The series grew out of two successful BBC Christmas specials produced by Mischief Theatre, Peter Pan Goes Wrong (2016) and A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong (2017), which led the broadcaster to commission a full television series.

Creators Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields devised the show as a format in which the fictional Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society attempts different themed stage plays each episode, such as a period romance and a spy thriller, all performed as 'live' televised productions that go wrong.

Bryony Corrigan, who plays Vanessa Wilcock-Wynn-Carroway, had already appeared in the earlier specials, playing a member of the stage team in Peter Pan Goes Wrong and a receptionist in A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong.

The first series was recorded at the dock10 studios in Salford, Greater Manchester.

In one episode of the show, the cast were filmed upside down as part of the physical comedy.

The second series was produced under strict COVID-19 pandemic guidelines in the United Kingdom, which delayed its broadcast until 27 September 2021.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mischief Theatre organised a Twitter watch-along of the episodes starting 3 April 2020, using the hashtag #GoesWrongAlong and beginning with the episode '90 Degrees'.

The BBC confirmed on 26 March 2024 that the series would not be renewed for further seasons.