Skip to main content
Games Radar Newsarama Total Film Edge Retro Gamer
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ The smarter take on movies
UK EditionUK US EditionUS CA EditionCanada AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
Gaming Magazines
Gaming Magazines
Why subscribe?
  • Subscribe from just £3
  • Takes you closer to the games, movies and TV you love
  • Try a single issue or save on a subscription
  • Issues delivered straight to your door or device
From$12
Subscribe now
Don't miss these
Trending
  • Best Netflix Movies
  • Movie Release Dates
  • Best movies on Disney Plus
  • Best Netflix Shows
  1. Entertainment
  2. Movies

5 TV Shows That Wouldnt Work As Movies

Features
By Andy Lowe published 25 November 2008

When small screen into silver screen won’t go…

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Top Gear

Top Gear

Starring: Steve Coogan as Jeremy Clarkson, Bill Nighy as James May, Ewan McGregor as Richard Hammond, Ben Stiller as The Stig

The pitch: Three men with bad hair argue and mess about with cars. It’s The Fast And The Furious for the middle-aged.

The glitch: Even an IMAX screen would struggle to contain Clarkson’s ego.

Page 1 of 5
Page 1 of 5
Deal Or No Deal

Deal Or No Deal

Starring: Richard Attenborough as Noel Edmonds

The pitch: Edmonds is the fiendish, Joker/Jigsaw-esque mastermind who sends his victims boxes which contain either details of their grisly fate or some money.

The glitch: There’d have to be a stupid, budget-busting twist where the studio is revealed to be the contents of a big box held by a giant, bearded, God-like Edmonds.

Page 2 of 5
Page 2 of 5
Antiques Roadshow

Antiques Roadshow

Starring: Kristin Scott Thomas as That Woman Who Used To Be On The News

The pitch: That Woman Who Used To Be On The News is a woman archaeologist who rescues old people’s old junk from Nazi collectors and then watches while experts tell them how much it isn’t worth.

The glitch: George Lucas would ruin it by setting it on the moon or something.

Page 3 of 5
Page 3 of 5
Strictly Come Dancing

Strictly Come Dancing

Starring: David Hasselhoff as Bruce Forsyth, Sienna Miller as Tess Daly

The pitch: An elderly man lurks in the shadows as sprightly youngsters in spangly costumes prance around to jaunty music. Could be a sort of Wizard Of Oz redux, only more frightening.

The glitch: Bruce is a real wizard and, as consultant, would disrupt the set by doing seduction spells on the girls.

Page 4 of 5
Page 4 of 5
The News

The News

Starring: Tom Hanks as Huw Edwards

The pitch: An intrepid but dull explorer searches the world for the truth. He then sits behind a desk and explains his findings. A bit like The Da Vinci Code with a desk.

The glitch: Would have to wait until Hugh Grant's career is sufficiently hopeless for him to agree to play the desk.

Page 5 of 5
Page 5 of 5
Andy Lowe
Share by:
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Whatsapp
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Latest in Movies
Sophie Nelisse as Ellie and Dafne Keen as Chrys in Whistle
Whistle director says he's "never known chemistry" like Sophie Nelisse and Dafne Keen's in the new queer horror
 
 
Yondu in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
Michael Rooker only landed his Guardians of the Galaxy role because he was suddenly killed off on The Walking Dead
 
 
Dafne Keen as Chrys in Whistle
The Nun's Corin Hardy reveals the "three things" that drew him back to original horror with new scary flick Whistle
 
 
The first trailer for Markiplier's Iron Lung adaptation is here
Markiplier's Iron Lung scores impressive $17.8 million US opening weekend, but it was beaten to the top by Send Help
 
 
A close-up of a sinisterly glowering John Kramer.
Franchise creator James Wan says he wants to make John Kramer "scary" and "omnipresent" again in Saw 11
 
 
Chris Evans as Cap in the first Avengers: Doomsday trailer
Avengers: Doomsday directors may have revealed too much after deleting a video showcasing the biggest fan theories
 
 
Latest in Features
Two armies clashing on a coastal region in Civilization 7 ahead of its Test of Time update
One year after Civilization 7 tried to fix the strategy genre's biggest problem, Firaxis is meeting fans in the middle
 
 
A Spectator Eye monster in Baldur's Gate 3
In a post-Baldur's Gate 3 world, I need Larian to hold tight to the D&D chaos that makes Hail Mary moments so satisfying
 
 
Mass Effect Legendary Edition
5 years on, I still think about Mass Effect Legendary Edition's symbolic first trailer
 
 
TR-49 screenshot showcasing the archive machine and some text as well as the dial to the side
I'm in my happy place: a dark basement digging through a computer archive that may or may not be alive
 
 
Characters from Jurassic Park looking into the distance, with the GamesRadar+Quiz logo in the top right corner
Taking our Jurassic Park quiz will prove how roar-some you are (sorry)
 
 
Phantom Blade Zero warrior with gold mask and glowing red eye
Phantom Blade Zero is my most-anticipated action RPG, and looks like the biggest Chinese game since Black Myth: Wukong
 
 
  1. Veiled Fate box displaying the logo, a maze, and silhouettes heroes, sat on a wooden surface
    1
    This hidden role board game makes me feel like a puppet master, so Traitors fans should listen up
  2. 2
    Cairn review: "This climber has a grip on me – even when it loses its footing with awkward systems"
  3. 3
    The Doom Arena Board Game is hell on Earth (in the best way) | Preview
  4. 4
    This award-winning board game is a five star must-have
  5. 5
    Code Vein 2 review: "This vampire take on Elden Ring almost works, but the dungeons themselves lack bite"
  1. Return to Silent Hill protagonist James Sunderland
    1
    Return to Silent Hill review: "Neither an impressive adaptation nor coherent enough to act as a standalone film"
  2. 2
    28 Years Later: The Bone Temple review: "The wildest and weirdest entry into the franchise yet"
  3. 3
    Avatar: Fire and Ash review: "Still a technical marvel, with some of the year's best action filmmaking"
  4. 4
    Five Nights at Freddy's 2 review: "We have waited two years for a Five Nights at Freddy's 1.5"
  5. 5
    Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery review: "Brings Knives Out back to its roots for a sequel that's almost on a par with the original"
  1. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Simon Williams in Wonder Man.
    1
    Wonder Man review: "A low-key gem that's up there with the MCU's best"
  2. 2
    Starfleet Academy review: "It may feel a little different to what we're used to, but this is Star Trek through and through"
  3. 3
    A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms review: "This Game of Thrones spin-off is a heartfelt and fun return to Westeros"
  4. 4
    Stranger Things season 5 finale review: “Shows off both the best and the worst of Hawkins”
  5. 5
    Stranger Things season 5, Volume 2 review: “All set up for a finale that has so much to deliver”

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...