List of BBC Radio programmes adapted for television
Many BBC radio comedy programmes have been successful enough for the writers and performers to adapt them into television programmes. Unless otherwise stated these programmes were originally broadcast on BBC Radio 4, and then broadcast on one of the BBC's TV channels. The following list gives some of the more notable ones.
| Radio version | Television version | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Absolute Power | Absolute Power | |
| An Actor's Life For Me | An Actor's Life For Me | BBC Radio 2 programme turned BBC1 sitcom |
| After Henry | After Henry | BBC Radio 4 programme turned ITV sitcom |
| The Boosh | The Mighty Boosh | |
| Blue Jam | Jam | BBC Radio 1 radio production. Channel 4 television production. |
| The Clitheroe Kid | The Clitheroe Kid | |
| Count Arthur Strong's Radio Show! | Count Arthur Strong | |
| Dave Hollins: Space Cadet sketches in Son of Cliché | Red Dwarf | Many changes. |
| Dead Ringers | Dead Ringers | |
| The Enchanting World of Hinge and Bracket | Dear Ladies | BBC Radio 4 (1977–1979) to BBC Two television sitcom (1983–1985) |
| Delve Special | This is David Lander, This is David Harper | Broadcast on Channel 4 |
| Fist of Fun | Fist of Fun | Broadcast on BBC Radio 1 |
| Genius | Genius | |
| The Goon Show | Telegoons | |
| Goodness Gracious Me | Goodness Gracious Me | Radio version was funded by BBC TV in the hopes the series would eventually transfer to television. |
| Hancock's Half Hour | Hancock's Half Hour, Hancock | |
| The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy | The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy | |
| I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue | I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue | Unaired pilot |
| I've Never Seen Star Wars | I've Never Seen Star Wars | |
| Just a Minute | Just a Minute | Unaired pilots and both ITV (1994–1995) and BBC1 (1999, 2012) series. |
| Knowing Me, Knowing You | Knowing Me, Knowing You | |
| Life With The Lyons | Life With The Lyons | |
| Little Britain | Little Britain | |
| That Mitchell and Webb Sound | That Mitchell and Webb Look | The TV version was made in January 2006 and started airing in September. |
| Naked Radio | Naked Video | Naked Radio was first broadcast on BBC Radio Scotland |
| The News Quiz | Have I Got News For You | Many changes. It is disputed whether HIGNFY is actually based on TNQ or not. Former News Quiz panellist Ian Hislop is now a panellist on HIGNFY |
| On The Hour | The Day Today | |
| On the Town with The League of Gentlemen | The League of Gentlemen | Moved from town of Spent to Royston Vasey. |
| People Like Us | People Like Us | |
| Radio Active | KYTV | |
| Room 101 | Room 101 | Broadcast on Radio 5 |
| Second Thoughts | Second Thoughts | BBC Radio Four radio series transferred to ITV |
| Whose Line Is It Anyway? | Whose Line Is It Anyway? | Broadcast on Channel 4 |
| Victoria Derbyshire | Victoria Derbyshire (TV programme) |
Television to radio transfers
[edit]Some television series transfer in the other direction. Both the science fiction series Doctor Who and Blake's 7 have become short-lived radio series. Several comedies, such as To the Manor Born (in 1997) and One Foot in the Grave, have also been transferred.
As another example, in 2004 the Andy Hamilton comedy Trevor's World of Sport transferred to Radio 4. Having largely failed in its television incarnation, it was felt the older medium might suit it better. This would seem to create the impression that, whereas popular radio shows are "promoted" to television, an unpopular television show was being "demoted" to radio. However, public opinion on the radio series has been mostly positive, suggesting that it was a good decision.
| Television version | Radio version | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| All Gas and Gaiters | All Gas and Gaiters | |
| Blake's 7 | Blake's 7 | |
| Dad's Army | Dad's Army | |
| Dr Finlay's Casebook | Dr Finlay's Casebook & The Adventures of a Black Bag | |
| Doctor Who | Doctor Who | |
| Mastermind | Mastermind | |
| One Foot in the Grave | One Foot in the Grave | |
| Steptoe and Son | Steptoe and Son | |
| To the Manor Born | To the Manor Born | |
| Trevor's World of Sport | Trevor's World of Sport | |
| Yes Minister | Yes Minister |
Radio programmes transferred to independent television
[edit]- A few early game shows from Radio Luxembourg transferred to ITV, when it started broadcasting in 1955. This included Take Your Pick and Double Your Money.