The Wrong Mans(2013) (Pro)

While the series ended after its two-part Christmas special in 2014, its creators went on to massive heights. James Corden became a global star hosting The Late Late Show , and Mathew Baynton became a staple of British comedy, most notably co-creating and starring in the hit series Ghosts .

The show was born from a conversation between Corden and Baynton on the set of Gavin & Stacey . They noticed a gap in the market: why weren't there half-hour comedies with the high-stakes plotting of US "box set" dramas like 24 or Lost ?

: The show takes cues from the Coen Brothers' Burn After Reading and Hitchcockian thrillers. It mocks action movie clichés—like characters magically traveling to Paris in two shots—by focusing on the mundane logistics of being on the run , like booking tickets or arguing over the correct pronunciation of "Ginsters" . The Wrong Mans(2013)

: While Corden’s Phil is the adrenaline-fueled risk-taker, Baynton’s Sam is the grounded, unlikely hero trying to keep his life from imploding . Fast Facts for Your Next Trivia Night

The Wrong Mans remains a masterclass in how to balance belly laughs with genuine tension. If you haven't seen it, it's the perfect weekend binge for anyone who loves a good spy story—even if the spies in question are just council workers from Berkshire. While the series ended after its two-part Christmas

: Much of the second series, which sees the duo in witness protection in "Texas," was actually filmed in Johannesburg, South Africa .

: Unlike many spoofs, the danger in The Wrong Mans feels real. The duo faces international conspiracies, rogue MI-5 agents, and Russian whistleblowers . They noticed a gap in the market: why

: The show’s premise is so universal that it inspired a French adaptation titled Mauvaise Pioche ( The French Mans ) on Disney+. A US remake starring Ben Schwartz and Jillian Bell was also pitched to Showtime but ultimately cancelled .