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List of BBC Radio programmes adapted for television

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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

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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

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See also

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