BBC links with Lionsgate to adapt The Play That Goes Wrong

BBC One has commissioned a six-part series based on theatre production The Play That Goes Wrong from Lionsgate UK, Big Talk Productions and Anthology Group-owned comedy producer Mischief Screen. 

The series, entitled The Goes Wrong Show, sees The Cornley Drama Society undertaking another overly ambitious endeavour, held back by prolific over-actor Robert Grove, screen-hogging Sandra Wilkinson and artistically mistrusted Dennis Tyde.

Filmed in front of a live studio audience, the show will be written by and star original founding Mischief Theatre members Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields alongside Nancy Zamit, Charlie Russell, Bryony Corrigan, Greg Tannahill, Dave Hearn and Chris Leask.

Theatre company Mischief Theatre – which is behind such plays as The Comedy About A Bank Robbery and Mischief Movie Night – expanded into film and TV production last year under Anthology Studios.

The Goes Wrong Show is commissioned by BBC comedy controller Shane Allen and director of BBC content Charlotte Moore, along with BBC commissioner Kate Daughton.

It will be produced by Big Talk and Mischief Screen in association with Lionsgate UK and YTD HK.

Lionsgate will also represent the show globally. Separately, YTD HK has snatched up Chinese rights directly from Mischief Screen.

The show will be produced by Jim Poyser and directed by Martin Dennis. Executive producers include Hilary Strong and Kenny Wax for Mischief Screen, and Kenton Allen, Saurabh Kakkar and Matthew Justice for Big Talk Productions.

Henry Lewis, co-writer and co-founder of Mischief Theatre, said: “Ever since we first began to make things go wrong all the way back in 2012, it has been a dream of ours to bring a series based on this joyful brand of humour to the screen and so when the BBC commissioned The Goes Wrong Show it was a dream come true.

“We’re so grateful for this incredible opportunity and we can’t wait to get started on making some truly terrible programmes. We are still very short on equipment – if you have a camcorder we can borrow, in any condition, please do fax us.”