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W1A Season 1 Episodes
Season 1 Episode Guide
4 Episodes 2014 - 2014
Episode 1
Episode #1.1
Tue, Mar 18, 201429 mins
With the Olympics over Ian Fletcher joins the BBC as its new head of values and has trouble finding his office. Dim young intern Will introduces him to Simon Harwood, the director general's right hand man and he attends a meeting along with senior communications officer Tracey Pritchard, head of output Anna Rampton and Neil Reid, who believes the BBC should be more Cornwall-friendly. Producer Lucy Freeman plans a rural series, 'Britain's Tastiest Villages' but proposed host Clare Balding is doing a dog show for ITV so Lucy and Anna go after Carol Vorderman instead. Carol is not fooled into believing that she was first choice and refuses to commit. After trying to placate professional Cornishman Nigel Trescott Ian finds himself chairing his first meeting where he is perturbed, not only by the Cornish debate but by the presence of ridiculous PR woman Siobhan Sharpe, whom he knows of old.
Episode 2
Episode #1.2
29 mins
Accompanied by Tracey and the annoying Siobhan Ian travels to Manchester for a live broadcast on the 'Woman's Hour' radio show, answering accusations of ageism against the BBC by presenter Sally Wingate. Siobhan misguidedly puts Ian on Twitter to show that he is cool but Tracey and Ian see a far more logical counter being the news that Carol Vorderman, over fifty but still glamorous, is presenting 'Britain's Tastiest Village'. Back in London Lucy and entertainments producer meet Carol - who has agreed to do the show - but complications arise when Clare Balding turns up, also happy to commit. Lucy has to tell Carol she is not wanted but, having seen a possible rival, Clare also pulls out. Fortunately Ian saves the day by announcing on 'Woman's Hour' that Sally Wingate will be the presenter.
Episode 3
Episode #1.3
28 mins
Ian chairs a meeting on how to commemorate the death of BBC founder Lord Reith, which results in Will sending out envelopes inviting people to a celebration of Reith, a simple task that he gets wrong. Whilst Siobhan suggests a different logo for the BBC and Anna gives new writer Dan Stephenson a baptism by fire current affairs head Neil Reid is reported over a mix-up of pictures, substituting one of actress Trudie Styler for the Syrian dictator's wife. Ian has his own troubles. His salary has come under scrutiny and the Daily Telegraph newspaper is threatening to expose it.
Episode 4
Episode #1.4
29 mins
As dim Will battles on, putting the invitations in the wrong envelopes, Ian faces accusations not just about his salary but that he took Sally on holiday on expenses. He faces both a tribunal resulting in a cut in his pay and Sally, who comes to say that she wants no more to do with him though, on the plus side, he gets a script he has written accepted. Short skirts worn by 'Newsnight' presenter Indira Sahni also court controversy, appearing on YouTube whilst Anna finally secures Gary Lineker and Holly Willoughby for 'Britain's Tastiest Village' and Siobhan's foolish replacement for the BBC logo is predictably rejected.
