25 best TV adaptations of books of all time

More and more, TV producers are seeking inspiration for gripping stories to tell in a competitive world where they're vying for our attention across linear channels and streaming giants.

Often, the best stories come from books, where authors have the time and space to flesh out a story and the necessary characters in order to build a believable world - one that those looking for something to bring to life can adapt easily.

Over the years, some of our most beloved TV shows started life as a paperback, including the likes of Killing Eve, Game of Thrones and Bridgerton.

Radio Times has compiled a list of the greatest ever adaptations to grace screens ever - did your favourite make the list?

25 best ever TV adaptations of books:

• Killing Eve
• Pride and Prejudice
• Lord of the Flies
• Game of Thrones
• His Dark Materials
• Normal People
• And Then There Were None
• Tales of the City
• I, Claudius
• Slow Horses
• Poldark
• Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
• The Handmaid's Tale
• Big Little Lies
• The Night Manager
• Bridgerton
• IT
• One Day
• Sharp Objects
• Heated Rivalry
• Pachinko
• Wuthering Heights
• Brideshead Revisited
• Wolf Hall
• The Summer I Turned Pretty

Killing Eve (2018)

It's hard to imagine Killing Eve on the page after it was so expertly brought to life in season 1 by Fleabag's Phoebe Waller-Bridge with Jodie Comer taking the lead role of the complex Villanelle. Sandra Oh brought a grounding to Eve, making a perfect match against the playful villain. The second it hit the screens, fans were captivated especially by the visuals including *that* Molly Goddard pink dress, which simply couldn't be replicated on the page. Killing Eve became an expert lesson in taking excellent source material and improving it exponentially.

Read the book: Codename Villanelle - Luke Jennings

Pride and Prejudice (1995)

You don't even have to have seen this version of Pride and Prejudice - you'll still be able to bring some key imagery from the series to mind (that lake scene). However, many people did watch it - in fact, the final episode of the BBC series had a 40 per cent share of audiences in the UK when it aired (not something many shows can boast). This adaptation in particular changed the landscape for Austen portrayals forever, prompting a plethora of adaptations in the years that followed. It also made a household name of Colin Firth, who would go on to be one of the UK's most celebrated actors ever (and a known heart-throb in many a movie).

Read the book: Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen

Lord of the Flies (2026)

Lord of the Flies is an unsettling book, that's sort of the point of it. But Jack Thorne played into this feeling in bucket loads for his 2026 adaptation. The story remained the same, fairly faithful throughout (to its strength, not omitting some of the dreadful acts committed on the deserted island). What the 2026 version succeeded in were the visuals, with Thorne deploying a mixture of filming techniques such as infrared, fisheye lenses, aggressive colour grading and handheld cameras which all added to the hallucinatory and high-tension feeling of the drama, somehow making the story even more tense and gripping, which is no mean feat.

Read the book: Lord of the Flies - William Goulding

Game of Thrones (2011)

While the ending to the show was controversial, to say the least, there's a reason Game of Thrones was so globally popular. George RR Martin's epic was translated for screen expertly, especially in the early seasons, by David Benioff and DB Weiss, who had an impressive and deeply considered world to bring to life. They selected just the right bits and cast exactly the right people, making Game of Thrones one of TV's true epics. Many have tried to replicate both the paperback series and the TV show, but nothing yet has quite lived up to this fantastic adaptation.

Read the book: A Game of Thrones - George RR Martin

His Dark Materials (2019)

If Jack Thorne is making a series, it's going to be watched. So when he turned his eye to His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman, it's safe to say there was some excitement in the air. Thorne built a world that was very familiar to those who love the books about Lyra and her journey into a world filled with daemons and adventure. Ruth Wilson and Dafne Keen lead the cast effortlessly and embodied their characters so perfectly, it was hard not to fall in love with this fantastic adaptation from a skilled writer.

Read the book: His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman

Normal People (2020)

Admittedly, some of the success of Normal People on the BBC came from the timing, landing in the middle of the first COVID lockdowns when people were seeking compelling stories. But what really brought Sally Rooney's love story for a modern age to life was the casting of relative newcomers Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones in the lead roles of Connell and Marianne. Rooney's story was fantastic already, but two charismatic leads added another layer to the torturous romance.

Read the book: Normal People - Sally Rooney

And Then There Were None (2015)

Douglas Booth, Charles Dance, Anna Maxwell Martin, Sam Neill and Aidan Turner combined forces among others for an outstanding adaptation of Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None. The fantastic murder mystery is set on a desolate island which is eerie in the books, but took on a whole new life in the adaptation, appearing as a horrifying place filled with terror. Sarah Phelps played on the mind-games of the original novel and managed to make something quite dark and completely watchable.

Read the book: And Then There Were None - Agatha Christie

I, Claudius (1976)

I, Claudius welcomed together a who's who of outstanding British talent with one of the most gripping stories ever told. For those not in the know, Robert Graves's 1934 novel tells the history of the early Roman Empire and all the gripping events that followed the Roman Emperor Claudius. Who could take such a role? None other than Derek Jacobi, a master of the craft who brought life and depth to a character that is really best known in history books, and not on the screen. He was joined by Siân Phillips, Brian Blessed, John Hurt, Patrick Stewart and more, making I, Claudius one of the starriest casts on this list. The series now sits among the greats of television and is widely considered one of the best British shows ever made.

Read the book: I, Claudius - Robert Graves

Slow Horses (2022)

Jackson Lamb is the type of character who just works visually, quite literally farts and all. A genius mind in body he doesn't take care of works better on screen than it does on the page - as does the sound of him passing wind. That's not all though, as Jack Lowden brings a special quality to River Cartwright, offering the agent more depth than other televised spies tend to have. Will Smith's London is exciting and alive, which helps to create a pacy thriller packed to the rafters with visual gags.

Read the book: Slow Horses - Mick Herron

Poldark (2015)

Debbie Horsfield's adaptation of Poldark has gone down in history of being one of the greatest period dramas ever made - and for a good reason too. Aidan Turner takes on the role of Ross Poldark and became a household name - partly in due to his topless scenes which set the internet alight. The on-screen romance between Ross and Demelza (Eleanor Tomlinson) was steamy and fiery, and won over many people who maybe hadn't even encountered the books yet - but would soon turn to them to find out more about Ross and Demelza. The British production would spawn thousands of tourists to Cornwall to get a feeling for the series and would go on to be a massive success in America, too. A truly successful adaptation, by all means.

Read the book: Ross Poldark - Winston Graham

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979)

You know you've got a good adaptation on your hands when the author of the original book cites it as his favourite filmed adaptation of his work. That's what Le Carré thought of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy which aired on the BBC in the late '70s. Starring Alec Guinness in the lead role of George Smiley, he especially has been widely lauded for his performance, even though he brought a new dimension to the role in Le Carré's popular novel, and he would go on to win several awards for his portrayal.

Read the book: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy - John Le Carré

The Handmaid's Tale (2017)

Margaret Atwood's dystopian story was published in 1985 and over 30 years later was finally adapted for the screen - to huge success, mainly because of the time it landed. Donald Trump had just become the President of the United States, ushering in a more right wing movement in the country, and Roe v Wade was a hot topic of debate as many tried to overturn it. Atwood's story of female oppression and reproductive control seemed terrifyingly prevalent to bring life to, and the cast led by Elisabeth Moss did just that with powerful performances and simply breathtaking cinematography.

Read the book: The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood

Big Little Lies (2017)

Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman and Shailene Woodley join forces to bring Liane Moriarty's thrilling novel to life - and actually gave the murder mystery a life of its own along the way. A star-studded cast, with lust-worthy homes brought about a phenomenon which would create a whole new genre of TV shows centred around rich and beautiful spouses in gorgeous homes. It also brought a new batch of fans to Moriarty who would go on to devour every novel she put out - and has since spawned a sequel to Big Little Lies, coming soon to screens, too.

Read the book: Big Little Lies - Liane Moriarty

The Night Manager (2016)

Pretty much anything that Tom Hiddleston does will get attention, but perhaps nothing more so than his turn as Jonathan Pine in The Night Manager. Le Carré's novel was always full of excitement and espionage, but seeing it on the screen adds an extra layer of drama and tension to proceedings. The BBC series was also jam-packed with stunning locations and outstanding performances which simply couldn't be captured in a book, leading to a world-class end product that enjoyed a life of its own.

Read the book: The Night Manager - John Le Carré

Bridgerton (2020)

When Bridgerton landed on Netflix in December 2020, some thought it would be merely a disposable romance series that was extremely watchable and fun, but nothing more. What we got was an outstanding piece of TV which was sumptuous, steamy, addictive, bingeable and absolutely gorgeous to look at. It also brought new life to the book series by Julia Quinn which came out 20 years prior, with many flocking to find out what would happen to the Ton while they couldn't wait for the series a moment longer. And thus, a franchise was born.

Read the book: The Duke and I - Julia Quinn

IT: Welcome to Derry (2025)

IT: Welcome to Derry positively chilled audiences who watched it in the autumn of 2025 as it continued the story of Pennywise the Clown from Stephen King's iconic horror novel. Expanding past the world seen in the IT films (directed by Andy Muschietti), the Sky series explored some of the history revealed in King's epic which most adaptations will tend to ignore simply for pace. But what is found is a rich world which enhances the terror of Pennywise. IT: Welcome to Derry also ramped up horror, making one of the scariest shows on TV to date - which is fitting for the notorious novel.

Read the book: IT - Stephen King

One Day (2024)

David Nicholls's 2009 novel has always been popular, but it got a welcomed boost in 2024 from Netflix's adaptation, starring Leo Woodall and Ambika Mod as lovers Dexter and Emma. The couple's love story has been told before, but this adaptation was more in-depth, spread out over a series of episodes, and allowed more time to getting to know the characters, just as a novel allows one to. It was also the most-watched show on Netflix in the lead-up to Valentines - no mean feat, and a sign that something was done very right.

Read the book: One Day - David Nicholls

Sharp Objects (2018)

Amy Adams and Patricia Clarkson were among the stand-outs in this adaptation of Gillian Flynn's novel for HBO. Flynn's story was already pretty dark, but in bringing it to screens, producer Marti Noxon was able to add a stylish atmosphere and at times uncomfortable viewing to proceedings, all of which elevated the story to a tense and extremely haunting watch. An unmissable story both on the page and off it.

Read the book: Sharp Objects - Gillian Flynn

Heated Rivalry (2025)

Few series take the world by storm this day, and takes something show-stopping to be able to do so. Heated Rivalry is one of the shows to do just that, with the November 2025 launch catching fire almost immediately and setting the world alight with its steamy romance and gripping plot. It also landed at the perfect time in culture where romance stories on BookTok are taking off and becoming viral - so this would always be a winner. The performance and chemistry between leads Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie propelled them into household names with the world as their oyster now, but more importantly, brought a delightful LGBTQ+ story to screen with worldwide acclaim. You can't ask for more than that with an adaptation, can you?

Read the book: Heated Rivalry - Rachel Reid

Pachinko (2022)

Min Jin Lee's novel of the same name follows four generations of a Korean family from the early 1900s to the late eighties, exploring difficult themes of discrimination against Korean immigrants living in Japan. The series which aired on Apple TV+ in 2022 did so to critical acclaim, bringing to life the enduring bonds of a family within an epic drama made with the highest quality, winning awards while at it.

Read the book: Pachinko - Min Jin Lee

Wuthering Heights (1978)

There's been a lot of discourse in recent years about how to faithfully adapt Wuthering Heights. Most popular films and series stop after Cathy's death, but in the BBC mini-series, which is widely considered one of the most faithful adaptations, it explores the second half of Brontë's novel where Heathcliff seeks revenge on those who hurt him previously. Ken Hutchison and Kay Adshead take on the roles of Heathcliff and Cathy in this unflinching portrayal of the classic story, embracing the grittier parts of the source material.

Read the book: Wuthering Heights - Emily Brontë

Brideshead Revisited (1981)

A list of adaptations probably wouldn't be the same without Brideshead Revisted from ITV in the '80s. Evelyn Waugh's novel about a disillusioned officer of the British Army during service in World War II is widely considered to be one of the greatest dramas ever made - and that's mainly in part to Jeremy Irons and Anthony Andrews in the lead roles of Charles Ruder and Lord Sebastian Flyte. Directors Charles Sturridge and Michael Lindsay-Hogg also remained extremely faithful to Waugh's original text, citing that over 95 per cent of the dialogue was lifted straight from the text. We'd challenge you to find a more faithful adaptation if you tried.

Read the book: Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh

Wolf Hall (2015)

You can't really mention book-to-screen adaptations of recent years without mentioning Wolf Hall, produced by the BBC in 2015 after the book was published in 2009. Hilary Mantel's original novel is widely considered one of the best historical novels of all time for its portrayal of English history between 1500-1535, marking the rise of Thomas Cromwell to the death of Sir Thomas More. The adaptation brought a superb cast to the screen in one big ensemble, including Mark Rylance, Damian Lewis and Claire Foy, among others. What makes Wolf Hall simply unmissable is not just the historical accuracy, but also how faithful it is to the superb novels. Plus, with a powerhouse cast and outstanding costumes, it's hard not to binge the whole series in one go.

Read the book: Wolf Hall - Hilary Mantel

The Summer I Turned Pretty (2022)

There's something gorgeous about a show that transports you back into your teenage years with first loves, summer crushes and an unconventional love triangle - we've all been there, right? The Summer I Turned Pretty welcomed a group of newcomers to the industry and propelled them into a summer romance story as young Belly (Lola Tung) came of age as a debutant. The cast really brought Jenny Han's vision to life, especially with heartthrob Conrad (Christopher Briney) who brooded to the camera at every opportunity. The Amazon Prime Video series made full use of music trends, soundtracking their tale with the likes of Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo and Billie Eilish, making the whole thing look and feel very current and cool - which added to the success of the timeless story.

Read the book: The Summer I Turned Pretty - Jenny Han

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