If you’re a fan of Olivia Colman, chances are, you’ve already binged the entirety of The Night Manager and it may well be up there with your favourite TV performances. Us too. But there’s another lesser-known performance we think you should have on your radar (see also: watch tonight) and it’s that as doting, lovelorn PA Sally Owen in Twenty Twelve.
The comedy series takes us into the lives of the fictional London 2012 Olympic Deliverance Commission (ODC) in the run up to the Games, which is led by Ian Fletcher (Hugh Bonneville) who somehow manages to remain relentlessly positive despite almost nothing going to plan. None of it, of course, would be possible without Ian’s PA Sally (Olivia) who also happens to be in love with him.
Intrigued? With the series available to stream tonight, here’s everything you need to know about Twenty Twelve, including the cast, plot and why Olivia’s performace is even better than The Night Manger.
What is Twenty Twelve about?
The British comedy series, which first aired on the BBC in 2021, is a mockumentary-style series, which follows the fictional London 2012 Olympic Deliverance Commission (ODC) and their struggle to prepare for the greatest sporting event in the world. Our main character is Head of Deliverance, Ian Fletcher (Hugh Bonneville), who often finds himself clearing up PR disasters thanks to his colleagues’ mistakes.
The team have nine billion pounds to spend and watching the team decide how to use the money is nothing short of hilarious. Along the way, we also meet Head of Brand Siobhan Sharpe (Jessica Hynes), who is, well, slightly clueless, as well as Head of Sustainability Kay Hope (Amelia Bullmore), and Head of Contracts Nick Jowett (Vincent Franklin), who rarely has anything positive to say.
There’s also plenty of personal drama and one of the people who provides it is Sally (Olivia Colman), Ian’s personal assistant who also happens to be in love with him. Much to Sally’s disappointment, but he’s not exactly happy in said marriage, so Sally lives in quiet hope that, one day, the pair will ride off into the sunset together… or something like that.
In series 2, which aired in 2012, our central characters return along with some new recruits including Fi Healey (Morven Christie) as the team’s Head of Legacy, who finds herself clashing with Kay. We’re also introduced to another personal assistant in the form of Daniel Stroud (Samuel Barnett), which only makes Sally more protective of her beloved Ian.
The stress levels are turned up a notch when the Algerians issue a deadline of midnight for a solution to their demand for a Shared Belief Centre which faces Mecca, whilst the French threaten to pull out of the Games if a separate mosque is built. The question is, is it architecturally possible to design a building that will satisfy everyone, or is the entire Olympic Games about to unravel in front of their eyes?
Who’s in the cast of Twenty Twelve?
The cast of Twenty Twelve includes:
- Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey) as Ian Fletcher
- Amelia Bullmore (Scott & Bailey) as Kay Hope
- Olivia Colman (The Night Manager) as Sally Owen
- Vincent Franklin (Confetti) as Nick Jowett
- Jessica Hynes (Shaun of the Dead)as Siobhan Sharpe
- Karl Theobald (Green Wing) as Graham Hitchins
- Morven Christie (The Replacement)as Fi Healey
- Samuel Barnett (The Act) as Daniel Stroud
- Alex Beckett (Much Ado About Nothing)as Barney Lumsden
- Joel Fry (Alice and Steve) as Karl Marx
- Sara Pascoe (Taskmaster) as Coco Lomax
Is there a trailer for Twenty Twelve?
Yes, you can watch the trailer for Twenty Twelve below.
Is Twenty Twelve any good?
Yes – it’s a brilliantly satirical series that anyone who’s ever dealt with incompetent colleagues will be able to relate to. Olivia Colman is, as you’d hope, outstanding as the subservient Sally Owen and her presence in it really takes the dama to the next level. If you’re a fan of sharply-observed dramas with easily identifiable characters, we’re confident you’ll enjoy Twenty Twelve.
How can I watch Twenty Twelve?
Both series of Twenty Twelve are available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
What other Olivia Colman dramas can I watch now?
For a more poignant performance we’d recommend Empire of Light. The film stars Olivia as a cinema manager in 1980s Margate who finds an unexpected connection with her younger colleague Stephen (Michael Ward). You can watch Empire of Light now on Disney+. If you fancy a true story drama with a comedic edge, we’d suggest Landscapers. The series is based on the true story of Susan Edwards and her husband Christopher Edwards (played by David Thewlis) who murdered Susan’s parents and managed to avoid being found out for more than a decade. Landscapers is available to watch on Sky and NOW.
See Hugh Bonneville at this year's Good Housekeeping Live x Country Living Market on 11 November. As well as the chance to get a head start on your present buying at the artisan Christmas market, the show is packed with celebrity talks, food demonstrations, craft workshops and more... Tickets are selling out fast so buy yours now!
