When it comes tocomedy, Britain has a long and rich history. From the works of William Shakespeare toThe Benny Hill ShowandMonty Python, Britain has often been considered a trailblazer of the genre. More recent shows likePeep Show,After Life, andInside No. 9prove that its flair for comedy hasn’t waned. Britain possesses a unique sense of humor—one that, while its influence has since spread across the pond, still manages to remain instantly recognizable.
It makes sense, then, that the USA would turn there for inspiration and ideas, often taking British comedy shows and sitcoms and remaking or adapting them for American audiences. This has proven to be highly successful in the past, with the American versions ofThe OfficeandShamelessranking among the country’s most popular shows, andAll in the Family(which is an adaptation ofTill Death Do Us Part) being considered an all-time classic.
However, there are several key differences in the two’s expectations from a sitcom. This means that often these attempted adaptations are destined to fail. British comedy tends to rely on dry wit, dark humor, and awkward social situations, whereas typically, the USA favors broader jokes, faster pacing, and more optimistic storytelling. Historically, too, Americans tend to expect a certain level of polish and sheen in their viewing experience, whereas the English prefer raw relatability. These differences, although they may seem minor, have a huge impact on the casting choices, settings, and overall tone, among other things.
Here are 10 attempts at adapting successful British TV sitcoms that have failed miserably.
10’Call Me Kat' (2021 - 2023)
Adapted From ‘Miranda’ (2009 - 2015)
British comedian Miranda Hart’s self-titled, self-penned, and semi-autobiographical sitcomMirandabegan airing in 2009. Socially awkward, hapless but well-meaning, Miranda stumbles through love, life, and her career, with a little help from her friends. The show was a huge critical hit and won Best New British TV Comedy at the British Comedy Awards, with Miranda herself winning Best TV Comedy Actress and the People’s Choice Award for the King or Queen of Comedy.
Miranda’s Brand of Awkward and Self-Deprecating Humor Didn’t Translate
An American version entitledCall Me Katbegan airing in 2021. With the original feeling so distinctly British, it’s unsurprising that the humor and tone didn’t translate well to American sitcom conventions. Additionally, Mayim Bialik, playing Miranda’s counterpart, Kat, failed to capture the same charm, authenticity, and natural warmth—instead, it all felt somewhat forced.Running for just three seasons, the show never really resonated with American audiences and was critically panned.
10 Best British Period Dramas To Stream on Britbox
The best British period dramas for your next great binge-watching session are all on Britbox.
9‘Us and Them’ (2018)
Adapted From ‘Gavin and Stacey’ (2007 - 2024)
Gavin & Stacey
Before moving to America and becoming the host ofThe Late Show, James Corden starred inGavin & Stacey, a British sitcom exploring a long-distance relationship between a man from Essex and a woman from Wales. Deriving its humor from their cultural differences and regional quirks, as well as their eccentric friend circles,Gavin & Staceyis one of the country’s most popular sitcoms in recent memory. Over ten years after the show ended, last year’shighly anticipated Christmas specialbecame the most-watched program on Christmas Day in the UK in 23 years.
‘Us and Them’ Lasted Just One Season
Us and Them, based onGavin & Stacey, was originally slated to premiere on Fox but was later released on Crackle in 2018 to poor reception and lasted just one season. WhileGavin & Staceyhas a slow, nuanced build-up to its character development,Us and Themtries to play it safer and leans more into typical American sitcom tropes and humor, with less of an overarching story and fewer character arcs. It didn’t help that much of the original’s focus on the eccentricities of the friendship groups was shifted toward the tired ‘interfering parents’ trope.
8Unaired Adaptation of ‘Spaced’ (1999 - 2001)
Directed by Edgar Wright,Spacedrevolves around the lives of two twenty-something misfits (played by Simon Pegg and Jessica Stevenson) who end up living together in a flat in London despite having only just met. Consisting of just 14 episodes, its sharp blend of surreal humor, pop culture references, and heartfelt storytelling never lets up as the pair bounce from one misadventure to another. This unique and bold combination of styles has helped the show garner a strong cult following.
Edgar Wright’s Warnings Should Have Been Heeded
Initially, Wright was approached to direct an American remake but declined, stating, “Part of the charm ofSpacedis, it’s people in North London acting out stuff from American films… you know, Hollywood in, kind of, suburbia… American TV is much more glamorous. It doesn’t make any sense.” He was also told that the show would have to be toned down—with the swearing, drugs, and any gun depictions removed—which didn’t sit right with him.
Despite Wright’s reservations and refusal to be a part of the show, a pilot was commissioned, which received overwhelmingly negative feedback. It was leaked online, and it would seem that each and every one of Wright’s concerns was justified. Matters were made worse when the original show’s creators, Jessica Stevenson and Simon Pegg, expressed anger and frustration at not being contacted or consulted in any way about the remake and openly opposed its release. The drama was picked up by multiple media outlets, and as a result of the compounded negativity and controversy surrounding the project, it was swiftly scrapped.
7Unaired Adaptation of ‘The IT Crowd’ (2006 - 2013)
The IT Crowd Manual
The IT Crowdfollows a pair of socially awkward IT technicians (played by Richard Ayoade and Chris O’Dowd) and their inept head of department, who finagled her way into the job. It explores their interactions within the office and their hilarious attempts at navigating everyday life out in “the real world.” The show received high praise and a resolute following, thanks to its sharp, often absurd humor and memorable characters.
The American Version Lacked the Onscreen Chemistry
An American pilot was filmed in January 2007, and a full series was ordered and advertised by NBC to air in 2007–08, with Richard Ayoade reprising his role as Moss. The show never made it to air, though, with it being reported that it “didn’t quite spark” with new NBC chairman Ben Silverman. The pilot has since leaked, and its main issue is the lack of onscreen comedic chemistry between Moss and his colleagues, making it feel like a pale imitation.
Another pilot was made in 2014, which nothing came of. It was later announced that a third attempt at an NBC remake was in the works, but no further developments have been announced.
6Unaired Adaptation of ‘Peep Show’ (2003 - 2015)
Peep Showis presented entirely from the points of view of the socially awkward, uptight oddball Mark Corrigan (played by David Mitchell) and his free-spirited and naïve best friend and housemate, Jez (played by Robert Webb). Using POV camera techniques, it revolves around their everyday lives and their dysfunctional relationship. The show received consistent critical acclaim and has since become a cult classic.
Following Several Failed Attempts, a New Adaptation Is Reportedly in the Works
A TV pilot for the American remake was made in 2005, starring Josh Meyers and Johnny Galecki (shortly before he joined the cast ofThe Big Bang Theory). The episode, which is now available to watch on YouTube, is painfully unfunny. The POV approach—which was such an integral part of the original—is absent, making the multiple internal monologues feel out of place and sometimes outright confusing. Instead presented as a typical sitcom, it lacks any of the charm, chemistry, or even jokes of the original and feels like an amateur school production.
Following a further two failed attempts at remaking the show, it’s been reported that another is currently in the works, featuring two female leads to be played by Minnie Driver and Amandla Jahava.
The 10 Funniest British Comedy Films of the ‘80s
Whether leaving into satire or slapstick, mixing together with crime or romance, British comedies knew just how to find the funny in the ordinary.
5’The Inbetweeners' (2011)
Adapted From ‘The Inbetweeners’ (2008 - 2010)
The Inbetweeners
The Inbetweenersfollows the lives of four friends as they navigate the ups and downs of adolescence and attending a British high school. An exercise in vulgarity and crudeness, the show produced three seasons of nonstop hilarity and impressive viewing figures, which were followed by two box office hit movies.
The American Adaptation Feels Watered Down
The original’s approach is typically British, relying on cringe comedy, social awkwardness, and the bleak realism of school life, making its characters feel painfully real as they stumble through adolescence with little success or redemption. The American version, on the other hand, feels altogether more polished—reminiscent of something likeSuperbad—except a lot of the jokes had to be toned down for MTV, leaving the whole thing feeling like a watered-down, sanitized entry into the already overcrowded teen comedy genre. Panned by critics, it lasted just one season.
4Unaired Adaptation of ‘Only Fools and Horses’ (1981 - 2003)
Only Fools and Horses
Spanning seven series,Only Fools and Horsesis set in working-class London and follows the life of Derek ‘Del Boy’ Trotter, his younger brother Rodney, and their hare-brained ‘get rich quick’ schemes. Full of eccentric, well-developed supporting characters and brilliantly crafted storytelling, it combines sharp wit with genuine heart and emotional depth, making it among the most beloved British sitcoms of all time.
The American Version Lacked Heart
There have been multiple attempts at remaking it in the States, but the only footage we’ve had the displeasure of seeing is a pilot episode from around 2012 that was leaked online in 2023. Itstars John Leguizamoas Del, Dustin Ybarra as Rodney, and Christopher Lloyd as their Grandad. The characters are ridiculously obnoxious, lacking any semblance of the charm that made the original so beloved. All subtlety was thrown out the window, and the end result was a tacky, lowest-common-denominator, cliché-ridden piece of work that—fortunately—never made it past the pilot episode.
3Unaired Adaptation of ‘Red Dwarf’ (1988 - Present)
Red Dwarfis a British sci-fi comedy that aired between 1988 and 1999, during which time it garnered a strong cult following. Set aboard the titular spacecraft,Red Dwarffollows an eccentric array of characters as they work together to navigate the perils of deep space. The show combines sharp wit and satire with slapstick and puns, making it both intellectually engaging and hilariously absurd.
American Sitcoms Tend to be More “Polished”
Two separate pilots were made forRed DwarfAmerican adaptations, and both were poorly received. Part of the charm of the original was its deliberately low-budget aesthetics and lack of sheen, acting as both an ode to, and a parody of, classic sci-fi shows of yesteryear. When recreating this for American audiences, test screenings revealed disappointment that it lacked the polish viewers had come to expect from bigger-budget, contemporary TV shows.
Ultimately, those involved found they were unable to create something that would remain faithful to the source material while also appealing to mainstream American audiences—and gave up on the project.
2’Amanda’s' (1983)/ ‘Payne’ (1999)
Adapted From ‘Fawlty Towers’ (1975 - 1979)
Fawlty Towers
Each and every episode ofFawlty Towersis a masterclass in British comedy. Taking place in a seaside hotel, the show follows the misadventures of its rude and short-tempered owner, who constantly finds himself at odds not just with the guests, but also with his nagging wife and well-meaning but hapless Spanish waiter.
John Cleese, who co-wrote the show with Connie Booth, plays the hotel owner, Basil Fawlty. Full of manic energy and equipped with a razor-tongued sense of sarcasm, his performance is both gleefully over-the-top and slapstick, yet brilliantly precise and sharp.
John Cleese Has Expressed an Interest in Rebooting the Show
America’s first attempt at aFawlty Towersadaptation came in the form ofSnavely(also known asChateau Snavely), which swapped the original’s seaside hotel setting for a roadside motel and saw Harvey Korman and Betty White taking on the lead roles. Despite a pilot being recorded, the show was never aired—which is somewhat unfortunate, given that the footage that has since leaked seems far more entertaining than any of the future attempts thus far.
Another adaptation, entitledAmanda’sand starring Bea Arthur, was notable for switching the sexes of its Basil and Sybil equivalents. It aired on ABC in 1983 but received poor reviews and failed to attract a major audience, leading to the cancellation of the series before it had even finished. A third remake, calledPayne, aired in 1999 but was also cancelled mid-season due to its overwhelmingly bad reception. Since then, John Cleese has spoken about wanting to reboot the show himself—soperhaps there’s still hopeyet?
1Unaired Adaptation of ‘People Just Do Nothing’ (2014 - 2018)
People Just Do Nothing
People Just Do Nothingis a mockumentary set on a West London council estate about a group of deluded but loveable pirate radio “UK Garage” MCs and DJs, and their clueless but highly ambitious manager, Chabuddy G, as they seek to hit the big time. Apologies if we’ve lost any readers from outside the UK there—but that might just highlight why an American adaptation was always destined to fail.People Just Do Nothingis a British show based on a culture that is non-existent in the States. The settings and stereotypes that made the original version so hilariously relatable simply wouldn’t translate.
‘Whet Desert’ Completely Missed the Mark
Recognizing that the characters, scenarios, and setting wouldn’t resonate with American audiences, Amazon’s adaptation made some key changes—but in doing so, entirely missed the point of what made the original such a joy to watch.
The hapless British garage crew were taken out of the run-down streets of London and placed into sunny Vegas, replaced by an obnoxious bunch of social media–obsessed wannabe EDM DJs who go by the nameWhet Desert. Gone is the affable, underclass charm of the original characters; instead, we’re left with a group of entitled posers who—based on the leaked pilot—have no redeeming qualities whatsoever. The only redeeming aspect ofWhet Desertis that the full series never actually made it to air.
