Griffiths' other roles include Uncle Vernon in the Harry Potter films

"It's a crap idea," said the actor, who appeared as the flamboyant Uncle Monty in Bruce Robinson's 1987 film alongside Paul McGann and Richard E Grant.

"What function would it serve, except to make someone some money?" he added.

Writer and director Robinson was quoted earlier this year calling a plan for a West End version, potentially starring Jude Law, as "scandalous".

Grant, however, has been more amenable to the idea, saying he "could see it working well".

Set in 1969, the film - whose dialogue is widely quoted - tells of two unemployed young actors who spend a disastrous weekend in the countryside.

'Unworthy'

Production company HandMade Films has claimed it has the necessary rights to launch a stage play but said it would not do so without Robinson's consent.

"Bruce thinks there's something unworthy about the desire to make a play of it," said Griffiths, in London to promote the film version of Alan Bennett's play The History Boys.

Bruce is the creator, and if he says no it's no Richard Griffiths

"That's fine by me. He is the creator, and if he says no it's no and that's the end of that."

Griffiths, who will be seen next year as Uncle Vernon in the fifth Harry Potter film, also explained why he stopped two performances of The History Boys to berate audience members who had not turned their mobile phones off.

"For them not to have bothered indicates a disrespect for their fellow members of the audience," he told the BBC News website.