Room 101 (TV Series) - Memorable Moments and Controversy

Memorable Moments and Controversy

• When Anne Robinson went on the programme she proposed to put the Welsh into Room 101. Some Welsh people complained about this accusing her of xenophobia. However, Robinson said she was putting them into Room 101 out of jealousy, as they always seemed to succeed in everything they did. After being investigated by the Broadcasting Standards Commission, had stated her comments "came close to bordering on racism." Merton has since explained that before each show he hosted, he took his guests for lunch in order to discuss their nominations. The one guest who didn't go was Anne Robinson and as a result Merton had no idea that she had chosen the Welsh to go into Room 101.

• The first item ever put into Room 101 was the French, as suggested by Bob Monkhouse, Monkhouse said of France: "I would like to tilt the Channel Tunnel downwards and turn it into a sewer."

• Nick Hancock (a big Cricket fan) did initially not put cricket into Room 101, as suggested by Angus Deayton. When Deayton was told he could put another item into the room, he chose cricket (led on by the rapturous cries of the studio audience) which Nick, reluctantly, put into the room.

• Hancock and Neil Morrisey went into a rant about American Football, including Nick's observation: "They blow a whistle and then they just go everywhere. I think it's based on Runaround."

• Jonathan Ross wanted to put his dress sense into the room. However, he was presented with a hat he said he liked, but never bought. He was told he could put his dress sense in, but the hat would have to go in also. After a brief think, Ross told Paul, "I'm keeping my clothes."

• Stephen Fry attempted to put Room 101 into Room 101 (mainly because it was about people talking about things they hate). Merton found it hard to decide what to do because if he did put Room 101 into Room 101 he said it would be like committing "Professional Suicide", and if he didn't put it into Room 101 he would have to give it to Stephen and it would then become his. Merton did put it into the room, which made the picture go blank followed by Merton saying "I wish I hadn't done that". In the run up to Room 101 going into Room 101, Room Lovely involved Stephen nominating things he liked, such as Kathy Burke and Public Libraries.

• To show the unflinchingly bad content of Children in Need telethons during Ricky Gervais's episode, Paul and Ricky were subjected to Lesley Joseph dancing and what looked liked her being "kicked up the arse by the Invisible Man" or being attracted to someone in the audience "who had a very powerful vagina magnet." Ricky also told a story (which he declared would never make the broadcast) of a friend of his who on moving out to the country was presented with a rice pudding made with his new neighbour's leftover human breast milk. He claimed that if it had been presented to himself, he would have offered to make her a "spunk sandwich."

• Harry Hill wanted to put Ice Cream Vans into Room 101, saying the tune they always play is Greensleeves and "it ruins tea". Paul suggested a savoury version made of Mashed Potato, Ketchup (instead of Raspberry sauce) and a Sausage (instead of a Flake).

• At the end of the 11th series, to mark his departure from the show, Merton cast himself into Room 101, having been nominated by Ian Hislop, his rival on TV show Have I Got News for You, but with a slight twist. Just before pulling the lever to put himself into Room 101, Merton flipped round the image of himself to reveal Hislop, hence putting himself and Hislop in together, as the final people to go into Room 101 with Paul Merton as host. Another item chosen by Hislop, Piers Morgan, was put it into Room 101, but the room rejected him because he was "too toxic", so he was not allowed in.

• In the 6th series (2001) Mel and Sue put the town of Leighton Buzzard into Room 101 because of a particularly disastrous gig they once did there. This caused controversy in the local papers of the Bedfordshire town, with the council claiming that they did not have permission to use the Arms of the town in the programme.

• Sir Michael Parkinson had always lamented the fact that, despite all the star guests he had interviewed on television over the years, he would probably be remembered for "that bloody bird" (the glove puppet Emu, which had attacked him during an interview with "owner" Rod Hull). However, Paul Merton unexpectedly brought Emu locked in a guillotine on stage and Parkinson took his chance for revenge by beheading the puppet, saying, "Goodbye, you foul beast."

• Comedian Rhod Gilbert tried to put himself in Room 101, because of his laziness. However, he was denied.