Hugh Bonneville Stars in 'Twenty Twenty Six,' New Comedy About World Cup Organizers

"Twenty Twenty Six" is a new six-part comedy on ABC starring Hugh Bonneville as Ian Fletcher, director of integrity for a major international sporting event. The character, created by writer John Morton, previously appeared in the mockumentary series "Twenty Twelve" (about the London Olympics) and "W1A" (set at the BBC). The new series is set in Miami and features an ensemble cast including Hugh Skinner reprising his role as intern Will Humphries, alongside characters such as a Mexican VP of optics, a New York lawyer, and various other international staff members. The show employs a fly-on-the-wall documentary style and includes running gags where references to FIFA, the World Cup, and related regulations are bleeped for legal reasons. While the Sydney Morning Herald review praises Bonneville's performance as "fresh and enduring," it notes that some elements of the show—including racial and age stereotypes—feel dated, and the mockumentary format itself has become a standard fixture of workplace comedies rather than the innovative approach it once was.