40 Successful American Remakes Of British Shows
A British television show can rarely go without an American remake, and many of them flopped—particularly among the Brits—but what about those that didn't? Let's examine 40 American remakes of British TV shows that worked.
Whose Line Is It Anyway?
You may not realize that Whose Line Is It Anyway? (1998) was British in origin. Airing from 1988 to 1999, Whose Line—its abbreviated form—was an improvised sketch comedy routine done in front of a live studio audience.
Consisting of comedians creating scenarios, characters, and skits on the spot, Whose Line Is It Anyway was relatively well-received in the UK, but took off when it debuted in the US. It is currently in its 21st season, which premieres on September 6th, 2024.
The CW. Whose Line Is It Anyway? (1998-)
The Office
While Brits argue that the American remake butchered The Office (2001), there's no denying that the remake in the United States was extremely successful. The original series starred Ricky Gervais and Martin Freeman in an office-based sitcom that hilariously gave us an insight into the nondescript life of a nondescript office worker. However, unlike other sitcoms, The Office was shot in a documentary-style fashion.
Similarly, the US version starred Steve Carrell and John Krasinski, but ran for 9 seasons between 2005 and 2014, receiving tens of millions of views per season.
All In The Family
Based on the British Till Death Do Us Part (1965-1972), All In The Family ran for 9 seasons between 1971 and 1980. It received high praise for its ability to tackle difficult social issues that other shows wouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole, and do it well.
It brought reality into American television in ways not previously seen. All In The Family is often touted as one of the shows that changed the American TV landscape. It averaged 10.6 million viewers during its run.
CBS, All in the Family (1971-1979)
Sanford and Son
This 1970s remake of Steptoe and Son (1962-1974) pushed boundaries in the US at a time when All In The Family was doing something similar. Detailing the life and times of Fred Sanford and his son, Lamont Sanford, the sitcom was all about gracious peacemaker, Lamont, getting a cantankerous Fred out of some sticky situations.
Running for six seasons, the edgy sitcom gained between 14.4 and 20.6 million views throughout its tenure on the Friday night air.
NBC, Sanford and Son (1972-1977)
Shameless
The original Shameless ran between 2004 and 2013, while the American version was first aired in 2011 and ran for 11 seasons. Dealing with a father and husband tackling alcoholism, the sitcom remake of the British show deals with familial strife, addiction, and all of the ensuing problems with great humor. Shameless in the US amassed 6.14 million views per episode.
Showtime, Shameless (2011-2021)
Three's Company
Three's Company (1977-1985) was a remake of Man About The House (1973-1976) and is all about the shenanigans of three roommates in Santa Monica, California, after two single female roommates offer to share their apartment with a man whom they found passed out in the bathtub at the party for their last roommate.
This sitcom became hugely popular in the US and spawned two more adaptations: Three's a Crowd (1984-85) and The Ropers (1979-80).
ABC, Three's Company (1977-1984)
Cash Cab
Based on the British gameshow of the same name that ran from 2005 to 2007, Cash Cab's American version would enjoy 15 seasons between 2005 and 2020 with a unique take on a prize-winning gameshow wherein competitors enter a cab and try to win money by answering trivia questions. The show also spawned a Canadian spin-off.
Antiques Roadshow
The original Antiques Roadshow (in the UK) has run for 47 seasons from 1979 to present and is one of the most popular British TV shows of all time. The American version began in 1997 and is still ongoing today. Adopting the same premise as the British show, Antiques Roadshow sees people bring their prized antiques to an evaluator.
Sometimes they walk away with a shockingly high figure—other times, they're disappointed. Both the American and British versions pull in millions of viewers weekly.
PBS, Antiques Roadshow (1997-)
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?
A British gameshow that's been on the air for 30 seasons since 1998, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire is a trivia show that has contestants answer questions to attempt to reach a grand prize of 1 million. The current host of the American version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire is Jimmy Kimmel. There have been 15 winners of the top prize since the first winner in 1999.
ABC, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (1999-)
Being Human
It's difficult being a vampire, ghost, or werewolf and trying to live a normal life. That's what Being Human is all about. This vampire drama was originally produced in the UK between 2008 and 2010, before it was adapted for American television. It ran for three seasons between 2011 and 2014.
The Weakest Link
"YOU are the Weakest Link, goodbye!" sends shivers down your spine when it comes from the mouth of stern could-have-been-a-teacher Anne Robinson. The Weakest Link debuted in the UK in 2000 and was hosted by Anne Robinson. Due to the success of the show in the UK, The Weakest Link debuted on American TV in 2001 and was cancelled after 1 season, but was revived almost 20 years later in 2020 by NBC and has been running for three seasons.
Kitchen Nightmares
A spin-off of Hell's Kitchen, Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares began in 2007 following the early success of the show by the same name in the UK. Featuring the same foul-mouthed pillorying of would-be, could-be, won't be chefs, Kitchen Nightmares deals with failing restaurants and kitchens with management that Chef Ramsay fixes in his own inimitable style.
It's been running for eight seasons, having ended in 2014 and then being revamped in 2023 by FOX.
FOX, Kitchen Nightmares (2007-)
House of Cards
The epic political drama House of Cards (one of America's most beloved Netflix shows of all time) is actually a remake of a British serial drama set against the backdrop of the end of Margaret Thatcher's tenure. The British serial ran in four episodes, each an hour long, from November 18th to December 9th 1990.
When the American version starring Kevin Spacey burst onto our screens in 2013 and ran for six seasons, we were all hooked. It is one of the most successful remakes of a British television show of all time.
Netflix, House of Cards (2013-2018)
Hell's Kitchen
Another American spin-off of a Gordon Ramsay show sees Chef Ramsay train young chefs (again in his own way). Hell's Kitchen seems to be a bit more feisty than its British remake, as personality clashes happen and the drama unfolds spectacularly. It sees an average of 6 million weekly viewers in the United States.
Masterchef
Another kitchen-based American remake of a British show, Masterchef debuted in the United States in 2010 and has been running ever since. It draws in an average of 3.1 million viewers weekly. The original British series aired in 1990 and ran till 2001, before being revived in 2005 as Masterchef Goes Large, which is currently entering its 20th season in 2025.
Undercover Boss
An interesting premise for Undercover Boss UK (which first aired in 2009) saw a company's CEO go undercover as a member of the workforce, listening to complaints and experiences of workers on the frontlines of the company.
Afterwards, the boss would reward a hard-working employee with a raise, cover a pressing expense in their lives, or promote the employee in order to improve their quality of life. Undercover Boss in the US was launched in 2010 and has been running for 11 seasons, with a 12th season waiting for renewal.
CBS, Undercover Boss (2010-2022)
Queer As Folk
Something of a breakout role for Sons of Anarchy's Charlie Hunnam, Queer As Folk first aired in the UK in 1999 and ran for two seasons. The drama series followed the daily lives of three gay friends living in Manchester in the late 90s. The American remake was launched in 2000 and ran for five seasons, receiving between 1 and 1.5 million viewers per season.
Showtime, Queer as Folk (2000-2005)
Trading Spaces
Trading Spaces (2000-2010) was a reality TV series which saw families swap homes and each pick a room to redesign in the space before swapping back at the end of the show. The original British run was named Changing Rooms and ran from 1996 to 2004. Trading Spaces began successfully, bringing in over 2 million viewers, but by the time the show concluded, it managed only a few hundred thousand in their Saturday night slot on TLC.
TLC, Trading Spaces (2000-2008)
What Not To Wear
Another TLC hit What Not To Wear began in 2003, running for 10 seasons before TLC cancelled the show in 2013. The show's premise is simple: family and friends nominate someone to undergo a fashion transformation, backed by the fashion knowledge of Stacy London and Clinton Kelly—and $5,000.
The original British version began in 2001 and ran for seven seasons, even being nominated for a BAFTA.
TLC, What Not to Wear (2003-2013)
Supernanny
Do you have unruly kids? Supernanny's premise is to get them back to their behavioral best. Running from 2004 to 2008, Supernanny featured British nanny Jo Frost, who helps struggling parents by introducing different ways of disciplining their children.
In the US, Jo Frost reprises her role as a "super nanny" and does the same for American parents of unruly kids. Running between 2005 and 2011 on ABC, Supernanny averaged between 2 and 4.5 million viewers per season.
American Idol
The British Pop Idol, which ran between 2001 and 2003, was created by Simon Fuller and starred the now-infamous Simon Cowell as a judge. American Idol was adapted from Pop Idol's success in 2002 and has been on the air for 21 seasons.
It's given rise to today's stars like Kelly Clarkson, Chris Daughtry, Adam Lambert, Carrie Underwood, and Jennifer Hudson. The show averages around 4.5 million views per season.
Fremantle, American Idol (2022-)
Dancing With The Stars
Dancing With The Stars has been on American screens since 2005 and is an adaptation of the British Strictly Come Dancing, which began in 2004. The show's premise in the both the UK and US is to pair professional dancers with celebrities and then have them compete against other celeb-dancer pairings.
The show's viewership has held steady between 4 and 6 million as it approaches its 20th season.
Television City, Dancing with the Stars (2005-)
Who Do You Think You Are?
Based on the 2004 British show of the same name, Who Do You Think You Are? gives celebrities the opportunity to trace their family history with the help of historians. The program was ordered by NBC in 2009 and has run successfully ever since, providing celebrities with unique insights into their family history.
It's reasonably popular—its most recent series amassed 1.7 million viewers on NBC.
NBC, Who Do You Think You Are? (2010-2022)
The Great American Baking Show
A spin-off of The Great British Bake-Off (2010), The Great American Baking Show debuted in 2015 following the success of Bake-Off. It sees amateur bakers compete for a chance to win a grand prize while their baking is judged by culinary professionals. Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith guest judge, alongside a host of other American professional pastry chefs.
The show averaged between 3 and 4 million during its first four seasons and is currently in its seventh season on Roku.
Pinewood, The Great American Baking Show (2015-)
The Night Of
Based on the BBC's Criminal Justice (2008-2009), which explored politics and corruption in the British justice system through the eyes of the accused, The Night Of is an eight-part HBO drama that explores similar themes and overtones. The Night Of received 13 Emmy nominations.
Top Gear
The Americanization of Top Gear was not well-received in the UK, but had a five-season run in the United States between 2011 and 2016. It did spurn Top Gear: America, however, which first aired in 2017, before a pandemic-enforced hiatus in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021, returning for season 2 in 2022 and a third season in 2023.
History, Top Gear (2010-2016) The X Factor
The X Factor was a creation of Simon Cowell (the American Idol judge). Debuting on British TV in 2004, it was such a huge success that it spurned an American production that first broadcast in 2011. Enjoying similar popularity initially, The X Factor (US) was considered a huge success for its first three seasons. Unfortunately, the show was cancelled in 2014 as ratings declined substantially.
Eleventh Hour
The Eleventh Hour is a science-based drama that features a classic "race against time" style wherein a top scientist (played by British actor Rufus Sewell) is brought in by the FBI to solve crimes of a scientific nature. The original British series broadcast in 2006 and went only four episodes before being cancelled by ITV.
Although Eleventh Hour in the US met a similar fate, it was 18 episodes and reasonably entertaining with an interesting premise.
CBS, Eleventh Hour (2008-2009)
Celebrity Fit Club
Celebrity Fit Club first aired in the UK in 2002, running till 2006. The series featured overweight celebrities who partnered with psychologists, dieticians, and nutritionists in a bid to lose weight. In the US, the show was broadcast from 2005 to 2010.
VH1, Celebrity Fit Club (2005-2010)
Junkyard Wars
Junkyard Wars is based on the British reality series Scrapheap Challenge that ran from 1998 to 2010. Two rival teams compete by building a random machine out of things they find at the junkyard. The series was successful enough that it even spawned transcontinental challenges and collaborations between the UK and US versions.
RDF, Junkyard Wars (2001-2004)
Veep
Based on the hilarious and wildly-inappropriate The Thick Of It starring Peter Capaldi, Veep is the American adaptation of the satire, which features Vice President Selina Meyer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) battling the gamesmanship of Washington with a slightly more upbeat tone and demeanor than its British counterpart.
Veep ran from 2012 to 2019, winning multiple awards and receiving millions of views consistently.
Mistresses
Based on the UK show of the same name, Mistresses ran from 2013 to 2017. A drama soap opera detailing the lives of four successful girlfriends and their journey through life as they evolve as people and friends. The hit series averaged around 4.4 million viewers.
Ghosts
Beginnging in 2021, Ghosts was based on the British sitcom of the same name that premiered in 2019. Based on the premise of dead relatives (from whom the main character inherited their country home) appearing at peculiar moments, Ghosts is a hilarious take on the British show, which followed a group of ghosts from different historical periods, as they shared a country home with new occupants.
Life On Mars
Based on the one-season wonder of the same name from the UK, Life On Mars in the United States is set in 2008 and features a modern-day detective who was hit by a car, nearly died, and woke up in 1973. Still a detective, NYPD cop Steven Tyler must work to solve crimes set many decades prior.
Skins
Skins was a hugely popular UK teen drama lasting seven seasons. Skins featured many teen themes and each episode centered on a particular character or group of characters from the cast. The US series of Skins premiered in January of 2011 on MTV. Unfortunately, Skins was canceled after a single season due to controversy surrounding the themes, but showed promise initially.
Secret Millionaire
Based on the UK show, Secret Millionaire's US adaptation sees a millionaire become an incognito member of an impoverished community, agreeing to give millions of dollars to help get the community back on its feet. Members of the community aren't told about this until the big reveal. The show premiered in 2010 and lasted for three seasons.
FOX, The Secret Millionaire (2008-2013)
Getting On
Based on the British sitcom detailing the working lives of doctors, nurses and patients, Getting On (2013) lasted for three seasons in the United States under a similar premise as a medical dark comedy.
Wife Swap
Wife Swap (2004) lasted for seven seasons on American television. Based on a British show of the same name that's exactly as described, participating families' wives swap households, children, and husbands for a few days. The families are very different from one another, with the reality TV program showcasing these differences.
Paramount, Wife Swap (2004-2020)
Trading Spouses
Another show in a similar vein to Wife Swap (2004), Trading Spouses originally aired on FOX in 2004, wherein a family and the "new" spouse is awarded $50,000, with the stipulation that the "new" spouse must decide how the money is spent. There's a reason why this is near the bottom of our list...
FOX, Trading Spouses (2004-2007)
Love Island USA
Drama and love, on an island? That was the premise of the UK TV show Love Island when it first aired in 2005 and 2006, before being revived in 2015. The American version of Love Island began in 2019 and has been a popular fixture ever since, putting singles on an island together in the hopes they'll fall in love with each other.
What's your favorite remake of a British show on American television? Let us know in the comments!
