different challenges he creates for poor Ian Fletcher, so beautifully portrayed by Hugh Bonneville. We’re thrilled to be collaborating on Twenty Twenty Six, I can’t wait to see what he’s got in store for Ian this time.”

Paul Schlesinger, Executive Producer, said: “It’s 15 years since Ian Fletcher’s journey started with the run-up to the London Olympics and we are delighted the BBC has given John another chance to capture the universal comedy of people trying to organise something really big in a room, but this time with an outstanding international cast.”

Twenty Twenty Six will air in 2026 on BBC One