Sam Campbell’s “Make That Movie” Debuts on Channel 4

Channel 4 launched *Make That Movie* on 28 May 2026 at 10 p.m. in the United Kingdom (29 May on HBO Max in Australia). The series is a show-within-a-show in which a fictionalised Sam Campbell, portrayed as a pompous, uninspired director, invites members of the public to submit wildly implausible film ideas. Campbell and a deliberately dysfunctional crew then produce a full-length feature in each episode, culminating in a public premiere. The format blends reality-TV conventions with absurdist comedy, presenting a rotating cast of amateur actors and professional comedians.

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Australian comedian Sam Campbell moved to the UK in the early 2020s and built a reputation for absurdist stand-up, winning the Edinburgh Comedy Award in 2022 and returning in 2023 with a ten-minute “Bulletproof Ten”. *Make That Movie* grew from his desire to translate that anarchic sensibility to television. Campbell describes the concept as “a real-life cartoon feel” that avoids bleakness, drawing inspiration from 1970s series *Ripping Yarns*, DIY home-renovation shows, and the chaotic production of Richard Stanley’s *Island of Dr Moreau* documentary.

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• Sam Campbell – creator, star, and fictional director.

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• Charlie Perkins – Channel 4 head of comedy, champion of the project.

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• Lara Ricote – comedian playing assistant Jess; also a close friend of Campbell.

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• Joe Pelling – director and co-creator, known for *Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared*.

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• Cast – Australian comic Aaron Chen (Sebastian), Helen Bauer (Pat), veteran actor David Hargreaves (Winnie, age 86), and a rotating roster of British alternative comedians including Amy Gledhill, Lenny Rush, Mark Silcox, John Kearns and Freddie Meredith.

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Each episode features a public-submitted premise—examples range from a couple who cannot both be snakes to a spaceship carrying a thousand babies. The crew, dressed in matching purple jumpsuits reminiscent of *Ghostbusters* and *Scooby-Doo*, produces a short film spanning genres such as sentimental drama, sci-fi and child-like animation. The fictional crew’s AI companion “Super-Breast” appears in one episode. Production was described as “hands-off” because the company was occupied with an animated Ricky Gervais series about cats.

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• Campbell’s age: 34 years.

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• David Hargreaves: 86 years.

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• Premiere: 28 May 2026, 10 p.m. (UK); 29 May 2026 on HBO Max (Australia).

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• Rotating public-cast members: Amy Gledhill, Lenny Rush, Mark Silcox, John Kearns, Freddie Meredith (among others).

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• No disclosed episode count or runtime per episode.

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*Make That Movie* signals a revival of anarchic, low-budget television comedy that privileges creative risk over mainstream appeal. By foregrounding the absurdities of film production, the series offers a platform for the British alternative comedy scene and challenges conventional reality-TV formulas. Its trans-national release also highlights the growing exchange between UK broadcasters and streaming services.

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Channel 4 comedy chief Charlie Perkins said she initially struggled to grasp the concept but grew to understand it after seeing the pilot, emphasizing her trust in Campbell’s vision. Lara Ricote explained that she does not need to fully understand the premise, trusting Campbell’s comedic instincts. Director Joe Pelling characterised the fictional Campbell as an exaggerated, more arrogant version of Sam and noted that Campbell relies on instinct rather than analysis. Campbell himself expressed modest expectations, hoping viewers find the series “interesting” while acknowledging its niche appeal. The production team also highlighted the intention to create a “real-life cartoon feel” that avoids a bleak tone.

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Commentators describe the series as an “acquired taste” and note that its deliberately “mind-bendingly terrible” films may alienate mainstream audiences. Some critics argue that the reliance on bizarre premises—such as the “Super-Breast” AI—risks prioritising shock over substance. Campbell’s own admission of low expectations has been interpreted as a lack of confidence in the show’s broader resonance.

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The article provides no viewership figures, critical reviews, or confirmed episode count, leaving the series’ commercial performance and reception unclear.

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• “With Sam I trust with my heart that it’s gonna be funny.” — Lara Ricote, comedian

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• “maybe a version of Sam if he was quite a lot thicker and way more arrogant” — Joe Pelling, director

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• “I don’t want anyone to get properly shaken up, but it’s OK if people kind of grimace at Super-Breast.” — Sam Campbell, creator

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• “I think people mainly watch things on their phone while they’re being attacked now.” — Sam Campbell, creator

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• “very trusting. I don’t know if she really got [the concept] when we were first talking about it. When we’d made it, I think she understood it a tiny bit more.” — Charlie Perkins, Channel 4 head of comedy

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New episodes will air weekly on Channel 4, each featuring a fresh public-submitted script. International streaming rights have been secured for HBO Max in Australia, and the series is slated for potential distribution in additional territories later in 2026.

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