Twenty Twelve
Cast & Key People
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Our Review
Cast & Key People
▶
Our Review
Twenty Twelve (2011) is a comedy series from BBC Two. It has built a run of 13 episodes at roughly 30 minutes each. It premiered on March 14, 2011. It is currently ended. It runs 2 seasons.
What Twenty Twelve Is About
Twenty Twelve follows the team responsible for delivering the biggest show on earth: the London Olympics. The actors and creators of some of Britain’s most iconic comedies come together in this new documentary-style comedy that is not only deliciously topical and wickedly funny but also uncannily close to real life.
They have billions of pounds to spend and plenty of time before the deadline; so what can possibly go wrong? Well, what do you do when the much-vaunted wind turbines won’t turn because there’s no wind? And how do you cope with athletes who want to help but are just too dull? It’s all in a day’s work for the men and women whose job it is to stage the greatest sporting event in the world.
What to Expect When You Watch
Episodes run about 30 minutes, which keeps the pace tight, the full run covers 13 episodes, spread across 2 seasons and it leans into its comedy roots while leaving room for the quieter character beats.
Performance-wise the series leans on David Tennant, Hugh Bonneville and Jessica Hynes to carry the emotional weight, with the rest of the ensemble filling out the world around them.
Cast and Creative Team
David Tennant, Hugh Bonneville, Jessica Hynes, Karl Theobald, Amelia Bullmore and Vincent Franklin lead the cast.
Why It Stands Out
Fans of comedy have a clear reason to give this one a shot. It sits comfortably alongside BBC Two’s other originals and it commits to its premise instead of hedging between tones.
Released in 2011 and carried by BBC Two with the series still ended, it lands hardest with comedy viewers.
How Twenty Twelve Compares
If Twenty Twelve lands for you, the next stops are Nathan for You, Taskmaster and Seinfeld, which share its comedy lean.
Each of those sits at a different point on the same spectrum, so they make a natural follow-up once you finish the run here.
Where to Stream
Twenty Twelve comes from BBC Two. Check your preferred platform for current availability, since regional rights move around.
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On the whole Twenty Twelve is the kind of series that rewards a patient watch, with David Tennant and Hugh Bonneville doing the heaviest lifting, a tone that stays true to its comedy roots, It has held up since 2011 and so if the premise sounds like your lane, the execution holds up.
The Bottom Line
Twenty Twelve is a safe bet for anyone already inside the comedy lane, at 13 episodes it is an easy run to work through and so there is little risk in starting it tonight.
Verdict: 7.5/10. Watch it if you want comedy you can settle into.
