The incredible soap opera that was the Jeremy Clarkson affair put the inner workings of the BBC under microscopic scrutiny.
So you might imagine the last thing the Corporation would want would be another look at what goes on within the hallowed walls of Broadcasting House.
But W1A, the mockumentary with a hilarious take on working life at Auntie Beeb, is back on Thursdays on BBC 2 having a right good pop.
And, as Hugh Bonneville settles down to chat to The Sunday Post, he says that not only is the Beeb ready to have a laugh at itself, it has opened up as never before.
“We were given much more access this season than last, which was incredibly generous or indeed foolish of the BBC,” says Hugh, 51,
“It must be an absolute pain in the neck if you’re a BBC employee trying to create something and you have these numpties with film cameras wandering about.
“That’s a complete nightmare, and we’re grateful to the staff for putting up with us.
“We had a set built at Pinewood so we weren’t getting under people’s feet all the time. But we filmed more at the BBC than last year.”
One of the many joys of W1A, which crams more laughs into five minutes than most comedies manage in an entire series, are the real-life cameos.
Last year saw hilarious appearances by Clare Balding and Carol Vorderman. This time around, Dragons’ Den’s Evan Davis and newsreader Sophie Raworth will guest.
Security correspondent Frank Gardner also pops up at his own request.
“Most of those at the BBC are far too cool for school,” laughs Hugh.
“They pretend we’re not there but plaster photos of us all over Facebook with them in the background! But Frank came and said, ‘Can I be in a shot, please?’ which was very sweet of him.”
Hugh plays Ian Fletcher, the BBC’s Head of Values who “tries to do his best in a sea of fools and usually ends up drowning”.
It’s a character he originally played in predecessor Twenty Twelve, which took a similarly biting, satirical look at the team behind the organisation of the London Olympics.
And Hugh says the management-speak gibberish spouted in the show can be found anywhere in modern-day Britain.
“There was a worry when we did Twenty Twelve that it wouldn’t really translate anywhere else.
“They pretend we’re not there and then plaster photos of us all over Facebook with them in the background”
“The scripts were so good we had people at the Olympics joking that we must have had microphones in their board meetings.
“And, at the BBC, people tell us on a daily basis that we didn’t know the half of it.”
It’s so on the money that a line about former Top Gear presenter Clarkson had already been filmed.
“Ah, Jeremy,” says Hugh, slipping smoothly into full Fletcher mode.
“Over the years he has presented the BBC with so many learning opportunities.”
Hugh has kindly taken a break to speak to us from filming what’s now confirmed to be the final series of Downton Abbey.
He has played head of the Crawley household the Earl of Grantham since the very first episode and he admits the imminent end will “leave a huge hole” in his life.
“It will feel very strange when it’s over,” Hugh confides.
“Downton has been a rare thing and it has taken a huge number of people on this journey for six years.
“It takes a long time to film and is extremely carefully put together by the production team. That’s obviously one of the reasons it has been so popular.”
W1A is also keenly crafted “filming can be torture, it’s really hard work” meaning the past year has been full-on for Hugh, who also starred in the Paddington movie.
“I did The Hollow Crown, a three-part drama about Henry IV and Richard III with Benedict Cumberbatch and Judi Dench, and I’ve got another film coming up,” he explains.
“So I’m determined to put my feet up towards the end of the year and really enjoy the farewell to Downton.”
Enjoy the convenience of having The Sunday Post delivered as a digital ePaper straight to your smartphone, tablet or computer.
Subscribe for only £5.49 a month and enjoy all the benefits of the printed paper as a digital replica.
Subscribe